Monday, April 26, 2010

From Idol to Idle

The good news is that I've broken up with my former idol, the internet. I'm no longer pulled between information-available-righthererightnow and the 3-kids-who-need-me-righthererightnow!

The bad news is that Lifehacker spotlighted one of my old posts, and I still feel compelled to tell someone. (If you haven't figured it out already, pride is my root sin.)

So what's new with your family? Are you reading anything interesting?

I picked up 3 mysteries at the library. I should have returned all 3 before polishing them off like near-empty cartons of ice cream. Each wove psychic ability into the plot, which might not have bothered me a year ago. They're sneaky that way. You start off reading about a little clairvoyance and before you know it, the narrator is delivering a demon back into its portal. My mind is screaming "Put this book down," but my fingers keep turning the page.

I can't feel superior about the internet when it's just as dangerous to fill my mind with other junk. What do you read when you just need some idle time?
Posted by Meredith at 6:50 PM
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10 comments:

  1. Diana Mott Davidson (Goldy Bear caterer mysteries), Katherine Page Hall (Faith Fairchild mysteries), Anne Perry (Charlotte Pitt series or William Monk series) Delicious reads---can you detect a food theme???
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  2. Thanks for those suggestions! I've read all the Goldy Bear mysteries, but the others sound like interesting alternatives.
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  3. My favorite is Dickens--rich characters! But I am currently reading MaryBeth Hicks' Bringing Up Geeks (Genuine, Enthusiastic, Empowered Kids).
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  4. Jan Karon's Mitford books-- I return to them over and over.
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  5. I'm reading a book about Dominican spirituality, and it keeps making me cry as I realize that I've found my people! It is so amazing to find this type of spirituality where I feel so at home.

    Anyway...

    The main reason I'm commenting is to say that I had to laugh at the Lifehacker link. I have a long history with websites and know just what a big deal that is, especially traffic-wise. How funny/crazy that it happened just when you're trying to detach from the internet and work on humility!

    You continue to be an inspiration. Thank you!
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  6. Jen, we have a super active group of Lay Dominicans in our parish and I have learned so much from their spiritual example.
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  7. Hi Meredith!
    I have some suggestions for you for reading that is healing your soul rather than feeding the beast.

    1. I agree with Annie -- Dickens is awesome. Plunge right in! Our Mutual Friend, Little Dorrit, Dombey and Sons...
    Of course Austen, Tolstoy (if you haven't read War and Peace you are just causing yourself unnecessary suffering)...but there are classics that are just fun -- Elizabeth Gaskell, Anthony Trollope (he wrote series that tell the story of the characters in turn, so that the secondary characters in one book are the main characters in another! How great is that).

    2. Try anything by Elizabeth Goudge. Her books are hard to find even used, but lots of libraries carry them -- at least our little one has most of her books. She is a healing writer for sure. When you are done reading a book of hers you feel like a better person. Her big work that was made into a movie (not very true to the book) was Green Dolphin Street. She wrote simpler ones that are just lovely...Island Magic, The Dean's Watch, Gentian Hill.

    3. I don't love all of Rumer Godden, but I love China Court and An Episode of Sparrows.

    4. For sheer fun try Cold Comfort Farm and I Capture the Castle.

    5. For laughter try anything by Betty MacDonald (she wrote the indispensable Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle books). The Egg and I, Onions in the Stew (I think it's called)...

    6. Try Janet Holt Giles' Forty Acres and No Mule and also Hannah Fowler, a wonderful pioneer story about a woman who is just fantastic.

    I would love to know if any of these hit the spot for you! God bless and maybe start with a funny book ;)
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  8. I recently discovered Mrs. Tim of the Regiment (called Mrs. Tim Christie in the US) by D E Stevenson. I got it out of the library and found it delightful.
    Along the lines of my previous comment, I found this comment on a website devoted to Stevenson apt:
    I think the reason I love the DES books so much is the characters are so brave and do what's right even in the face of difficulties. They cheer me and make me want to try to be a better person.
    http://destevenson.org/

    I don't think the purpose of literature should be to make you a better person (art doesn't have a purpose other than its own sake), but I think you should want to be a better person (or simply emerge understanding more or having grown) by reading good literature. If it's delightful in the process, then yay!
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  9. I can't read fiction because I get sucked in and forget everything until I. am. down. to. the. last. page. {sigh} At least I can walk away from the computer when dinner is burning. lol So it's all non-fiction, better yourself or else books for me.

    I just finished John Maxwell's "Failing Forward." It was a really good read. And I'm half way through "Dynamic People Skills" by Dexter Yeager. My prayer partner laughed at me and said, "Janel, do you SERIOUSLY think you need better people skills?" Um yeah. You have no idea. : p
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  10. Thank you so much for all your wonderful suggestions! I have not had a computer for the last few weeks, and my bedside reading pile has almost reached the lightbulb with your titles!
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