Romance Novel weblog by Carolyn Jewel

Writer's Diary

Friday, October 21, 2005

dratted meow meow cat helping cat

My cat, Jake is helping me write.

I had a vague feeling of panic when faced with the knowledge that my comprension and analysis of Joyce may suffer. A face in the night bright lights. A child, not mine, given a red card which reminded me of the odor of old coffee, a thick smell a smell of oil and beans and too much money paid. The parent next to me turned her outrage away.
-- What was that ref thinking?? The chair made a noise on the wet green grass of the field on which the children played.
-- Excuse me, sir? Hands lifted, Seth with a coach's hands, extended palms, questioning, in uncomprehension of the unfairness.

I sat thinking yes, that is unfair, the other started it. Must finish Joyce. Lights. Poor eyes. Sore head.

So, anyway, I'm not panicking about this oral exam at all.

Had to write a 500 word opinion essay thing (done) have to finish an interview (not done) write another article (not even started yet) read some poetry and Jude the Obscure. Plus make huge progress on the synopsis for The Rake. Buy guinea pig food. Find out location of tomorrow's soccer game, get gas. Halloween stuff with child. The Rake synosis. It must be done!

posted by Carolyn @ 10/21/2005 11:12:00 PM Permalink

Comments:

Y'know what's bizarre? (o.k., loaded question, there) When I looked at the header for your post, I saw "moo moo cow" Sheesh, I hadn't thought about Joyce in...a long while. I once enraged an English prof who was rhapsodizing about Joyce's brilliance. He made some comment about Ulysses, stating that Joyce was so brilliant, no one knew what he meant, and scholars are still trying to comprehend his symbolism. He wasn't amused when I said maybe they couldn't figure it out because it was meaningless, and Joyce was having a laugh at their expense. O.k., I really do think Joyce turned out some amazing stuff, but it had been a long day! :-D Thinking back, I would've done better to make some pithy comment about Joyce, dadaism, and the anomie present in post-WWI Europe, but you always think of these things later! (in my case, YEARS later!)

# posted by

escondita : Sat Oct 22, 12:55:00 PM PDT

Obviously you are a heretic.

The Modernist age was reactionary - do the opposite. If those old fuddy-duddies made sense, then the new writing should not make sense. In a way I'm glad we made it to Post-Modern, except that leaves Foucoult to be assigned to grad students. Those professors, it's all a power trip! I'm with you on Joyce. I'm enjoying Portrait of the Artist, though.

# posted by

Carolyn : Sat Oct 22, 06:16:00 PM PDT

"Obviously you are a heretic."
Well, I admit I began to wonder what I had gotten myself into when (sitting in a grad seminar on Renaissance lit.) the prof informed us that studying Bocaccio's intent and meaning was for undergraduates(scornful sniff)--WE would be studying what others thought about what the author wrote. Oh, well.

I liked Portrait, myself. I have to admit, though, that I read it because it was a course requirement--something about a "well-rounded view of literature". hmph. My real loves are much earlier--I go for Chaucer and Bocaccio. Spenser makes me sigh. Shakespeare does it for me, and Marlowe.... I swoon for the Cavaliers and the Metaphysical poets. I loved the Romantic Movement. Once we hit the Modern Era (and onward), I start to lose interest! This is probably why I love historical romances so much (ya think?).

# posted by

escondita : Sat Oct 22, 07:22:00 PM PDT

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Friday, October 21, 2005

dratted meow meow cat helping cat

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