I'm in a time snarl right now, and all I can say is that it will be ending eventually, and things will be much better by the very end of May and certainly by June.
And do I ever loathe preparing for public speaking! I loved teaching students, but in this case the audience will be people my age primarily. Peers. All my life I've found speaking to an audience of peers to be much more difficult. I was asked to do this, and I complied, but what was I thinking?
On the other hand, I enjoyed the research for the project tremendously. I learned a great deal more about early New England history, which is my specialty, so why the angst? Just get over it, I tell myself.
The event will be this Wednesday evening at the Chestertown Historical Society. (If I can survive until then.) Ken will be on hand to project the digital images for the presentation. I have been very thankful to have his technical help and support. Life-saving.
NOW to Books!! I am still reading The House of Mirth for the Classics Club Spin, although very, very slowly at this moment. I am reading about 12 pages per day right now. Things will pick up! By the way, I finished Avalon by Anya Seton early this past week.
I had been zooming along in The Man in the Brown Suit, by Agatha Christie, but I ran into memory-retention problems when I could only read before falling asleep and no longer during the day. Deadly combination. So I'm laying it aside momentarily--I've lost a few of the important details, but I will definitely go back and pick up all the slipped stitches as soon as Wed. May 22nd is over.
In the meantime, I had to have something to read before bed that wasn't too taxing mentally and for those rare moments when I take a break from work. I started reading a book by Dinah Jeffries that is set in Ceylon (today's Sri Lanka), in 1935, entitled The Sapphire Widow. It's a little more than romantic suspense. Perhaps romantic suspense with just a dash of thriller and a dash of mystery. A very fragrant setting! It's wonderful for those few moments when I can read.
Public speaking can be challenging. It sounds as if you will be so well prepared. I am sure that things will go well for you.
ReplyDeleteI get so busy with my job and sometimes work long hours. There are nights when I can barely manage two pages before my eyes start to close. Thus I understand slow reading and slow blogging.
I am looking forward to reading your thoughts on House of Mirth. There is a film version staring Gillian Anderson that came out a few years ago that I liked a lot.
Hi Brian,
DeleteThank you for your encouragement!
I'm so glad you've alerted me to the film of The House of Mirth. I must try to find it.
Good luck with your presentation, Judith. I can imagine the relief (and sense of accomplishment!) you will feel when it's over.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, JoAnn.
DeleteAm I ever looking forward to when it's over! I think I want a cheeseburger with bacon even! I feel stronger about it today than yesterday and the day before, but I still have more to do tomorrow before the evening of the presentation! Arggh.
Public speaking, even to students, would SLAY ME. So kudos to you. I expect that whole “imagine the audience in their underwear” thing doesn’t really work. :D
ReplyDeleteSo true about reading just before sleep and memory. As a teen, I could read anywhere and tune out most distractions but now I need a dedicated reading area (or areas) and a fairly quiet environment in order to read optimally. Sounds like the Sapphire Widow has fixed that dilemma for you, however. It is good to have a mix of books at one’s disposal.
I’ll look forward to hearing your thoughts on The House of Mirth. It is a book that you can take your time with for sure.
Hi Ruthiella,
DeleteI almost wish I were rereading The House of Mirth now. There are so, so many undercurrents--it's quite an amazing tour de force. And it's so affecting.
Oh, I do wish you luck with the presentation. I simply could not do it, speaking in public is completely beyond me so I'm awe that you agreed to do it at all. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteThank you so very much, Cath! I think I will be okay. But it's so much WORK! And I feel, lots of times, that I'm allergic to WORK.
DeleteBest wishes on your presentation--I would be terrified myself! I attend our local historical society lectures, so I can assure you that your audience will be rooting for you to do well!
ReplyDeleteI'm curious about Avalon--I loved the one Anya Seton book I read (Katherine), and really want to read more by her.
I like to read books like House of Mirth slowly - Wharton takes such care with every word that her novels lend themselves to slow reading.
Hi Jane,
DeleteThat's so helpful to point out. I will definitely bear it in mind for tomorrow night.
Avalon was nowhere near as interesting or compelling as Katherine. So, I might suggest Dragonwyck. But I haven't read many by Seton as of yet so I don't feel confident making recommendations. However, I know I'll be reading or at least trying to read more.
And yes, you're so right! The House of Mirth, the language, the style of it is so painstakingly rendered, it seems to me to be best enjoyed by reading very deliberately. I totally agree!
I am with the others, doing a presentation is not something I would do and I would be very anxious I had to. But clearly you will be well prepared and I am sure it will be fine.
ReplyDeleteI have been thinking about rereading The Man in the Brown Suit, since it has been a few years since I read it. But it will probably be a while yet, I have too much else to read.
I did read The Wolves of Winter by Tyrell Johnson and I enjoyed it a lot. So glad I heard about it from you.
Hi Tracy,
DeleteThanks so much for the good wishes! I appreciate them.
I'm so glad you enjoyed The Wolves of Winter. I think I enjoyed it as much as I did because it was so different. And it was a quick read and memorable.
Oh, I know what busy is like and I sympathize. It usually means reduced reading.
ReplyDeleteHave you ever read Mortimer J. Adler's How To Speak and How To Listen? Your public speaking story reminded me of it. All the best, with your event .... I'm sure you'll be magnificent! :-)
Hi Cleo,
DeleteI will definitely look up How to Speak and How to Listen. Thank you so much for the suggestion! We all need all the help we can get! Actually, the presentation went well, but we all know the feeling that if we had the chance to do it again it would be so much better!