Summer Reading

Ahhhh.... There is nothing quite so relaxing as Summer reading!

 As I mentioned in my last post, I read "The Scarlet Pimpernel," which I devoured in three days.  An exciting adventure!

Next was "Cyrano de Bergerac," which I read just as quickly!  I also got to chuckle out loud a couple of times!

I went on to read "The Phantom of the Opera."  Lots of mystery and intrigue in this one!  Thoroughly enjoyed this.  It ended in a very surprising way which was bittersweet (a little more sweet than bitter)!  Good story!

Now, if I haven't grown too bold, I've begun "The Count of Monte Cristo."  This one has over 3,000 pages!  So no, this isn't the abridged version!!!  But I expect it will hold my attention quite effectively!

As you can tell, I'm on a classics kick.  Just last Fall I read "Pride and Prejudice," "Dracula," and "Journey to the Center of the Earth."  All of which were wonderful to read!  I didn't regret my self inflicted plunge into the classics!

Back in high school, I didn't read hardly any classics, they just weren't required.  But I did have an introduction to some of them by way of Edgar Allen Poe, and titles such as "A Separate Peace," "The Pearl," "The Grapes of Wrath," etc.  Why oh why do they feel it necessary to introduce teens to nothing but such depressing reads?  None of them stuck with me except the depth of depression they marked me with!  Just after high school, a good friend of the family did me a great service by suggesting I read something else by Steinbeck, called "Cannery Row."  I took his suggestion, and I am glad I did because for the first time I enjoyed reading, and I laughed out loud!  I loved it!  The characters were far from perfect, but I got to see them come to life with humorous realism.

I believe now that I am older more mature, I'm able to appreciate more worldly titles.  I was in such a fog in high school.  Now, I see with more clarity.

However, this busy mother/wife/homesteader/homeschooler, who needs these much needed vacations in the form of books, will not be going to Edgar Allen Poe, or any other titles that inspire depression or misery!!!  I need triumphs!  Justice!  Heroism!  The human spirit triumphing over adversity is a perennial joy to me.  I can always put such inspiration to use in my own life!

How about you?  What titles have inspired you?  Which ones stuck with you?  Why?

I'd love to hear all about it!

Maybe you'll pass a little more inspiration my way!

Happy Summer to you dear reader!

I must confess that with a big garden, growing harvests, the nearly up and coming home school year (and ALL that comes and goes with it), keeping the household running, keeping myself together, working weekends running equipment, and various soap operas, I'm feeling in no condition to blog for a while!

I'm tired!

I don't know how so many people do it all!

I need a real break!

Now look at this and tell me I'm not evil for wanting Summer to end!...

...go ahead!  I double dog dare you!

We all had a blast harvesting, hauling, shucking, cooking and eating the corn!
What a treat it was!  It's as if I'd passed out candy!

"Just living is not enough," said the butterfly, "one must have sunshine, freedom and a little flower."  ~Hans Christian Anderson

So fuzzy, I just want to pet it!

Bean pickers...

...and the Bean harvest.
We got eight 1 quart bags just from this basket alone.  That is, after eating some for dinner!

Just this morning's harvest of squash, more beans (under squash), a couple tomatoes (oh how they take their good time ripening!), and a couple handfuls of Serrano Peppers.

Cucumbers for a salad tonight!

 

Since I am just short of completely exhausted, and in need of recharging my batteries, so to speak, I need a vacation.  However, since we haven't the funds for such a luxury, I've been bringing the vacation to myself, in the form of a book or two! 

 Last week I read "The Scarlet Pimpernel," which is set in the time of France's horrible and bloody revolution, where Madame Guillotine ruled.  I love adventures, some mystery, heroic heroes, and a dash of romance.  This was a great choice as it fit the bill nicely.  Plenty of escapism.  Pun intended!

Now I'm reading "Cyrano de Bergerac."  This one's got wit, action, a dash of tragedy, lots of comedy, and of course, a little romantic intrigue.  Our hero, Cyrano, who is endowed with a majestic nose and an even more majestic wit, is the swashbuckler who more than makes up for his nose through his character.

To pass a laugh on to you, I share this small excerpt...

In the first act, Valvert is unable to stop fixating on the fact that Cyrano hasn't even any gloves about him for this verbal duel.  Finally, Cyrano responds, cutting Valvert off once again,

"I am without gloves? ... a mighty matter!  I only had one left, of a very ancient pair, and even that became a burden to me... I left it in somebody's face."

That seems to fit my mood nicely right now!

So after sharing this with you today, I feel somewhat revived!
Thank you for sharing in the medicine of smiles...
...and maybe a laugh!

It won't be Summer for too much longer...

So curl up with a good book, and a glass of sweet tea or lemonade!

Linking up with the Farmgirl Friday blog hop!  Hop on over there!