Read Stephen Greenblatt's 'The Swerve: How The World Became Modern' & Be Compelled to Endure Reading Lucretius Carus' 'De Rerum Natura'

This book continues to bring ideas to my mind on how precious books had been to people who lived a long time ago, and even to my tastes on books after I've finished reading it; it's actually worth your book reading time if you're into culture, books, history. It even gave me ideas on pursuing Latin language studies so that I'll be able to read the original 'De Rerum Natura' in Latin, which authors, including the author of this book, have been talking about for its wonderful writing from Lucretius Carus. I was surprised to read a lot about killings (legal executions) of persons who have lived at least 500 years ago because they've come to read contents of 'De Rerum Natura' which Greenblatt's book talked about in his narrative. Very disturbing. I wonder how I would have fared during those periods---but I'm glad I'm alive today and able to pursue my interests. And I have to give credit to the efforts of those very brave individuals who lived before me so that I'll enjoy freedoms in today's period. Some of them died, and were not given any chances to think differently. Similar situations continue somewhere right this minute---I'm saying a prayer so that change continues to take place that will allow nature to take its natural course. 

The Swerve: How the World Became Modern by Stephen Greenblatt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I never heard about this book before I saw it on the NYT's list, and decided soon that I have to find time to read this one on my Kindle reader. It led to my discovering of Lucretius Carus' "De Rerum Natura," which I'm still reading as of this writing ('it's not an easy poem to read, by the way'). I even have its prose version in English from my online bookstore, which I'll read one of these days. And earlier, I read about this book's winning a National Book Award (non-fiction category), which totally delighted me.

What I like most about this book has been the curious, very intriguing narrative it shared that provided the context on how books (that include the mind boggling 'De Rerum Natura', which is a looong poem at that!) dangerously go about changing people's way of thinking and subsequent behaviors. And this book has got me into thinking that elites (at least, those members of society's elites who find time to read and write, of which there are so many kinds, depending on wealth and knowledge they have access to in their respective lifetime) make use of books, in general plus among other tools, to overhaul structures in society. And I suppose this continues to this day, although not many have been aware of the intriguing process because so many take book reading for granted, plus given distractions of all kinds these days that compete on people's attention.

I got very curious in discovering from this book how the fabled Alexandrian Library went down and gone in a matter of a few generations after Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire under Constantine, which political development resulted to the eventual out-lawing of other forms of religions in the Western World, including those considered under 'paganism' (which was really an evolved mockery term for something considered not Christian). And I felt bad about how a very progressive female mathematician/philosopher/scientist, who happened to be pagan, was murdered by the extremist members of Christianity then. This kind of event actually happens eerily up to these days, although not in exact forms. You see and read about them from extremists among the Muslims, Jewish, Christians, Hindus, etc (not necessarily in that order---extremists are everywhere these days and they behave hysterically because they can't tolerate change, which, by the way, is among the main topics of 'De Rerum Natura').

Actually, and also based on what I've read so far about 'De Rerum Natura,' the world-changing ideas covered in this book that discussed Lucretius Carus' only known surviving work (as most of the books prior to destruction of the Alexandrian Library are now considered mostly 'remnants') are nowadays so-common. You'd wonder 'what's the fuss all about?' And why write about a book that's very difficult to read, in the first place? But note that in those years before 'De Rerum Natura' was brought to light again, those ideas were considered subversive. And espousing those ideas would even cost you your dear life as what happened to so many pioneering individuals who could not be tolerated by elites and their followers who felt their very lifestyles were being changed and threatened (which they would soon discover that they can't go against with, because that's part of nature, as 'De Rerum Natura' expounds).

Among these ideas include the mortality of soul, which 'De Rerum Natura' explains 'will die as soon as the mortal body dies.' And that there's 'no life after death.' And that religions espouse cruelty, the most disturbing example has been the practice of sacrificing one's own children for religious reasons. Also, it talked about atoms, which we learned from school or even watch on TV shows. Plus, the main purpose of life is seek pleasure, which implies, among other things, watching from a pleasurable distance how your co-humans suffer in the absurd forms of their fears and unhappy existence. Go figure the implications of these ideas out now. We've probably gone far, but we're never sure if the same is true with some groups of people. And disturbingly, we discover that a lot among our midst have yet to be reached by the light that came from 'De Rerum Nostra' (among other books) when it showed up again during Renaissance time centuries ago.


