Heidi’s Comments (group member since May 23, 2017)

Heidi’s comments from the Reading Classics, Chronologically Through the Ages group.

Kenia wrote: "Welcome Christina and Heidi!

So glad to have you join us. Cleo is right in that myself and maybe a few others have stalled on Herodotus:

Cleo wrote: "Hi Christina! So glad that you're joining us!..."

Thanks for the tips!

Cleo wrote: "Hi Heidi! It's so nice to meet another homeschooler! I used the tweaked Classical method with very good results.

As for tips ...... wow, that's difficult. Try not to get distracted by too many bo..."

LOL!!! That's what I'm finding! I'm in a cozy mystery group, for light reading. This one for mind stimulating things/homeschool knowledge (my copy of The Illiad just came in). My husband and I and trying to read a book together to discuss; currently we're reading "The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet". Then I like to do some spiritual reading. Of course this isn't counting try to read chapter books for my son (to see if he'd like them, or if they're appropriate). And then of course there's homeschooling books; my Well-Educated Mind book just came in as well.

I'm so swamped! :) And I really try not to read too many at once, but it's getting harder and harder to do. Anyhoo, I'll figure it out. At least summer is here, so that helps. :)

How many children do you home school

Thanks everyone. :) I'm really enjoying the books and the company.

Cleo wrote: "Heidi wrote: " A god of love, rather than lust? A god of might, rather than tyrannical power? A god who just aches to give mercy and forgiveness rather than seeking revenge? The idea that every lif..."

I have not! And I confess, when I first heard about Beowulf years and years ago, it just didn't sound like my cup of tea: heroes and monsters and what not. But I had no idea these epics were full of other themes.

In a strange way they almost reminds me of science fiction, where on the surface sci-fi just appears to be about aliens and planets and space travel and what not, but sci-fi fans know (when well done) these books are almost always about more than just a futuristic thriller. They usually deal with topics like - what it means to be human.

Anyway, it is definitely on my list to read. Thanks for the recommendation. :)

So many interesting points!

In the version I read (ugh, I returned it to the library. I wish I could quote it from the book!) in the introduction, the author really highlights the idea of being 2/3s god yet mortal, and the restlessness Gilgamesh feels - the constant quest once Enkidu dies, and being soooo close.....only to have a stupid serpent eat the flower. What a waste!

I also kept thinking as I read the book about something a priest once said at Mass (I'm a recent convert and practicing Catholic, just to give context): he brought up the really interesting point of how so many people today say that Christianity, the creation story, and other "how things came to be" stories, are like so many other stories out there, and really what's the difference between Christianity and any other faith, ancient or modern? And for those who may not really know much about the stories themselves, or just quickly glance at the surface of the stories, yeah maybe (just look at the flood accounts). And yet he stressed that other creation/myth stories are sooooo full of lust or violence, or what have you, that most people would absolutely blush if they had to retell them to, say, a fellow co-worker. I confess I've read or heard very few other ancient stories, and those I'm familiar with have been children's versions or very watered down.

So to dive into Gilgamesh and read for myself how an ancient people looked at life and the bigger issues, like the dignity (or lack of) humans, mortality, sex, power - it really made me appreciate my faith! And to see in a fresh new way how the Jewish faith, and eventually the Christian faith, really was radical compared to how so many other cultures understood the world around them. A god of love, rather than lust? A god of might, rather than tyrannical power? A god who just aches to give mercy and forgiveness rather than seeking revenge? The idea that every life is precious and matters, rather than the strong shall destroy the weak because they can and that's the order of things? I think so many of these ideas are just taken for granted in our culture today, and reading Gilgamesh really highlighted that for me. Great great book. :)

Gilgamesh was written before Genesis, really? For some reason I was under the impression Genesis was written around 4,000 or 3,000 BC. but I could be totally wrong about that. Very interesting.

I just finished the book. I read the translation by N. K. Sandars (Penguin Classic). It was so much better than I thought it'd be. I'm not really into epic tales with heroes and monsters and what not, so I was pleasantly surprised to see it covered so much more than just mindless monster slaying: Friendship, mortality, destiny. I really really enjoyed it.

I would love to hear other people's thoughts. What translations have others read? What struck them? Anything they didn't like?

Hello! My name is Heidi. :) I'm a homeschooling mom of 4 with one on the way (due 11/13 of this year) and teach using the Classical method, which I am still becoming familiar with. As if I didn't have enough on my plate, I also work a small part time job to help pay them bills.

I used to be in a few book clubs but was unable to leave the family and attend the meetings. So nice there are groups online! :)

In my spare time (.........is there such a thing?........) I like to, well, read of course, but also cook, watch TV, and play board games. :) Occasionally I knit, and I keep trying to take up gardening but I'm not very good at it.

Anyhoo, looking forward to starting this journey. :) Does anyone have any tips?