I have a PhD in English literature. It follows that I rather like reading. But when you make something your job, it's no longer about pure pleasure. One major feature of being (mostly) a non-academic again has been that most of my reading is just stuff I've been wanting to read. People give me books, and many have sat on shelves for years (the books, not the people). Now... at long last... I'm reading them.The Help was very good, even having seen the movie on one of my many international flights. I delved into the universe of Dune, with its Tolkien-esque depth of mythology that is constantly alluded to with minimal explanation. I just finished The Name of the Rose, and I have to say, I do not understand how that beast ever became a bestseller. It's largely made up of Umberto Eco showing off how much he has researched medieval monks and theological debates that I couldn't possibly care less about. Next, I'm going to try for a book that doesn't annoy me with an author who seems to be daring his reader to wade through all his scholarship (real or invented). I wonder if my tastes have been affected by living so long in older layers of the literary canon.
Meanwhile, I also took part in my first rowing regatta in the U.S. We did very badly, which gave me pause about how long I'll stay at this rowing club. I love the people, but I spent most of my time in Cambridge losing in rowing competitions, and I've had enough of that for this lifetime. But we had a fun day out, and I have found my Trinity Hall pull-string backpack (a graduation gift from the college) to be very useful.
Speaking of Cambridge, I'll be going back for a visit at the end of this month, and I'm quite excited. When I pause and immerse myself in the full-body memory of living there, I'm filled with happiness and gratitude for the time I had there. Thank goodness I didn't get into any PhD programs in America; I would still be mid-degree and not nearly so happy. Whereas now I get to go back for one last choir tour and sing with a very special group of people who brought balance to my most advanced academic endeavor.Several times in the past few weeks, a trick of light or sound when I first wake up has made me think that it's raining outside, but of course it doesn't rain in the Bay Area in the summer. Ever. Dare I say I miss the English moodiness a bit? Sure, I can drink tea here (and I do), but it's just not quite the same as an underlying social bond. So I'm looking forward to revisiting the good and letting the bad slip out of sight in my rose-colored glasses. I just have to choose what book to bring along.