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Recalling My Reading Experience of Truman Capote's 'In Cold Blood'

If there's a book that you'd like to spend reading on a long weekend, Truman Capote's 'In Cold Blood' should be among your choices. Its cool matter-of-fact narrative will make you think about those daily dose of crime shows you have on TV & on paper these days. It's got understated reporting of details ('controlled sensationalism', if you may allow it) by including views from the murderers themselves,  thus making you think if they've done something morally right in the process in the court of public opinion. And I'm thinking it's Capote's book that strongly inspired today's writers to tell their crime stories as if they happen every minute of the time, and we all just move on with our lives, despite the horrifying experiences we gain, sooner or later.

In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this book many years ago while still in high school (I got curious about the title, i.e., why the 'cold blood' description, which to my mind brought nasty thoughts about warm, icky blood droplets). And this book created an early memorable impact to my efforts to get into writing works and in choosing my reading preferences, and would make me wonder how I could write in a style similar to Capote's (his name, incidentally, means 'raincoat' --if I recall my Spanish now). I would even go researching about and reading on Capote's other works. All these years, I've yet to watch its movie version (I heard about it from other reviewers here).

What continues to catch my interest even after so many years had passed since I read this has been about its being considered a non-fiction work. With this book, there seems to be a thin line that separates fiction from what's considered non-fiction, which got into my thoughts when I read this book with relish. The quality of writing Capote has shown in this book is uniquely his own from start to finish, although it almost reads like a very well-written extended police report (i.e., minutely factual, almost-cold blooded in tone, and as if written by someone who's very literate, well read and very comfortable in dealing with the details of a bloody crime). And the creative process he followed in coming up with this work becomes more intriguing because Capote wrote, too, in other genres using distinctive styles (read his "Music For Chameleons; Other Voices, Other Rooms") you seldom experience in reading other well-known writers.

I had even doubts if Capote added elements that he thought would make the book more elaborately understated in narrating what's usually and expected to be violent and over-the-edge when written works like this are made into movies. Murder is murder from any angle you view it, directly or indirectly, which give your thoughts about violence, dying and blood. Capote must have done (and had fun doing) so many interviews until he was satisfied that he had enough materials with him to write a book. The narration of the murders was not as violent as your initial thoughts were, which was the case with me.

Capote did so well in researching for what details should be included in this book. And with this book, I felt like I was watching any of those mind-boggling crime shows typically found on cable TV nowadays. It's not the strength of the underlying story itself that got me into finishing this book -- it's the elegant, direct but unpretentious (i.e. 'look at me, I'm writing good!') style Capote used to narrate his take on those murders that took place many years ago somewhere in MidWest USA.



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Interested in architecture? You may want to read & study 'Lectures on Architecture'

Lectures on Architecture by Eugene-Emmanuel Viollet-Le-Duc
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I got this book (and the other volume) from HousingWorks here in NYC; I told myself that if it's being recommended by the eminent Frank Lloyd Wright as the only books worthy of reading (and learning from) about architecture, then I should find the time. And yes, I have to say it was, even if it took me some time to finish reading it (as I would usually read many other books within the same period). I have to say the author's style is rather sonorous---you have to help yourself to stay awake while reading at least 5 pages at a time particularly if you're not an architect. Look at this comment in the context of being with someone like myself who once dreamt of becoming an architect (but changed plans midway).


I love studying structures generally, and I would usually tell myself questions on how people go about constructing, building edifices and having them last lives of most people. They're quick symbols of what is great and awesome in the human spirit---just take a look at the pyramids both in Egypt and in South America. And I remember having been in awe just walking on the terraces that were built by 'uneducated' tribes of pre-Spanish period people in the uplands of Luzon island in the Philippines---and I'd learn about how these ancient people taught themselves how to make terraces that would last for thousands of years.


And with this book, I learned, among so many detailed facts, about how the Greeks are considered the most talented artists in the world, particularly in the field of architecture (encompassing a lot of areas, actually, including drawing, design, logistics, construction, finishing, etc. etc.). Their influence continue to be felt when you see structures that were put up during the Byzantine period, which to most have been not known.


I also learned about how the Romans were among the most grandiose when it comes to architecture --- they built massively well using their armies of colonized people, such that up to these days, professionals refer to their works when they want to construct something really grand and humongous looking. Just study why the Coliseum in Rome make curious onlookers gawk at its details these days after its builders have been gone thousands of years.


