Yeah, I think there is a Tao-like find the flow kinda thing that can be helpful. There’s too many books :) You can find another one :) I eventually come back around (sometimes).
I feel the same about book clubs. Stories choose us, not the other way around. To paraphrase Uncle Ray, "you're looking for a book so that when you open up the pages, you can say, 'there I am'."
Not to overgeneralize too much, but I think we get spiritual transformations a bit wrong in our culture. We read about them I suppose, but how that reading gets applied in this modern life sometimes reminds me of professing guitar skills after reading, analyzing and commenting on tablature.
I enjoyed the poem. I've had dreams like that from time to time, and I find it damaging to the experience to speak of them directly. Poetry or music seem to keep them much better in-tact.
That's what I love about it. :) Everett dismisses the whole thing, because to him a faith ritual is completely irrelevant in the eyes of the law. But as John Moriarty says, the world is more strange and mysterious than we are capable of supposing. The baptism felt a little culty, Delmar cuts the line and yet it still mattered. Everett himself gets baptized by the flood, after confronting something that is not of a "human institution." Strangeness, faith and mystery is greater than Everett's rationalism, even though he only admits it for a couple of seconds.
I love everything about this post, but maybe these lines most of all - “Everyone wants to change the world,
I want to change myself. So first I must sleep.”
I love being in a book club and just started a new one last year . . . but I also give myself permission to show up without having finished a book if my soul protests. Ive only had to quit on one of the books so far, but I’m sure it will happen again at some point!
I had just learned, from these comments, about a concept called “the silent bookclub.” Which is where people join together, to just sit quietly an read!
Lately I've been having some intense dreams. One I'm planning to turn into a poem or story. And like the chanted refrain in Asteroid City says, You can't wake up if you don't fall asleep. Get that sleep, Josh
Thanks, Stephanie. I used to think I’d always be a swim-against-the-current kind of person. And now, I’m thinking it’s better to find rivers going in the direction in which we want to go.
I'm also really fond of the gambling scene with Nikolai and Dolokhov. That never seems to make it into the film adaptations for some reason. Someday, when I make my War and Peace film.
I feel ya on the book club thing, although I do do them, online for books I like. Just more of a discussion / study group, and not very many of them. I am considering doing one for Lonesome Dove this summer with the folks at Dying Breed substack. I've wanted to read it for awhile, and I like Brett, so it would be fun to hang out.
At the same time, I often scoff at book clubs. Especially this one that my library sponsored for awhile called "On the Same Page" where they wanted everyone to read the same book. I thought everyone should be reading different books. That's what irritated me... because a book can come to you at a certain time, like you said. The other times before or after might be wrong. Plus, I think it is good if everyone is reading lots of different stuff. So I share the general sentiment, even as the occasional book club has been useful to me.
The transformation though, ahhh, that is something else altogether, this waking up...
...waking up requires a lot of energy, so it seems to me, periods of rest are necessary to have the continued energy later.
From where I stand, I see you've been working your ass off with your writing, talks, tapes, and everything else you got going on.
I guess, if I was to design my perfect book club I’d just have everyone write an essay about it and then everyone discusses each others essays.
Some people come to the discussion with ideas fully formed and some people use the group to work out their own thoughts. So I feel there is a huge variance in expectations.
There was a few recommendations for a “silent book club” which is just people reading together.
Thanks for the music suggestions, I will check them out!
Good ideas Josh. I like the silent reading one a lot, and also the idea of people presenting essays after the book has been read. Those would mix it up in a good way.
I'm very happy to hear that Tolstoy has found you where you are, Josh, and I look forward to more commentary if he makes his way back into your poetry. Enjoy your reading!
Thanks, Brock. Yeah, he’s quite an interesting guy. I’m reading one of the biographies of him as well at the moment. There’s a confluence of circumstances, upbringing, talent, and luck that all has to come together for a person like that I think.
This is why I host a Silent Book Club here in town - everyone gets to read whatever book has called to them.
I've been to my local Silent Book Club and it's been fun. I recommend
Ah, I did not know what this was, but yeah, I’d rather do this :)
Josh! I felt reading a book when it calls. I have wasting good time forcing myself to read books that I was not ready for.
Hope all is well for you and Fam!
Yeah, I think there is a Tao-like find the flow kinda thing that can be helpful. There’s too many books :) You can find another one :) I eventually come back around (sometimes).
I hope you are well and thanks for stopping in!
I feel the same about book clubs. Stories choose us, not the other way around. To paraphrase Uncle Ray, "you're looking for a book so that when you open up the pages, you can say, 'there I am'."
