Sher’s Comments (group member since Nov 23, 2020)

Sher’s comments from the Nonfiction Reading - Only the Best group.

John:'One thing I noticed is all the courses seem to be archived, so you are not taking the class with a group. Meaning the course is not currently live.

You should also check out Coursera too just to see what they have to offer. But I signed up and can start when you want this fall just let me know. I might do the Whitman course first since that takes 4 weeks. depending on when you would like to begin the Modernism course.

John:
I'd love to take the. modern Poetry course with you. I've taken many online classes and taught online, so imagine I can help you, if you have questions. I believe those course is self paced once you begin, but I am not sure. I think your idea of taking the course for certification is good-- I find you learn more when you have to take some sort of quizzes and short answers. I am not sure yet how I will proceed.

I also there is a Walt Whitman in America course, which interests me too.

John:
Look for my reply over in the Poetry Talk thread....sher

John wrote: "Carol wrote: "Have you had any more thoughts about doing the English course, John? I hope it includes poetry."

Carol, I do plan to take a course via www.edx.org

I have been looking and most likel..."


John,
I have been looking everywhere for a poetry class. Not so much to write poetry, but to learn about history and forms. What course are you planning? I Gaven't seen this site before-- at first glance I am uncertain if it is MOOC or not...

I have been slugging my way through a Coursera course presented by U of IL ate Urbana, and it is good, but the videos often don't load, which is really frustrating, and some of the professors (it is presented by a team of instructors) are profoundly dry- and should be presenting. So, I've gotten a lot out of the History of Modern Poetry, but it's been a trial to get through the material. I am looking for something else. Would love a course on sonnets though at this point in my life, I seem totally incapable of writing a sonnet. The form eludes me but attracts. Love to hear more about which direction you might go, perhaps we could enter a course together????

Carol wrote: "I love reading the poems here. And what a lovely surprise to see John's poem. It is extremely good. The thought in it is so pertinent to life."

John:
So very , very nice to read your little poem. I thought you were not writing anymore... :) but I see if the inspiration strikes you....

nicely done. thanks so much for sharing it.

Jerome wrote: "I am reading The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism by Katherine Stewart on Kindle.

From Goodreads:

Katherine Stewart reveals a d..."

Jerome-- oh boy, this one looks intense, but essential reading. Be sure to share your quotes in our original group. I am interested. Thanks.

Mage's Almanac wrote: "I am currently reading https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3... and it's excellent. The author has done his research. It's always a pleasant surprise to r..."

Mage:
For some reason I couldn't get your link to work. So, I have re-posted it.
The Transcendentalists and Their World

This book isn't out until November. I've been doing a study of American intellectual thought of the 19th C for some years now, so I saw this title with great interest. I noticed those who have endorsed this books are the big hitters so to speak. How are you reading it-- via Kindle or as a review copy?

What new does it bring to Transcendentalism studies ...? One of the reviews referred to it as a dual biography of Emerson and Thoreau. I've read multiple biographies on each of them already, so that was a little less attractive to me. But, this book seems to really center on Concord as place and its role in 19th c ideas... anyway interested in anything you can tell me about the book, It's 40.00, so I am on the fence about pre-ordering it. Thanks, Sher. p.s. feel free to pm me if you prefer.

Diane- thanks for mentioning this book; I just nominated it for the Nat Lit group based on your suggestion. I've always be attracted to learning more about these birds.. I would love to try them at the farm--husband says no way!

John:
I enjoyed your comments about Gluck. I have her recent book of essays about craft. I'll share what I can of interest. John, please check the William Blake thread in our private group. Thanks.

Carol wrote: "Jane Clarke is making the distinction between someone who owns deeds of land and the person who actually works it and is in close communion with all the myriad experiences of nature that entails. I..."

I wish I could have posted a few of my favorites--but they are not online... perhaps, when I have time, I will type one out the old fashioned way from her collection _River_.

This poem is one of few I could find online to share with you. The poet is Jane Clarke my current favorite poet. SHe's Irish, and this one comes from her first collection, which I have. She writes much about the natural world and vignettes of country living--sheepdogs, rivers, folk music, butter making, hay... I really love, love her work!

Who owns the field?



Is it the one who is named in the deeds

whose hands never touched the clay

or is the one who gathers the sheaves,



takes a scythe to the thistles, plants the beech,

digs out the dockweed, lays the live hazel?

Is it the one who is named in the deeds



or the one who pulls ragwort on his knees,

lifts rocks into a cart, splits larch for stakes,

the one who gathers the sheaves,



slashhooks the briars, scatters the seed,

cuts his hand on barbed wire, hangs the gate?

Is it the one who is named in the deeds



or is it the one who could surely lead

to where children made a hiding place

in an old lime tree. He gathers the sheaves.



Is it the one who tends cattle and sheep,

and can tell you how the field got its name?

Is it the one who is named in the deeds

or is it the one who gathers the sheaves?



