Tuesday, November 9

Getting Through + Maxine

"In the case of good books, the point is not how many of them you can get through, but rather how many can get through to you."
Mortimer J. Adler, philosopher, educator and author (1902-2001)

There are book memes going around; the kind where people ask you to list the top 10/25/100 books that you've read. I can never do it. My problem is not the lack of reading good books - it is remembering the titles and authors of those books. I've learned over the years that  the books whose titles I remember are the ones that "got through to me" in some fashion. It is doubtful I can remember what I liked about it or how it got through to me - but no doubt it did.

It is the same for lists of movies and when asked, I can only name one:  Dr. Zhivago.

However, if I see your lists - I will be heard to say..."Oh, yes, I remember that one....or I loved it.... or hated it.....or wished it had ended differently." Why I can't remember them without prompting, I'll never know - but it makes me feel sort of dumb that I can't rattle them off easily. What about you?

Recently, I was asked to list the songs on my iPod. I have no iPod and I don't want one. The older I get, the more I prize silence. That doesn't mean that I don't listen to music - I do - especially in the car. I have tapes, CDs and old LPs. None of them gets heard as often as I might like, but definitely when I like - and not directly in my ears. Judging from the numbers of people I see with wires hanging out of their ears, I am in the minority!

                                                   *****



This Maxine cartoon is ME! Gray hair, in a Snuggie, with a bowl of popcorn. The only thing she needs is two black cats on her lap!

10 comments:

LL Cool Joe said...

I only ever listen to my music through headphones when I travel, when it would be anti social not too.

Of course when I dj and have to use headphones too, but I don't wear them all the time then either.
I like to listen to music in the car, or just in the house without. I too play vinyl and cds. Oh and I listen to the radio a great deal as I have to know the latest music too.

Evil Twin's Wife said...

I also have a hard time remembering book titles/authors.

I have a fuzzy blanket on the couch, purple and black hair and a calico cat on my lap most of the time. I plan on using her like a hot water bottle this winter! :-)

Arkansas Patti said...

Know what you mean. I read so many books that unless they are really special, I can't remember the titles.
I resisted the MP3 but now I love it and have about 150 songs on mine. I can plug it into my car radio and toodle along to my own tunes. It also makes exercise or even house work go quickly.
Loved Maxine.

Granny Annie said...

No ipod here. I do listen to audio books on CD and tape but only while I'm doing housework.

Maxine is telling the story of my life:) LOL

Celia said...

Maxine is my avatar! I read a lot and can't remember the titles of most of them. No MP3 either. I keep wondering if I am just afraid I can't figure out how to download songs after all my kids had to come set up my TV for me. Ack!

Pat said...

Part of the reason I feel a bit down at the moment is because I haven't got a decent book to read and am re- reading old stuff which isn't the same.
MTL mentioned Snuggies the other day - I must go to Boots and get a couple.

Joy Des Jardins said...

I have a hard time remembering book titles too Judy...I'm much better with movie titles.

Enjoy your snuggie and bowl of popcorn....

srp said...

That Maxine cartoon is my mom on election night. She has a quilt on and popcorn and stays up until the wee hours of the morning. I tell her the popcorn isn't good for her diabetes, but she insists. I might have to show her this one!

Grannymar said...

Did I hear that a new version of Dr Zhivago is being made? You know it won't be a patch on the original! ;)

Olga said...

I make a list of the books I read in a book journal. I can not remember most of the book titles I read and I sometimes check out a book from the library and realize that I have read it before (And don't really want to read it again)anyway.
I just got an MP3 player, loaded it up with music, but usually go out for my walk without it. It does seem to help if i really , really need external motivation to go out for my exercise, though.