Summer Reading List: 2010 Edition

What's On the Bookshelf?

The time has come for me to start putting together my summer reading list! Like last year, I’ll probably deviate extensively from it, and hopefully manage to complete at least half of the books on it.

I’ve noticed that my list has a couple of themes, being either Italian focused (or influenced by my stay in Florence) or dystopian. And some are just random.

Confessions–St Augustine

Decameron–Boccaccio

New Testament

Inferno–Dante (finish reading!)

1984–George Orwell (reread)

Brave New World–Alduos Huxley (reread)

Fahrenheit 451–Ray Bradbury (definite reread–I read this once, in the seventh grade)

The Shining– Stephen King

Let the Right One In–John Lindqvist

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest–Ken Kesey

Any other suggestions? I recently read a couple of really poorly composed books and need to purge my mind of the awful taste.

In some cases, like 1984, Brave New World and Fahrenheit 451, these are books that I read for school years ago. Now that I’m older (and perhaps a little wiser), I hope to get something more out of them, and just enjoy them without having to worry about needing to remember details for exams and essays.

In which Beth goes to Hell (merrily)

Florentine Scribblings

I have the greatest term paper topic ever. I’m taking a class on Dante, Petrarca and Boccaccio this semester, and for my term paper, I get to pull together my own version of Hell.

Yes.

So what does this entail? Well, May’s short story will be written by Thursday (nothing like a little pressure). And I get to explore Hell, complete with my own guide, decide which sins end up where, the punishment, and so forth. It’s going to be great.

At this point, I’m part of the way through Hell. I’ve been through the antechamber, down through the first two levels. By this afternoon, I’ll have made it through all six. Why six? From what I remember from my Biblical literature courses, six is an imperfect number. There will be seven sections to my Hell, and an eighth section occurring outside of Hell (creating the seven days of one’s life and the eighth day of the Resurrection…what I’ve learned here in Florence).

Well, I’m off to Hell. I’ll be back soon.

Sheer Art Attack–my new blog.

The Twirl and Swirl of Letters

Don’t worry, I’m not abandoning this one. I’ve been thinking too much about art these days, so I’ve decided that rather than hijacking She Thinks Too Much with posts about it, I’d create a new blog devoted to the discussion of art, both viewing and creating.

You can read it here: Sheer Art Attack.

It’s very much a work-in-progress, I only created it this morning.

Hurray for Art!

Florentine Scribblings

My muse has been a bit confused lately. To draw or to write?

This week, my energies are transferred to the first medium. One of the wonderful aspects about living in Florence is the numerous art museums, each begging to be explored. I find myself returning to the Palazzo Pitti at every chance I get. Why? It’s never as crowded as the Uffizi and there’s a rather large collection of Andrea del Sarto’s paintings, including one of my personal favorites, San Giovanni Battista.

San Giovanni Battista

Wikipedia

Anyways, wandering through art museums always piques my creativity. Whether through drawing, or being drawn completely into the moment captured in marble or oils. There’s something contemplative about del Sarto’s works that makes me stop, stare and wonder.

I’m entering an art show in Florence. My submission is a ‘reinterpretation’ of this piece, a bust portrait in conte crayon. Plus, my paper is larger–100x70cm. My room has turned into a studio, with sketches and reproductions strewn across the floor.

I’ll post pictures after the show–I’m not sure what the rules are regarding photos of the work prior to the event.

Sospira.

The Twirl and Swirl of Letters

I haven’t a good reason for why I haven’t updated. Yes, I’ve been writing, but my story “Earthly Paradise” (the one that takes place somewhere in Italy and I so happily wrote about) is faltering. I dislike the main character. John is too…bland. Too sheepish. He just accepts things with a wide, dumb grin. At first, I thought that this would be interesting, a character who doesn’t question the strange things happening around him. It would be a refreshing change from some of my other characters who are too inquisitive for their own sakes.

“Earthly Paradise” is stalling. It feels too big to be a short story (well, it probably will be a short story, should I finish it). I usually write stories that fall below 2,500 words (gee, that’s short). But every time I set pen to paper, I find myself writing repetitive scenes. I don’t know how it’s going to end. In the past, I would laugh and say, “getting there is half the fun!” But in this case, it’s only frustrating.

I haven’t written enough varied material in this story to pick out a theme. There are different threads of a plot, featuring rivalries, experiments and the potential for double-crossing. I have an end that I would like to reach, but John isn’t gutsy enough to get to that ending.

I guess through it all, I must do one of the following:

  • Switch the main character
  • Struggle through with the gutless John (if his name was Jack, I’m sure the story would be different)
  • Ditch “Earthly Paradise” in favor of a story that hasn’t been thought of yet

I’m sure I’ll figure something out.

Nothing like a beautiful day…

The Twirl and Swirl of Letters

Spent the afternoon outside today, reveling in the glory that is la primavera. Italy has finally decided that it is spring, and the weather is warm, the sun shining, and the sky sans clouds.

Days like today make me glad, happy, content to be alive. That, and it fires up the creative juices. I’d like nothing more than to sit and draw or write. So, I drew some this afternoon, after returning home from a long (painful) walk. New shoes kill the feet.

Having to draw for art is getting my mind thinking about my WIP. My MC, John, is an artist (no doubt because of ALL the art I’ve seen and drawn). He looks at things and wonders how he’ll capture their essence. He’s different from my other characters (and such a sheep…). I think I’ve determined that I like him, but wish that he would be a bit stronger. I guess that may be what this story is about, in the end–John discovering his strength and learning to question things.

I think I like this story. I just hope that it finishes itself up this month. I’m getting too many introduction scenes–I think I’ve had John introduce himself three separate times. Not having an end in sight is a touch disheartening, but I suppose I just need to enjoy the ride.