Membro: Tallulah_Rose

Can you know a person what is in their library? For a woman I do read lots about military history and wars. As I say periodically I walk through other people's blood and guts. My family is very well read and we talk about politics and history all the time. So I grew up listening to stories that people told and to them discussing what they were reading and thinking about. My family is all farmers but they talk about every thing they read and see on TV. I have a cousin who could probably tell you more than you want to know about obscure naval battles like the Battle of Jutland or the Battle of the Tsushima Straits.

When I last talked to my Dad I asked him if he had heard Obama's speech in Oslo for the Peace Prize. My Dad asked me if Obama had said that we were getting out of Afghanistan. When I said no that Obama hadn't said anything about pulling our troops out. My Dad then said that he didn't need to hear any more of the speech as there was never a reason to go to war. This from somebody who grew up during World War II? So I grew up curious about why my parents and relatives would have this kind of attitude. If you want to satisfy your curiousity then you have to read.

I think that things are rarely as simple as they are portrayed. For instance, a few years ago the movie "Saving Private Ryan" was very popular in the U.S. I never saw the movie. I didn't want to because I think things like that just glorify war when war is ugly and terrible. The reason people in the U. S. were so ready to be lied to and talked into the war in Iraq and Afghanistan was because they don't know what war is really like. They have never had their cities bombed or had soldiers raiding their homes for food and petrol. We Americans like to think that we rescued Europe in 1944. Maybe we did, but we weren't angels. We killed prisoners of war and civilians without compunction as easily as we did soldiers who were shooting at us. We are not lily white even in World War II. We need to know these things and the only way to do so is to read.

I also read lots of stuff about the energy crises and the oil shortage. Take a look at things in my library with the word oil in them. There is alot. But I do read lots of war stuff - novels and non-fiction. But I hate war movies. I just don't go to them. I find them too graphically bloody. I can read about blood and guts but can't watch it. I've never seen the movie "Saving Private Ryan," or "Schindler's List", etc. Just can't watch stuff that bloody.

Besides somebody great in literature said that war tests people in ways that make for great drama. Great drama makes for great stories. In-other-words, war is a great stage in which to set a story and it provides lots of plot lines for a writer. I think that is true for fiction. I also read lots of spy stories, mysteries, and thrillers. What would any of these be without people getting killed? Conflict makes for great stories.

escrito por benitastrnad, às 12:42 pm (EST) , Dec 18, 2009

My new glasses don't look anything like these. I was comfortable. I was having a nice cup of coffee and sitting there with a friend. The color is funky in this picture. Very yellow. I really like the coffee shop at Barnes & Noble. They don't mind if you sit there forever and read - as long as you have a cup of coffee.

I packed my presents in the car last night. It finally quit raining yesterday and cleared off but today it is gloomy and getting ready to rain. I didn't want to be loading my car in the rain so did it last night in the dark and the cold. I will be staying in Kansas until January 10. I have a cousin who is getting married on January 9 and I tried on my fancy velvet dress that I wear to winter weddings. I have gained so much weight in the last six months that it doesn't fit right. I will be taking my skirt and velvet blouse to wear instead. Other than that it will be jeans and heavy sweatshirts. If it is not raining tonight when I get home from work I will pack my clothes and carrying them out to the car.

Most of my presents for everybody are books. I get lots of them at my conferences so I give them away and I have two large boxes of books for presents. Its not exciting anymore as everybody knows what to expect from me. I got my Dad a subscription to the local newspaper for his birthday (December 11) and Christmas present. He stopped taking the newspaper because it got to be so expensive. I thought this was a present he could use. My sisters and I went together to get it because it was $236.00 for a year. That is quite high, but if he reads it everyday it will be worth it.

escrito por benitastrnad, às 2:43 pm (EST) , Dec 17, 2009