Here’s an article in WSJ by Allen Barra about G.K. Chesterton and The Man Who Was Thursday. I found the WSJ article via Neil Gaiman’s blog, which I was browsing because this is the year I’m going to “discover” Neil Gaiman. I’ve been planning to do so for several years now, but haven’t managed to actually read a single book by the much-acclaimed author. I have read The Man Who Was Thursday and named it one of my twelve favorites from last year’s reading.
I Wish I could Read LIke a GIrl by Michelle Slatalla. Mental Multivitamin sent me to this nostalgic look at the “the childhood gift of being able to suspend disbelief.” I think I can still do it, but it is easier for the younger set.
Another reason to let (make) your children play outside. My children don’t spend nearly as much time outdoors as I did when I was a kid of a girl growing up in West Texas. And I didn’t much care for playing outside; I only wanted to sit around and read. But my mom sent me outdoors and said for me to stay there “until I tell you to come in for supper,” or some such deadline. Sometimes she let me take my book with me, and I climbed the mulberry tree outside my window, perched on a branch and read. At least I was outside.
It shouldn’t be a surprise considering Mr. Obama’s strong pro-abortion statements and actions in the past, but I am nevertheless appalled that this man has been nominated for the post of U.S. Associate Attorney General. As columnist Jeffery Kuhner says, “If ‘Piranha Perrelli’ (as he is known in pro-life circles) can’t protect a defenseless, incapacitated woman from a ruthless, amoral husband – in fact, goes out of his way to help finish her off – then he certainly cannot oversee the enforcement of America’s laws.”
Octamom: Is Eight Enough? “It’s all about trust. It’s all about listening. I don’t know how many children people should have. I do know we should pray a whole lot more about it. I don’t think that big families are somehow more ‘spiritual’. I do know that the process of family building is holy ground, whether by biological or adoptive or foster or mentoring means.”
Isn’t that wonderful? I don’t know how many children any family should have. But God does. And He will lead if we let HIm.
Gene Veith asks: What works should be in our collection of the Christian Great Books?
He’s already got 50+ comments with lots of suggestions, but have a look both to get suggestions for your own reading and to give suggestions for others.
Finally, I got this quote from Julie at Happy Catholic:
Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.
Howard Thurman
Go here to read her further thoughts on the idea of service and calling and vocation.
Happy Friday, everyone! More Quick Takes at Conversion Diary.
I used to sit in our mulberry tree and read too! Mine was in Arizona though.
The Man Who Was Thursday was one of my top 5 reads of last year. I look forward to reading it again sometime. I also very much enjoyed Zuleika Dobson by Max Beerbohm.
Thanks for the link to the GKC article. I’m just finishing up Thursday. Fascinating and entertaining read!
My mother also made me go outside “until I tell you otherwise!”. Thank goodness I could take a book with me. Some of my best memories are sitting in the hammock or on the dock reading and reading and reading. As you say, at least I was outside.