This morning (about 10 am) I finished a book I started about 11 last night. The Dogs of Babel traces a man's decent into the madness of grief after his wife's sudden death. He becomes obsessed with the idea of teaching their dog to talk, so that he can learn what truly caused her death. The language is not as beautiful as Peace like a river, though I found several passages and phrases which stick in my mind.
I also read Skeleton Cave, a children's book written in 1954. It was an interesting glimpse into a world that no longer exists. A young boy on a farm finds an "ancient indian" skeleton in a cave where they have also found many artifacts. He sneaks off to the city, tells a professor about it, and the professor and another man agree to buy all the artifacts from them so that the boy's family can buy a wheelchair for grandpa. I have trouble envisioning a time where there wouldn't be outcry at the idea of someone just digging up & selling artifacts.
In-progress books:
The Brendan Voyage - a man makes a wood & leather boat to sail from Ireland to America
How to Run a Traditional Jewish Household - an interesting look at family purity, rituals and prayers, and the rhythm of the Jewish calendar
Common Prayers - written by a Christian man married to a Jewish woman, talking about what he has learned from being a part of a Jewish family for many years
The Allure of Hope - a gift from a friend which arrived today
Posted by rachel at March 6, 2004 09:37 PM