words, words, words

Unbelievably, I have already finished, "Siddhartha." It was a fairly easy read and if not completely gripping at least interesting enough that it held my attention. After doing a bit more research about the novel, I found that it gathered a cult like following in the 1960s with the authors that became known as the beat generation and in fact Kerouc's "On the Road" was highly influenced by "Siddhartha." This isn't surprising when you consider that the youth of the 1960s were known for rejecting conformity and materialism and looking for freedom and meaning. This book is a hymn to those ideals. I definitely related to Siddhartha's journey in this novel. It is filled with turmoil, confusion, depression, sadness, joy, wonder and peace. At any point in life we all experience these things and we all fight to resist temptation. He is in search of finding a peace within that will allow him to transcend material as well as bodily needs which he views ...

I actually started a new book! yay! Its been a while I know. The last few weeks of my life have been a whirlwind. I actually have a job now (so the description of this blog is no longer relevant but who cares that much right?) and that has monopolized a lot of the time I used to use for reading. But I am finally settling into my new routine and picked up "Siddhartha" by Herman Hesse the other night. I knew virtually nothing about his book when I ordered it but it sounded interesting an it was on all the lists I used to create this blog. Written by German born writer, Herman Hesse, "Siddhartha" tells the story of a man living in India in search of the meaning of life. It parallels the life of the real Buddha and Siddhartha was actually the name the real Buddha had before he took on the more well known one. It was published in 1922 in Germany but didn't make it to the states until the 1950s. You really can't get more universal than the theme of the search fo...

When change happens in life, I always look for things that are familiar amidst the chaos of newness. Revisiting classics is one of those things. The familiarity, the timelessness, the comforting nature of a good story has the power to make life feel grounded and real when everything around you seems to be cloudy and confusing. This can't be more true in my life at the moment or for that matter the last year of my life. I was thinking about everything that has gone on this year and once I broke it down, I was blown away by how much change I have experienced. In August of last year, I moved to a new city and a new apartment and started a new job (only to lose it 2 months later). Then in January, I got married moving my relationship to a new and deeper phase. Following that, I started 2 new jobs only to realize that neither one was right. Then I embarked upon a new career path and a new profession. So in short, in one year I had a new career, a new city, a series of new jobs and a new...

Last I left off, I was still struggling through "Tropic of Cancer" and re-reading the Harry Potter series. Well, I am currently on book 5 of Harry Potter while "Tropic of Cancer" still sits on my nightstand bookmarked to the same sad spot. I've decided its time to abandon it at least for now. I'm sick of talking about it and I'm sure you are sick of hearing how I can't get into it so goodbye for now Henry Miller. I find sometimes that if I walk away from a book and go back months or even years later, I have a whole different experience with it. So much depends on where you are in your life when you read a book. Everyone brings their own opinion, their own experiences and their own feelings to a book depending on who they are and what has happened in their life. That's why I love book clubs. And no, not the ones that Oprah made famous with suburban housewives sitting around drinking wine and complaining that they don't understand the point of ...