1) I finished The Grapes of Wrath and really liked it, even though I didn't really enjoy reading it (does that make sense? I think I just wasn't in the reading mood). I can see why it's a classic, and I especially enjoyed the style in which Steinbeck wrote the book -- particularly the intermediary chapters that were more abstract and poetic than the actual storyline. The book is sad, that's for sure. I hate that the dog got killed. And I hate the system Steinbeck describes, where the ginormous farms exploit the workers. It made me understand the importance of unions, at least in a situation like that! It also made me think about how far removed most Americans are from "the land" today, and how hard it is to make a living as a farmer -- and it seems to me that it just shouldn't be that way. Should it?
On a lighter note, the name Rosasharn (the way the Joad family pronounces "Rose of Sharon") never fails to crack me up! For all of you currently in the "family way," I recommend that you seriously consider naming your baby girl Rose of Sharon. Come on, it's unique, right?
2) I am currently reading Crime and Punishment, and, much to my surprise, loving it! I usually have a hard time connecting with Russian literature, but this time around I actually look forward to reading it. I started out reading a hard copy of the book, but as an experiment I downloaded a free copy into the Kindle app on my iPhone, and now I'm reading the book on my iPhone exclusively. This is my first foray into the world of e-reading. So far, I'm enjoying it more than I thought I would. Maybe it's due to the fact that with my iPhone I can read in bed while Erik is sleeping without using a flashlight...
3) On a non-literary note, a few weeks ago I was ordained as a deacon in the Anglican Mission! Woohoo! Here I am in my new duds with my bishop, my rector, a fellow deacon, and Erik:
Here I am with my parents, who came out from SoCal for the event:
And here is Melvin, my MIL's party flamingo, dressed up for the occasion:
And now, back to what I am actually supposed to be doing with my day...