Jane Clarke

from The River (Bloodaxe Books, 2015)

Hi Carol-- thanks for sharing Derek Walcott one of my favorite poets! I love the imagery and language of his work!

Hi Steve:
Thanks for the suggestion to listen to Bardo. I usually listen to a book a month, so that could work well for me.

Thanks to all for reading and discussing Saunders's book. Perhaps we will be together again during a moderator's choice read in the future.

Wishing you all an enjoyable and safe summer!

I think it is also interesting the way Tolstoy presents the peasant serving class in both of the stories we read. In both cases these men seem to have a level of nobility and insight that the aristocratic master class lacks. I wonder why Tolstoy made that connection or observation? Did he see this in life in Russia—- or is this some sort of romantic view, or is there a spiritual element involved …? I have doubts it is realistic- yet…?

Also, I did enjoy Saunders’s commentary. We got a sense of what he likes in writing- what he thinks makes for a great story.

How you read _Lincoln in the Bardo_? I have not tackled this book yet…

What is reading this book like? Do you see elements of the great Russian lit in Saunders’s writing? Was the _Lincoln in the Bardo_ a satisfying read? Difficult, and if so in what ways? I have put off and put off reading this book.

I think the main reason Saunders chose this last story is because it makes one think and think and think about it afterwards. Yes, what was the surprise? And, for me Aloysha chose to die. He surrendered once again. Seen through the Christian context, and probably not very skillfully, we might say Aloysha's entire life was one of surrender to the master. This surrender made his life simple and good, and gave him peace. He was always trying to please his god.
He was a simple saint.

So, in the end - did he see the light of heaven where he would reap his rewards- did he intuit another place where he could serve?

He served the power well throughout his lifetime, and it's hard to think he'd want anything less after death.

Aloysha struck me at times as a simpleton. Is this why he had contentment? Or was his entire life beyond this world?

Of the writers we have explored, Tolstoy has been my favorite, because the two stories linger, and there are various ways to interpret them. They seems to be as enigmatic as the author.

More soon- I'm just going into a meeting.

Hi Jerome:
Well, I think the final story is written by Tolstoy, so you may find yourself in better company.

I'll start reading. it tomorrow too. To the finish line we go!

I have been a little less impressed or impacted by these stories than I hoped. Why?

I think I have trouble relating and appreciating the world these 19th century Russian writers convey. Saunders's commentary is a great help though, It is a bit like taking a class and the professor helping you gain deeper appreciation, because the teacher has all the backstory, and she gives you various ways to see the story.

I keep forgetting Saunders uses these stories for writers to help them gain craft, and I've been looking at these stories more from perspective of a reader.

Steve are you getting any ideas for your writing by reading these stories and Saunders's comments?

Hello Everyone- we've had significant issues here with excessive heat and fires. The season is tarting off with a bang-- 5 fires in the past week close by. The new normal is taking some adjustment.

Anyway we are nearing the home stretch as we look at "Gooseberries" our 6th short story. I finished it and also Saunders's comments. I didn't care for the story, but it gave me some things to ponder-, and I have been thinking about it, so it has lingering power for me- much moreso than Gogol's "Nose."

1. Was there a place in the story you found particularly moving? No.

2. Did you find something about the story that was confusing-- or did you find yourself resisting an aspect of the story? page 316 - as soon as the story departed from the two men and their journey through the countryside and the switch was made to try and tell the story of the two brothers, I felt impatient and a loss of interest.

3. What moment did you find yourself tearing up, getting annoyed, or thinking in new ways? I do think this story makes us reflect on happiness and dreams. The story well shows the delusion in dreaming and striving at all costs to attain something you think will bring happiness and then once you have it--even if it is bad-- you don't see the object (gooseberries) as they really are, but you cling to the idea of the way they should be. Seems sad. The most interesting part of the story for me was when they stopped at Alyohin's estate. I felt like here is a tale worth telling. It would be interesting to better understand how he became like he is. Is his story a happy ending or is he missing something too? The insert of the beautiful girl was interesting- I wonder what she symbolizes in the story?

4. What did you feel about this story and when did you feel it?
The story, like his others begins with geography-- for some reason this is a slow beginning for me in his stories that we have read--though perhaps beginning with geography is Chekhov's trademark.

I am getting used to Chekhov's endings, and I am better at just taking them as is. I do this with Henry James too, as his stories are notorious for ambiguous or unhappy endings. After reading. few you just accept the style.

Larry wrote: "Sher wrote: "I'm a fan John. I've read _The Road_ and _All the Pretty Horses_. All the Pretty Horses. The Road. The road has scenes I'll never forget as long as I live! Ve..."

I would say _ All the Pretty Horses_. That was my first response. _The Road_ is fantastic and chilling , but it is apocalyptic.

I'm a fan John. I've read _The Road_ and _All the Pretty Horses_. All the Pretty Horses. The Road. The road has scenes I'll never forget as long as I live! Very intense.. How would I feel reading it in 2021? Not sure. It deals with the end of the world, the end of nature, the end of family, but it centers around one man's relationship and love for his son.