Great quote

I've been meaning for months to share this quote that I cut out of a NY Times Magazine article on Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Unfortunately, I can't remember the author of the article, but here's the quote.

"I was in my first year at the University of Michigan when Jorge Luis Borges came to speak. I sat on the floor of a packed auditorium and remember the moment during the questions and answers when a graduate student rose to voice his vehement request for Borges to unequivocally denounce the realist novel. Borges, with his soft, blind stare, resembled an elegant saint levitating in an English suit as he answered, 'Young man, whether we are talking about Henry James or Robbe-Grillet, Conrad or Beckett, all of literature is part of the same dream and one of the few pleasures allowed to us on this earth.'"

I really thought that Borges's comment captured the feelings of our group (and he gives the obligatory nod to HJ). If we didn't already have a great name, then I think "One of the few pleasures" would be a good one for the group.

Tidbits from the May 18 Book Group meeting

One, "sua" in Tamil means pig, so that was the true source of Uncle Matthew's and David Mitford's infamous "sewer" curse.

Two, and I can't believe I let this happen, I failed to share with you all a most unusual botanical occurrence at my house. Now whether this says something about Mother Nature and mysterious ways or merely speaks to slovenly housekeeping, I wanted to show you all the blooming, thriving tomato plant growing...in my rooftop gutter. I don't recall planting tomatoes anywhere and I'm pretty damn sure I'd remember planting them (or anything) in the gutter. Nevertheless, a beautiful healthy specimen is growing tall and strong in my gutter. We plan to take it down and rehabitate it this week.

Wind-Up Bird Chronicle

Elaine, I'm loving this book!

I've Never Felt so Free !!!

The following anectdote is a sure sign that summer has arrived....We are studying "Summer Fun" at school. Hence, our unit this week is all about going to the Beach. We had the water table out, and my afternoon students (both girls, age 4) were happily splashing about; counting starfish, floating boats, etc.

One little girl who suffers from autism was having a blast, and giving me a running commentary on everything she saw. Near the carpet, I had laid out two "beach mats," and the children had earlier stretched out upon them to enjoy our "beach time." I turned for a split second to get more water for the table, and when I turned around, I saw my student, lying on the beach mat with her hands behind her head, just as happy as a clam. She had taken her shirt off, looked me right in the eyes and said "Ms. E, I've never felt so free !!!!"

Is anybody out there?

Type, people!

Gentle Readers,

Our foray into cyberspace is underway.

I'd like to share my found item for the day:


Great literature should do some good to the reader: must quicken his perception though dull, and sharpen his discrimination though blunt, and mellow the rawness of his personal opinions.
ATTRIBUTION: A E Housman, quoted in report on Great Books discussion groups, NY Times 28 Feb 85


Post away! A