Emerson

Aug. 20th, 2004 08:29 am
primsong: (Default)
[personal profile] primsong
Been reading through a collection of poetry and essay snippets by Ralph Waldo Emerson. We have a 'secret sisters' thing at our church where you pick a name at the beginning of each year out of a basket, then leave goodies anonymously for them throughout the year. Last year I got random thrift store clearance bin stuff. This year I have a great one - I get chocolate, LOTR figures and books of poetry! Woohoo!

Hence the new (antiquated) anthology of Emerson. I never cared for him before, but now I see it's because I only read some of his poems. He is a bit stilted in his poetry, the imagery is okay but it doesn't flow together very well and his analogies often feel a bit forced. Now I see why - he utterly soars in his essays and journal entries! Taking the concepts he has there and trying to force them into a poetic pattern was for him like clipping his wings.

I'm heading to the library today to return my daughter's nearly-overdue Star Trek novels (she's getting into classic Trek this summer) and I have *got* to find a collection of his essays to read the complete work instead of these tantalizing sections that are sprinkled between the poems in this book. I don't necessarily agree with Emerson on some of his conclusions about man, the spirit realm and nature but wow could he write!

(no subject)

Date: 2004-08-20 04:44 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lin4gondor.livejournal.com
Sounds like your secret sister knows you well. :-D

So you have a Star Trek reader in the family! Many of those books are quite enjoyable reading -- I know from experience. I'm a DS9er myself; unfortunately most of those novels have to be bought as the library doesn't carry them all. :-(

(no subject)

Date: 2004-08-20 09:27 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] primsong.livejournal.com
I have my complete James Blish series from my junior high years, which for reasons I cannot explain I marked in pink. All the funny parts - underlined or highlighted! :-P And this from someone who never writes in books, or even creases them if she can help it....

I have a handful of favorites too, like Uhura's Song and Black Fire (Spock as a pirate! love it) - but I never really crossed over into the spin-offs.

(no subject)

Date: 2004-08-20 11:10 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lin4gondor.livejournal.com
Ooooo, I have the James Blish series, and yes, I, too have the funny parts marked, LOL! (but not in pink). But they are in Pakistan, along with many other great Star Trek books, Classic and spin off alike. :-( I'll have to go get them someday, as I can't afford to replace them all! All my Star Trek and my Ellis Peters (the complete set of Brother Cadfael mysteries), and the complete set of History of Middle-Earth are sorely missed. And my favorite set of the LOTR trilogy from my high school days, where all the best Boromir parts are marked in green pen. ;-)

(no subject)

Date: 2004-08-20 11:43 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] primsong.livejournal.com
LOL! Boromir marked in green! You found your passion young, dear Lin. And Cadfael - yeah! I love Cadfael! I've only read about 6 of them so far, in-between other stuff but have thoroughly enjoyed them all. :-D

Profile

primsong: (Default)
primsong

August 2023

S M T W T F S
  12345
678910 1112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031  

Most Popular Tags

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags

No cut tags
Powered by Dreamwidth Studios