“Each day, and the living of it, has to be a conscious creation in which discipline and order are relieved with some play and pure foolishness.” ~ May Sarton
I seem to be very into quotes lately. What can I say but I’ve just found some that have been resonating with me a lot. The other reason I chose this quote is because I started reading The Small Room by May Sarton which The Slaves of Golconda are discussing this Sunday.
While I think I will like this book can I just tell you it is hard to read. No, nothing wrong with the story but the book itself! I borrowed a copy from the library and it looks like it has been around since 1961 when it was published. Lots of discoloration, the pages seem brittle and just not a very nice copy overall. I should have bought this one instead. Ah well, I’ll put some gloves on and read on. Ha.
Anyway, I wanted to talk about some other stuff but I need to get back to the book and try to finish in time for the discussion. I’ve read May Sarton’s Journal of a Solitude which I thought was wonderful so I do look forward to reading this. And, please feel free to join in on our discussion.
Those who are faithful know only the pleasures of love: it is the faithless who know love’s tragedies.
-The Picture of Dorian Gray.
I think I always loved collecting quotes, but never jotted them down ..sad!
I hope you like the book 🙂
Yes, definitely one to have bought instead. I vividly recall some of my more strained reading experiences with borrowed copies like this one you’ve described. I’m sure May Sarton would have endorsed a more pleasurable reading experience: says a lot that you’re persisting nonetheless!
May Sarton had such astute insight nnd had the talent to pass them along. I have enjoyed her “Journal of a Solitude”. She was “introduced” to me (litterarely speaking) by David Walker, an art quilter extraordinaire, that gave his students tools on life that would go beyond the classroom and the years. It was not just taking a class from him it was taking lessons for life. I have not read “The Little Room” or any of the novel from M S I will be interested to know what you will say about it. Continue to have fun balancing your creative energy.
I was lucky and had this on my shelves already as I found a copy at a library sale! I agree that older, grimy books can be hard to read as the general ickiness (soiled pages) can be a distraction. Hope you enjoy it–it goes pretty quickly once you get into the story a bit.
I love quotes too. Thats a great one 🙂
I’ve borrowed books like that from the library also, they were literally falling apart at the seams.
It sounds like we could be reading the same copy of the Small Room! Even though I have been very careful and little piece of the cover on the spine cracked off and I have been babying it because another piece is about to fall off.
Hey guys – I”m still persevering with my old library copy. I think I need to take a picture of it. Really, I’m not wearing gloves but I’ve been holding some of the pages with a kleenex! haha… If I knew more about book restoration I think I’d take this on as a project and give it back to them in a much nicer condition. Alas, I need more bookbinding classes! 🙂
I hate when I get a library book like that. I always feel like I have to sterilize it before I can read it!