On Literature

"While thought exists, words are alive and literature becomes an escape, not from, but into living." - Cyril Connolly

Funny, that's the second quote I've seen today about the aliveness of words.

I went through a phase one time where I was extremely frustrated and angry at words. They ran from me, and when they had the guts to stay, they messed up and landed in a heap on the ground, worsening things rather than helping. I suppose you could say that I got pretty cynical about them. I thought about how empty they were. They were really nothing, just made up, synchronized noises that we made with that big, awkward red muscle and those white fence posts in our mouths. I got angry, because I thought that they were a waste, and they made no sense. They were just noises that "represented" real things. And usually not very accurately, at that.

I guess I still feel that way, to an extent. But the thing was, I was trying to give words meaning, a purpose. And other than for primitive communication, they serve no purpose. We simply have to enjoy the beauty of them, as we would a sunrise or sunset. They really have no effect on our lives initially, but on our souls? Oh, they are of utmost importance, essential to life! We'd (I'd) go crazy if I reduced everything in this world to it's purpose. Truth is, there are some things that are simply for the enrichment of the soul. Sure, you can explain it scientifically, but that's just lame. Why not just enjoy the beauty of the unnecessary?

I started this post simply to say that I'm going to start blogging a lot about the books I read. Got a little side-tracked...a little. Not to be ironic, but the *purpose* of this post is just to kind of give an introduction to what I have decided to do with this small space of the internet universe that is supposedly mine.

One of my 2010 goals is to read 50 books. It will be a challenge, but I've already done two, and am reading three right now. The books will be of no certain type, just ones that have meandered their way on to my list. I'm also going to try to get through some books that have been on my list for years, but have never made it to the top. One of those being one I'm reading right now, Pilgrim's Progress. Which, in case you were wondering, is insufferably boring and blatent. But I'm going to finish it, because I'm just that much of an atychiphobiac. I fear failure, that is. On the bright side, I'm determined!

I don't have time tonight to blog about any of the books, but I will get around to it soon! I would love any book suggestions, insite, or opinions!