High-schoolish Plea for Help Interpreting Fine Literature, And Other Assorted Things
First of all, the episode: I liked it and kept liking it ... and then it was over, and I was like huh? I liked it, but it seems like the ending was missing. So ... did Sam suddenly remember at the same time Dean did? Is he already a few hundred miles down the road looking for his "second" hunt? (But in perusing others' reactions to it, I ran across some things I *really* agree with and I wish I could remember to whom they belonged: I loved the whole Sam wanting to *do* bigger and better things that didn't really have anything to do with getting any personal recognition for it, and just wanting to *help* people. And I think I'm less in tune with others on this, but I was glad they came out said quit whining to Dean. I mean, I know he deserves a wallow, but on the other hand, the world's ending. Now's not the time. And it's also doesn't make for very interesting TV. So.)
Which is somewhat similar to the feeling I am experiencing now, having just finished the book club book for this month, Catcher in the Rye. Which is why I'm issuing this plea for help. Everyone except me (in the U.S.) read this in high school, right? What did you learn about it? I liked it. I like Holden a lot. And I loved how much he loved his siblings. But I have no idea what I'm supposed to walk away from it with.
My family was here visiting this weekend. When they got here, I was only about 17 pages into it, and they were worried, because book club is tomorrow night. I wasn't. I could tell from those first 17 pages that it was going to be a quick read, and I could safely leave it until tonight. But they kept asking me what it was about, and I couldn't tell them. And they called to tell me they got home OK, and asked how the reading was going and what it was about, and 170 pages in (out of 212), I still couldn't tell them. I thought when I got to the point where he went to visit his old English teacher, and the teacher was making a speech about how you have to figure out what you want to be, "OK, *this* is why every kid (except me) reads this in high school English." But then his old English teacher maybe molested him, so that turned out not to be it, either.
So. Enlighten me. Again, I liked the book. Enjoyed it. Just don't know what it's about. Did I miss the climax somewhere?
In other news, the busy time at work is over! It was tense times yesterday, when I was waiting to see whether I'd have to go into work, or would be able to go out with my house guests, as planned. But then it ended after all, and I was euphoric! Oh my gosh! It was such a beautiful day! I really could not have enjoyed it any more. Between the dazzling, COOL weather, and the shopping and the NOT having to be at working talking for 9 hours with nothing to say ... it was practically a religious experience.
And speaking of religious experiences ... For those who are interested, Lent is going almost disconcertingly well. I keep thinking ... this is too easy. Not the giving up fanfiction. That's easier than I expected, yes, but I never thought it would be terrifically hard. (Though, I have definitely experienced withdrawal pangs, especially after this last episode. I am *really* looking forward to finding out what everyone's been up to, writing-wise, for the past ... is it four weeks now? Gads, that a long time! I'll be reading nonstop to catch up!)
What's easier than I expected is getting back into the ... I guess, the habit of God. That sounds bad, because it makes it sound like religion instead of devotion. But I don't mean it that way. But back into the habit of thinking about God and what he wants. It's been going well. (Though I think part of that is the busy time at work has meant that I don't go in until 1 p.m. or later, which gives me leisurely mornings for devotional reading, and such, which really makes a difference. We'll see how it holds up to my regular morning routine tomorrow.)
Which is disconcerting. For some reason I expected it to be hard, and that makes me think "well, if it's this easy, it's probably not genuine." I keep telling myself that that's ridiculous ... all I ever had to do was ask, right? God was there, waiting for me to decide to give him the time of day again. I want to go with that explanation, but I'm suspicious. I think it's one of those "I believe, help me in my unbelief" things.
Which is somewhat similar to the feeling I am experiencing now, having just finished the book club book for this month, Catcher in the Rye. Which is why I'm issuing this plea for help. Everyone except me (in the U.S.) read this in high school, right? What did you learn about it? I liked it. I like Holden a lot. And I loved how much he loved his siblings. But I have no idea what I'm supposed to walk away from it with.
My family was here visiting this weekend. When they got here, I was only about 17 pages into it, and they were worried, because book club is tomorrow night. I wasn't. I could tell from those first 17 pages that it was going to be a quick read, and I could safely leave it until tonight. But they kept asking me what it was about, and I couldn't tell them. And they called to tell me they got home OK, and asked how the reading was going and what it was about, and 170 pages in (out of 212), I still couldn't tell them. I thought when I got to the point where he went to visit his old English teacher, and the teacher was making a speech about how you have to figure out what you want to be, "OK, *this* is why every kid (except me) reads this in high school English." But then his old English teacher maybe molested him, so that turned out not to be it, either.
So. Enlighten me. Again, I liked the book. Enjoyed it. Just don't know what it's about. Did I miss the climax somewhere?
In other news, the busy time at work is over! It was tense times yesterday, when I was waiting to see whether I'd have to go into work, or would be able to go out with my house guests, as planned. But then it ended after all, and I was euphoric! Oh my gosh! It was such a beautiful day! I really could not have enjoyed it any more. Between the dazzling, COOL weather, and the shopping and the NOT having to be at working talking for 9 hours with nothing to say ... it was practically a religious experience.
And speaking of religious experiences ... For those who are interested, Lent is going almost disconcertingly well. I keep thinking ... this is too easy. Not the giving up fanfiction. That's easier than I expected, yes, but I never thought it would be terrifically hard. (Though, I have definitely experienced withdrawal pangs, especially after this last episode. I am *really* looking forward to finding out what everyone's been up to, writing-wise, for the past ... is it four weeks now? Gads, that a long time! I'll be reading nonstop to catch up!)
What's easier than I expected is getting back into the ... I guess, the habit of God. That sounds bad, because it makes it sound like religion instead of devotion. But I don't mean it that way. But back into the habit of thinking about God and what he wants. It's been going well. (Though I think part of that is the busy time at work has meant that I don't go in until 1 p.m. or later, which gives me leisurely mornings for devotional reading, and such, which really makes a difference. We'll see how it holds up to my regular morning routine tomorrow.)
Which is disconcerting. For some reason I expected it to be hard, and that makes me think "well, if it's this easy, it's probably not genuine." I keep telling myself that that's ridiculous ... all I ever had to do was ask, right? God was there, waiting for me to decide to give him the time of day again. I want to go with that explanation, but I'm suspicious. I think it's one of those "I believe, help me in my unbelief" things.