The book brought some laughs from me as I read about the author's disdain toward the rather stupid styles of a number of French architects he studied and thought their works are all 'on the surface' works that are meant to impress but not really designed for people to live, do their work and go on with the other activities in their lives.  Many chapters in this book got me into thinking about the florid-ness in design built into old (as well as new) buildings that are actually useless and do not contribute to the integrity of the buildings themselves. All these because their architects foolishly wanted to emulate what's found on the surface and would not study underneath what's conveniently seen by the eyes.


The book got me into thinking about the primacy of architecture among the arts, whereas I'm biased because I love writing and the cinema. Yes, come to think of it, the most excellent, most moving samples of artworks (although they were not meant to be such, except that their designers took pains to recognize what's innately beautiful to human senses --yes, there are, indeed, such things in our lives!) in our midst are those that recognize our common needs and wants that begin from the need to create something beautiful and functional (hopefully, at the same time) in the confines of spaces where we can do what we want and seek for. We experience these emotions when we something as elegantly beautiful as the Chrysler Building in NYC. We see other samples all around us, which we don't even recognize as art works, per se. We just recognize them as great looking. By reading this book, I got my eyes more open about all the other important but generally unappreciated details found in structures in places I've been to.


I'll really have to work hard for now so that I'll get to read, understand and finish the second volume.


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Wondering why http://www.livebite.com is piggybacking on my postings?

Just like other bloggers and web content writers, I'd go about checking who has been visiting and reading my postings so I'd know which ones I should focus on when writing new postings or when improving what I've already posted. Lately, since almost noon of August 2nd (Tuesday), http://www.livebite.com with IP address of 50.16.239.# has been popping out of the list of links that visitors and readers would be hitting and viewing to get into details of my postings. What happens is that my own pages are not opening anymore correctly. Do I make sense with this? And I've been wondering why? I could only smile and been telling myself my posting efforts must have been effective such that this site would dare piggyback on my links? What the fuck?! Can someone advise me how to go about telling them to stop this madness right away?

Thanks, but no thanks!

Why I Got Engrossed by 'Pulupot' (Clingy)

Musings on Jonathan Franzen's Bulky But Very Absorbing Book 'The Corrections'

The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I felt somewhat dizzy reading many parts of this book, which included a lot of very specific details on medicines, technical researches, engineering projects, finance, the sciences, and cuisines. At times, I thought I was reading the book of Numbers in the Bible; I was thinking 'what the f_ck!' with all these highly detailed descriptions that switched in between the minute-details of the lives of the many characters involved in this novel. But I continued reading this thick book up to the end and have no words but complete admiration for Mr Franzen's work on this epic of a novel. I've not read that many pages on novels, excepting Fyodor Dostoevky's fiction works. This is also to say: the book's meant to be read by voracious book-readers and a must-read for all fiction writers whatever their personal preferences are.

I'm totally surprised at how knowledgeable, it seems to me, Mr. Franzen has been about the details of lesbianism and bisexualism (of the female type), which lifestyles have been graphically described in this novel. Well, I have to add and emphasize that his descriptions are very tasteful - I got curious myself and has been somewhat illuminated with those lifestyles myself (considering the kind of alternative lifestyle I lead myself LOL). And yes, there were a number of highly interesting narratives of sexual acts between straight people, too.

I recall one of my patients whom I've participated on a part-time basis in providing caregiving when he was still around (and until his death). Yes, I can verify from my own experiences how Mr. Franzen went about researching extensively to present a very credible picture in one's mind out of the sick and dying Lambert paternal head (who could be symbolizing someone in American culture, of which I'm not so sure having been born and raised back in the Philippines). My deceased patient had similar health problems - I was even waiting for Mr Franzen to describe what happens when a patient has to be lifted and positioned and he gets into a dead weight stance because of his disease and the one lifting him would have to muster all his strength to do his assigned task. If those details were added here, the Lambert maternal head would have certainly died instantly. But that didn't happen. She was really an interesting character herself such that her life was given another opportunity to become more meaningful. And as such, I can imagine that there can be a continuing volume about her life and those of her grown-up children that Mr Franzen may write about in time.



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Weekend Kayaking on Croton and Hudson Rivers with Sundance

'Bakal Boys' Could Have Been More Fascinating

A Few Thoughts on the Filipino Indie Film 'Happyland'

My Book Review on David Sedaris' 'Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim'