January 11, 2009 @ 9:40 pm | Filed under: Books
Film critic David Denby, writing of his experience revisiting, in his forties, the Great Books
I was reading seriously, reading Homer, Plato, Aristotle, Sophocles, all the Greeks. But I needed more time. Life got in the way—a good life, but in the way. I had always known it would, but I was determined not to rope off my school adventure, not to become a hermit, anything medieval or cloistered, but to remain a modern middle-class man, living my life as normally as possible. As if I had any choice! There were days when I wanted to be free just to study, to eat at any hour and sleep whenever I wanted to, unshaven and raw as an eighteen-year-old—and then the little one, Thomas, would take my hand and lead me into his room to show me something he had drawn, pulling me away from Plato, and I was exasperated but grateful, because a child’s hand is like nothing else on earth.
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Wow, absolutely fabulous final quote.
Posted on January 11th, 2009 at 11:34 pmIf it were not for my children and my education through homeschooling them, I would never have been introduced to the Great Books.
Posted on January 12th, 2009 at 5:29 amyou know what would make an interesting blog/podcast/book would be going through the old eliot five foot shelf with that approach
Posted on January 12th, 2009 at 6:21 amnever mind
http://thewholefivefeet.typepad.com/the_whole_five_feet/
Posted on January 12th, 2009 at 6:33 amLOL Hey Lissa , over on your twitter you wrote about a snuggly boy and then clarified yourself to mean a 5 year old boy. I didn’t think you might have meant baby, I thought you meant Scott!
Posted on January 12th, 2009 at 10:49 amBut of course most of the 18 year olds taking that Great Books course do not at all appreciate the luxury of studying Plato (or whatever) all day in their pyjamas. I bet he didn’t either. Which might be why he wants to revisit that course
I’m like the Happy Housewife (though possibly only in this respect, since no one would ever call me that) in that homeschooling is what is bringing me to the classics. We are currently reading Dickens which I have never done before homeschooling.
Posted on January 12th, 2009 at 4:45 pmSaw the tweet — sending prayers, deep breaths, and full dilation thoughts your way!
{{hugs}}
Posted on January 13th, 2009 at 8:18 amHOORAY!!!! Everyone go check out Lissa’s Twitter!!!!
YAY!!!
oh, and CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Posted on January 13th, 2009 at 1:58 pmSaw the Twitter — what a big boy!!! Congratulations to all of you!! Can’t wait for pictures (hint, hint).
)
Posted on January 13th, 2009 at 2:06 pmCongratulations! I am so happy for you! What a blessing! (okay, will stop using exclamation marks now)
Posted on January 13th, 2009 at 2:09 pmYahooooooo!!!! Congrats everyone! Can’t wait for pic’s….enjoy the babymoon…
Posted on January 13th, 2009 at 2:36 pmOh congrats congrats congrats! 9lb12 – wow!!! Yay, what wonderful wonderful news
And you were totally right – tuesday – spooky!
Posted on January 13th, 2009 at 2:41 pmBest news all day! Brings tears to my eyes – what a blessing! Congratulations!
Posted on January 13th, 2009 at 2:58 pmCongrats to you and family, Lissa!
Posted on January 13th, 2009 at 3:06 pmJust saw the photo on twitter … oh, those cheeks! Have you already kissed them a thousand times??
Posted on January 13th, 2009 at 4:25 pmCongratulations….you gave birth to a healthy two month old!!!! Enjoy this marvelous time!
Posted on January 13th, 2009 at 5:14 pmCongratulations on the new little boy! Enjoy the bliss of the next few days.
Posted on January 13th, 2009 at 7:56 pmCongratulations! What wonderful news. Blessings to all of you, and welcome to that precious new little one.
Posted on January 14th, 2009 at 6:58 amCongratulations! What a bouncing baby!
Posted on January 14th, 2009 at 8:51 amThinking of you and yours, Lissa. Enjoy a “babymoon!”
Posted on January 14th, 2009 at 3:13 pm