Not to overgeneralize too much, but I think we get spiritual transformations a bit wrong in our culture. We read about them I suppose, but how that reading gets applied in this modern life sometimes reminds me of professing guitar skills after reading, analyzing and commenting on tablature.
I enjoyed the poem. I've had dreams like that from time to time, and I find it damaging to the experience to speak of them directly. Poetry or music seem to keep them much better in-tact.
Yeah, I don’t (yet) dream in ghazal form :) I think O’ Brother captured it pretty well. “Free Baptisms Today” kinda vibe to transformation.
It’s even better now that I think about it, because he didn’t even wait in the rather long line. He cut to front :)
I need to rewatch the film, but I think he treats the event somewhat seriously afterwards.
That's what I love about it. :) Everett dismisses the whole thing, because to him a faith ritual is completely irrelevant in the eyes of the law. But as John Moriarty says, the world is more strange and mysterious than we are capable of supposing. The baptism felt a little culty, Delmar cuts the line and yet it still mattered. Everett himself gets baptized by the flood, after confronting something that is not of a "human institution." Strangeness, faith and mystery is greater than Everett's rationalism, even though he only admits it for a couple of seconds.
" a book chooses you and not the other way around"
so true
The best ones anyway :) Thanks, Janie!
I love everything about this post, but maybe these lines most of all - “Everyone wants to change the world,
I want to change myself. So first I must sleep.”
I love being in a book club and just started a new one last year . . . but I also give myself permission to show up without having finished a book if my soul protests. Ive only had to quit on one of the books so far, but I’m sure it will happen again at some point!
I had just learned, from these comments, about a concept called “the silent bookclub.” Which is where people join together, to just sit quietly an read!
Book clubs are also a great social check-in.
Thanks, Lisa for stopping by!
Hey Josh,
Your poem was felt.
Best,
Mahdi
Thanks, Mahdi.
Lately I've been having some intense dreams. One I'm planning to turn into a poem or story. And like the chanted refrain in Asteroid City says, You can't wake up if you don't fall asleep. Get that sleep, Josh
Ah, that’s a great reference! I do like Wes Anderson.
I can't describe in words the emotion I felt reading this. Resignation sticks with me and, of course, the desire for escape. Very powerful.
Thanks, Stephanie. I used to think I’d always be a swim-against-the-current kind of person. And now, I’m thinking it’s better to find rivers going in the direction in which we want to go.
I appreciate your sharing your reaciton.
I almost never stop thinking about Natasha knitting, as she sits at Andrei's bedside.
Yeah, there are quite a few never-forget scenes I think.
I'm also really fond of the gambling scene with Nikolai and Dolokhov. That never seems to make it into the film adaptations for some reason. Someday, when I make my War and Peace film.
Yo Josh,
I feel ya on the book club thing, although I do do them, online for books I like. Just more of a discussion / study group, and not very many of them. I am considering doing one for Lonesome Dove this summer with the folks at Dying Breed substack. I've wanted to read it for awhile, and I like Brett, so it would be fun to hang out.
At the same time, I often scoff at book clubs. Especially this one that my library sponsored for awhile called "On the Same Page" where they wanted everyone to read the same book. I thought everyone should be reading different books. That's what irritated me... because a book can come to you at a certain time, like you said. The other times before or after might be wrong. Plus, I think it is good if everyone is reading lots of different stuff. So I share the general sentiment, even as the occasional book club has been useful to me.
The transformation though, ahhh, that is something else altogether, this waking up...
...waking up requires a lot of energy, so it seems to me, periods of rest are necessary to have the continued energy later.
From where I stand, I see you've been working your ass off with your writing, talks, tapes, and everything else you got going on.
Two songs for you on that front:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KiC0Sl7c4E
"Lay your head back in your old easy-chair / The day is done / The harder you try to keep up with us / You lose another breath / Take it slow..."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4Hlf9OqwVs
I guess, if I was to design my perfect book club I’d just have everyone write an essay about it and then everyone discusses each others essays.
Some people come to the discussion with ideas fully formed and some people use the group to work out their own thoughts. So I feel there is a huge variance in expectations.
There was a few recommendations for a “silent book club” which is just people reading together.
Thanks for the music suggestions, I will check them out!
Good ideas Josh. I like the silent reading one a lot, and also the idea of people presenting essays after the book has been read. Those would mix it up in a good way.
I'm very happy to hear that Tolstoy has found you where you are, Josh, and I look forward to more commentary if he makes his way back into your poetry. Enjoy your reading!
Thanks, Brock. Yeah, he’s quite an interesting guy. I’m reading one of the biographies of him as well at the moment. There’s a confluence of circumstances, upbringing, talent, and luck that all has to come together for a person like that I think.