The Odyssey

I started reading this book/epic poem, but haven't gotten far yet due to distractions and maybe a teensy bit of lack of interest... But I do believe that just comes with the fact that it's a reading assignment rather than leisure reading; therefore, I don't read it for leisure.

I am enjoying what I've read so far, but there is one thing that bothers me. Thoreau thinks that to really read a piece of literature, you must read it in its original language. I agree with this completely, not just because Thoreau said it, but because I've thought about it and it would be more efficient to really study a piece of work if you read it in the language it was meant to be read in. However, seeing as I don't know Greek... I'd rather read The Odyssey in English than not read it at all.

Although I've only read about 40 pages, I've picked up on a lot of things I admire already. Especially the links to mythology- I don't know the first thing about mythology, but the translation I'm reading makes it easier to comprehend (another sensible reason to read it in English, I guess). Mythology has always been something I've been interested in, but haven't gotten around to learning because I don't know where to start. And I don't have any room for it in my class schedule next year. Besides mythology, I'm also picking up on Greek culture... which I am loving more and more. First of all, hospitality is a big thing (which Thoreau regards as useless, but I quite enjoy it). Also, I feel a charming sense of deliberation when reading about their culture. They said only what needed to be said, unlike today when people say what they FEEL like saying. There was a sophisticated, formal air about everything... Everyone had business to do... I would love that.

That's all, for now.

Goblet of Fire 2

I finished the book today (er, yesterday).
Suffice to say, my mind's sentence structure is the same as the book's.
I realized that even though GoF isn't my favorite, it sets up a lot of the things that make OotP my favorite. So it all works out.

Going to bed now, and I'm going to begin The Odyssey.

Goblet of Fire

I've read over 200 pages of the Goblet of Fire in the last two days. I'm on page 449 now, which is over halfway through.

This book is easily my least favorite of the Harry Potter series, but that's my personal bias. It is still fantastically written, and tells a wonderful tale (this is J.K. Rowling we're talking about!!!). The story just doesn't appeal to my tastes as much as the other books.

Only 300 pages left to go, then I'll take a break from Harry Potter to start reading Homer's Odyssey (a summer reading assignment for AP English).

Sorry for not italicizing book titles where needed...... It's hot, and I'm lazy!