Vincent van Gogh

“It is with the reading of books the same as with looking at pictures; one must, without doubt, without hesitations, with assurance, admire what is beautiful.”

-- Vincent van Gogh

the life of an old man

I didn't think I would be going for a walk when the tempeature is a lowly 50 degrees, but the sun is out and I guess there is a big difference between a sunny 50 degrees and a dark overcast 50 degrees. Indeed, by the time I get back, the temperature has risen another twenty degrees.

I prefer taking my walks in the morning. It's a good way to start the day - a little exercise and getting in some quality time with a book - and enjoying my pre-lunch snack of cashew peanuts and an apple with my cup of ice-water.

"No push-ups and sit-ups this time, though, what a pity! I know I always find that inspirational."

Ah, yes, Daimon, my friend, I have pretty much lost heart on that. This is no longer about regaining my youthful running stride or building up a little muscle and strength or sculpting my tummy a little. It's just a little walk and some good reading and maybe feeding the ducks a bit. I am settling into the life of an old man, I guess.

Lo (1,2) My Very Photogenic Mother

We get a brief note about his mother, supporting our image of Humbert as not only a privilege European male, but also a very good-looking man. Lolita, as well as Charlotte, will find him attractive. He has the lures of seduction working for him. He can get what he wants. It is what he wants that will prove problemsome.

_ _ _

At thirty [my father] married an English girl... My very photogenic mother died in a freak accident (picnic, lightning) when I was three, and, save for a pocket of warmth in the darkest past, nothing of her subsists within the hollows and dells of memories, over which, if you can still stand my style (I am writing under observation), the sun of my infancy had set...

-- “Lolita” by Vladimir Nabokov

_ _ _

One might think this a point on which Humbert might draw some sympathy. Who does not feel for a motherless child? But his is an affluent family and he was not wanting for care and attention. Besides, I have never heard of an association between motherlessness and pedophilia.

In any case, Nabokov and Humbert never take up this string again but let it lie there as merely a curious fact of biography, and it is an interesting fact, if I am not mistaken, that all the significant women characters get treated pretty roughly in this novel, even brutally - lightning, vehicular slaughter, beatings, rape. One could think that “Lolita” is a rather misogynistic novel. In any case, when it comes to seeking out the causes of his fate, Humbert gives all his attention to Annabel, which we will get into in the next chapter.

David Foster Wallace

“Fiction is one of the few experiences where loneliness can be both confronted and relieved. Drugs, movies where stuff blows up, loud parties — all these chase away loneliness by making me forget my name’s Dave and I live in a one-by-one box of bone no other party can penetrate or know. Fiction, poetry, music, really deep serious sex, and, in various ways, religion — these are the places (for me) where loneliness is countenanced, stared down, transfigured, treated.”

-- David Foster Wallace

Book-Blogging

"What is this business about with you and your so-called book-blogging?"

It is just me conversing with my absolutely bestest friends.

"You're crazy. You do know that, don't you?"

Aren't we all mad here?

my library books

"Are you buying another book??"

What? Are you talking to me?

"No, I'm talking to the cat, silly Monk! I see you with your wallet running to the computer: two plus two equals a new book, or maybe a DVD, right?"

Oh! No, no, I just want to see if I can renew my library books online. Since I am no longer going downtown for the chicken fried rice, I would like to spare myself a trip.

"Honestly? You seem more excited than that."

Well, I am a little anxious. Remember, one of the books that I have is Neil Gaiman's "Ameican Gods", which is a pretty popular book, so I am worried that somebody may have placed a hold on it and I may have to take that trip downtown, after all. Which would be a real bummer.

Let me just punch in my card number and we'll see...

"Judging by that orgasmy smile on your face, I take it everything went alright."

Yes, indeedy! It's nice to get a break every once in a while. It keeps life interesting.

Mr. Saturday Night xxx

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