Bookending the month with a few notes on things read, noted, seen, heard.
- READ The Life of St. Norbert (Vita B). Pleasantly surprised to find this 12th century hagiography, which started ominously enough, turned into a real page-turner. (This was assigned reading for the Cornerstones Seminar, a St. Norbert College program on the institution’s roots and heritage.)
- HEARD Lawrence University sophomore Susannah Gilbert hold a crowd with her first solo poetry reading at Harmony Cafe. I have known Susannah her whole life and, now, for an increasing chunk of mine!
- READ The Penn Stater’s “Our Darkest Days” issue. Masterful.
- READ The Murder Room. You’d think I would enjoy P.D. James more than I do. I love a well-written mystery, and, after all, James writes about my stuff: publishing; manor houses; the Church; museums; London; holy orders; the English countryside. Her detective writes poetry! Every now and again, I try a new one of hers – and it’s not unpleasant. But it’s a bit of a slog all the same. I think her characterization is very flat, although many reviewers disagree.
- READ Hearing With the Heart. I hope I can interest my women’s study group in this readable book on discernment, shared with me by Julie Massey (Mission & Ministry).
- GUILTY PLEASURE Rereading own writing. (Seriously, I’ll read over a well-turned e-mail if nothing else is to hand. It’s quite disgusting, really. Does anyone else do this?)
