"the hoopoe alights in the mulberry"
I was intrigued by this essay. I like birds and this one is exotic!
I did a bit of research.
I enjoy learning about Dalby's geisha days too.
I find every essay so interesting.
Some nights I am too tired to read.
I am never too tired to imagine what my almanac will say.
I find I am thinking about that as I fall asleep at night.
How I will organize it; how I will name my days.
I will write one.
I want photos to part of it.
5 comments:
It's been ages since I checked in! It's been utterly chaotic here - in kind of a good way with multiple family members visiting, but chaotic nonetheless.
I love that you did this research. The name of this bird really tickled my fancy. It was nice to be able to read a bit about it.
I agree with you that it was fascinating to read about Dalby's geisha days. Was this the essay where she discusses the blackened teeth? (I'm sorry, but I've apparently misplaced my book this afternoon and I can't check for sure. I just spent 10 minutes looking for it in all the usual places. How frustrating! I was planning to read more this evening. I'll have to search harder.) Regardless, I was fascinated by the fact that blackening the teeth was important to the whole geisha look. I don't know much about geishas and I had absolutely no idea. Isn't it interesting what small details stay with you? I did read "Geisha: A Life" by Mineko Iwasaki a couple of years ago, but that's about the extent of my knowledge.
I'm not much beyond this essay (a couple more perhaps), but I am enjoying it more and more with each turned page. For once as well, I'm enjoying the slower pace with which I'm reading this book. Originally it was simply that I didn't have as much time as I usually do for reading with cooking and entertaining our guests, but now it's a conscious decision to move slowly, taking in each essay and really thinking about it.
I think it's wonderful that you're planning out your almanac and how integrating photos would make it more "you". Having seen your photos, I know it would be a wonderful record of a year!
This makes me think about the lovely structure of Dalby's essays, how they meander from topic to topic without ever seeming stream-of-consciousness. I know she spoke in the introduction about the from of Japanese essay after which she was modeling hers. I'm not familiar with that form, but I love what she's doing. To go from a discussion of the hoopoe to geisha rituals in one breath--I think the form of the essays really reinforces the interconnectedness of things.
Reminds me a tad bit of Virginia Woolfe's essay style.
Hi Mary,
You HAVE been busy! Fun busy!
This was the essay about the blackened teeth.
I had never read about that either.
I know very little about the Japanese culture and I am learning so much.
I too am reading at a slower pace on purpose. I like the idea of letting an essay lead me down my own inner byways.
I have all sorts of books I read and this one is my "bedtime" story.
Sherry
Hi Hausefrau,
I find I go back and reread many of the essays beacause I will forget where she started. I like that. I like wanting to reread.
I am beginning to hear her voice as I read.
Now that you have mentioned the form I will pay more attention. One topic does blend so seamlessly into the next.
I do look up some of the flora and fauna when I am not sure what they are.
I like the way she connects her dots.
Interesting insight on the essay style of Virinia Woolfe. An author I have not read for many years. This has me thinking. I shall poke around and see if I can find any of those essays.
This book has opened me up to the joy of the essay.
Sherry
Post a Comment