Cleo’s Comments (group member since Apr 12, 2016)

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

Kenia wrote: "This sounds like a wonderful idea except I'm not sure if I understand precisely how you mean? Do you mean like a "What are you reading?" type folder? j..."

Perhaps a folder that says WEM Member Book List, or even WEM & Classic Book Lists or Track Your Projects ....... Something like that but perhaps you can think of a better title. Then each member can start their own thread with their list of books that they are planning to read. Sort of like this. Does that make sense?

I've made my way through Aeschylus' works and he has pushed Sophocles out of the number one position for me for Greek playwrights, but I'm going to start reading all of Sophocles works soon, so we'll see if he can regain top billing. :-) I do have Prometheus Bound to read still, although scholars believe it might have been written by Aeschylus' grandson. Agamemnon is one of my favourite plays. I'll look forward to the discussion!

Sharon wrote: "But their influence on movements such as anti-slavery and feminism was far-reaching, not to mention the literary impact it had ..."

I didn't know about that. I'll be looking for these issues when I read more of their works. Thanks for the information!

Kenia, I'm wondering if it might be fun to make a folder for members personal book lists? That way we can keep track of our books while seeing how everyone else is doing with their reading. Does that sound like a plan? ;-)

Sharon wrote: " Yes, the Alcotts (particularly Bronson and Louisa) were Transcendentalists, along with Emerson, Thoreau, Margaret Fuller, and many others. There are so many aspects to the Transcendentalist movement, it is hard to know where to begin! I find it fascinating, and plan to tackle it at some point :)..."

I've had problems with the Transcendentalists so far, so I'm excited you're going to study them more and then perhaps you can let me know what I need to appreciate about them! :-) I read Walden and really enjoyed it, and some of Emerson's works, but I find that their philosophy is rather idealistic and unrealistic. It sounds lovely, but practically, I don't think it would play out in the way they thought it would. However, I do think it's important that there are people like them who would share their ideas, as they at least get you thinking more deeply about certain aspects of life.

Sandy, what languages did you study? I'm curious. I took French (of course) in school, and also Spanish and German. Since then, I've dabbled a little in ancient Greek and Latin. I've just signed up for the Future Learn Italian course, but we'll see how far I get with it. As you know, finishing up those courses have been a challenge for me.

Hi Sharon, and welcome to the group! I hope that you'll share your list with us, when you have it completed.

Kenia, I actually am very good with arithmetic but horrible with math. Isn't that weird. It may be a mental block from poor teachers though. I enjoy detail and am relatively organized, although I usually am overloaded and don't feel organized. I had thought of becoming a librarian when I got out of school, but it was 6 years university and I had to do Calculus first year (help!), so I guess I ran in the opposite direction. I also was interested in languages, but at the time I graduated, all the second-languages jobs were in Eastern Canada and I didn't want to go there. In retrospect, I wish I'd stuck with the librarian career, but if I had, who knows what I'd be saying now. Wishing I was in accounting ......?? ;-)

Kenia wrote: "I majored in engineering and that's what I do for a living. I.."

I can't believe you're an engineer. You've given me my shock for the day! ;-)

I wish I'd gone into something language-oriented, but I'm in accounting. Weird, because my talents lie with words, not numbers. Life draws us to strange places, doesn't it?

Hi, Sarah! I'm just finishing up the biographies (a little out of order at the end, thanks to my library) and will be starting the histories soon. I hope your summer is relaxing and leaves you lots of time for reading!

I have this one coming in the mail, but with The Faerie Queene in progress and The Histories: The Landmark Herodotus waiting to be picked up, it might be June before I get to this one. I enjoyed your review with the highlights on your blog! :-)

Ah, ha! You've anticipated me! I suggested having an introduction thread and you've done it already!

I have been reading through The Well-Educated Mind first edition, but I skipped the novels and began with the biographies section. I've enjoyed them but am going to be glad to be finishing up soon and moving on to the histories. My favourite biography would probably be Confessions followed by The Seven Storey Mountain.

I really love how Kenia has incorporated everything chronologically. While I feel it was mildly beneficial to read the biographies in this manner, having the reading directed at a certain genre only, really didn't give me the big picture. It makes much more sense to incorporate all the genres chronologically.

As for hobbies other than reading, I like kayaking, hiking, dogs and peace and relaxation, which I don't get much of. ;-)

I'm looking forward to this group, and seeing some of the new books from the new edition of The Well-Educated Mind.