topic Re: Opening Paragraphs in Book Club

Opening Paragraphs

ALRATIBA — Sun, 07 Apr 2019 15:22:14 GMT

Occasionally I come across a book that grabs me in the first few pages. This one got me before I finished the first page!

Back in November, I bought the Kindle version book of "The Eighth Arrow: Odysseus in the Underworld." I bought it because it includes Greek mythology, Dante's Inferno (2 of my top 10 interests) and the author J. Augustine Wetta* is a Benedictine Monk (always a plus). Book is long enough to keep me entertained for a bit ... 330 pages.

I finally got around to starting it last night. Totally into the book by the second paragraph. Third paragraph:

I am Odysseus, Sacker of Cities, Son of Laertes, Raider of Troy, Blinder of the Cyclops, Teller of Tales, Man of Many Faces. Sing, heavenly Muse, the last adventure of flame-tossed Odysseus.

(In his Divine Comedy - Inferno, Dante put Odysseus in the 8th circle of Hell "among liars, frauds, and sowers of discord." And I think many of us are familiar with Homer's "Odyssey." )

Last month, I bought Fr. Wetta's "Humility Rules: Saint Benedict's Twelve-Step Guide to Genuine Self-Esteem."

Re: Opening Paragraphs

dex — Sun, 07 Apr 2019 16:31:13 GMT

@ALRATIBA @Sorry but after reading that third paragraph I would have put that book in the donation pile.You do like some heavy reading material.Enjoy your book.

Re: Opening Paragraphs

Sooner — Sun, 07 Apr 2019 17:16:04 GMT

@ALRATIBA Good for you! I know little about mythology and that has always been a regret of mine. But I guess not enough of one that I've done something about it.

I love to read and learn and research things, but most are about practical things and self knowledge, faith etc., cooking, financial things, computers etc.

Re: Opening Paragraphs

MarnieRez3 — Sun, 07 Apr 2019 17:56:15 GMT

@ALRATIBA
Well, it is clear you were an English major, lovely reader! The closest I come to such intelligent reading is literary fiction, but I'm a tad ashamed to reveal how much time I spend reading psychological thrillers with unreliable female narrators, a la Gone Girl, The Woman in the Window, etc. Color me embarrased!
The last book on Greek mythology I read was the famous one we all read in HS, by a woman author whose name escapes me now. Edith maybe??

Re: Opening Paragraphs

ALRATIBA — Sun, 07 Apr 2019 17:39:24 GMT

@Sooner wrote:
@ALRATIBA Good for you! I know little about mythology and that has always been a regret of mine. But I guess not enough of one that I've done something about it.

I love to read and learn and research things, but most are about practical things and self knowledge, faith etc., cooking, financial things, computers etc.

@Sooner

I agree about faith - that's more than practical! That's Vital!

But .... the other stuff is too much like real life.

Re: Opening Paragraphs

ALRATIBA — Sun, 07 Apr 2019 17:52:20 GMT

@MarnieRez3

Edith Hamilton! I read her in the 1970s - required readng for a Humanities class.

The Roman Way for a class entitled "Arts and Ideas - Italan Culture." It was a seminar type class. We were paired and each pair assigned a particular topic of Italian culture ... and were required to "teach" a class after our research.

We did Literature ... great class. At the end of the semester there was a big party at Prof's house - featuring Italian pot luck.

(Not to brag but we did get an A in that class.)

Re: Opening Paragraphs

MarnieRez3 — Sun, 07 Apr 2019 17:57:55 GMT

@ALRATIBA

Oh yes, Edith HAMILTON! Thank you for jogging my brain! lol

Re: Opening Paragraphs

jlkz — Sun, 07 Apr 2019 22:03:25 GMT

@ALRATIBA

If you haven’t read anything by Dr. Scott Hahn, I would recommend his tape and study book ( college level course) entitled The End. It gives the historical information about the Book Of Revelation which was a head scratcher for me when I read it through the first time.

The linkages and precursors Old / New Testament are fascinating.

BTW, I remember reading the Edith Hamilton book as a college freshman....required reading for translating some Latin classics.

Also, a modern French playwright used the gods in some of his plays ( did my Honors thesis on him with the topic “ The Role of Woman as mediatrix between the Worlds of Gods and Men “ in the mid-60’s !!! )

Thanks for the memory !

Re: Opening Paragraphs

AuntG — Sun, 07 Apr 2019 23:46:31 GMT

I guess I read junk. My current book starts with 'The beach was empty tonight.'

Re: Opening Paragraphs

ALRATIBA — Mon, 08 Apr 2019 00:11:39 GMT

I do have one of Hahn’s books, the Angels and Saints book from 2014. I don’t particularly care for his writing style. I’ve seen him on EWTN numerous times - but prefer other contemporary Catholic writers. Dr Steven Smith is my current favorite.

But the best stuff is the Church Fathers.

Re: Opening Paragraphs

ALRATIBA — Mon, 08 Apr 2019 01:31:57 GMT

@AuntG

I have some of those too!

"if you listen, you can hear it."

"The executioner raised his ax."

"Channel Two said the storm wouldn't hit until Sunday, but they were wrong, as usual."