A Reason to Read

In the midst of the many reason to pick up a book, the top one may be well described by Victor Hugo in his introduction to Les Miserables,
"So long as there shall exist, by reason of law and custom, a social condemnation, which, in the face of civilization, artificially creates hells on earth, and complicates a destiny that is divine, with human fatality; so long as the three problems of the age—the degradation of man by poverty, the ruin of women by starvation, and the dwarfing of childhood by physical and spiritual night—are not solved; so long as, in certain regions, social asphyxia shall be possible; in other words, and from a yet more extended point of view, so long as ignorance and misery remain on earth, books like this cannot be useless."
In the past few years I have struggled with the question: "what makes a book great? or popular?"
The answer to my question has been in my struggling search for it to begin with. It is the raw human struggle to which we all face that helps us to process stories and gain something from them. It gives us a connection.
A connection that we are not the only one struggling. Such a deep concept that this quote sums up very well.
Half way done with the book! Has so many great quotes as well. Will continue to read, in the meantime, go grab a cup of tea, sit back. and read.

Why I do not want to choose medicine

Ever since I could talk, I have said that I wanted to become a doctor. Under the influence of a sister who was in nursing school at the time, I soon after came to say I wanted to be a medical doctor. All through middle school and high school I loved science. Every single aspect. Although I attended a classical program in high school, my love for science abounded all. Now having one year done through a university science program, many questions have come into my mind that make me wonder if I would even like to go into science or the medical field.
I love to read, write, create. In science you are bred to create, to come up with new ideas. But for some reason, I wonder if this is really true. They bog you down with so many things to memorize, so many intensive programs. The professors expect you to have no life, except your class. Because of this, you spend your days and nights doing work for every class you attend. Now, I do realize that this is a common reality in every University. But it seems to have more precedence in the mathematics and science.
As a Latin major, my stress level, my anxiety, my dreaded fear of the next level of classes has dissipated. This also, has had made me wonder if I really want to do medicine. I love working in a hospital and helping people. But I also love helping people to learn and share my passion for reading. This puts me at a crossroads. Should I continue with my pre-medical dream since a child, or should I foster my newer love for books and education?
Much to think about in that question over the next few weeks. As for now, I continue to read and search. Search for new opportunities, for a new path, and new dreams. Dreams in which I am happy and doing work that benefits the wellness of others. Until I find this new path, I have come to the conclusion that I happy with what I am studying and doing now. Latin (and reading of course!).

The Final Final

Yes. It is finished. As of 11 AM today, my last exam came to a close. My first exam this morning was quite difficult. But my second exam was a bit easier, than I originally planned for and therefore, I am thankful. I am tired and weary, but yet so relieved to be done. Also, there comes upon me a bit of fear for the future summer.
As of right now, my goal is to finish reading Suetonius' The Twelve Caesars, and possibly re-read the Saint Augustine's City of God. Other than that, my reading options shall stay open. As for summer jobs, I will be house-sitting and babysitting along with volunteering at the hospital as normal. It already feels like the summer is half over-something that makes me worry that it will go by quite fast. Oh dear!
Summer shall come and go soon enough I suppose. For now though, I shall rest my head and eyes, with a nap :)

Quote for the Day

While completely reading for my Classical Culture and Civilization class I came across this quote recorded by Anon. He was writing about the confiscation of Bibles during the riegn of Diocletian.
""Your answer," said Felix the flamen, "is taken down""
To break it down: Felix's job was to take confiscate all the Bibles in Rome. This entailed doing from house to house and searching. When he got to the house of Eutychia, the flamen believed that he had more books than he was bringing out. Because of this, the flamen was using nice words to call Eutychia a liar.
To apply to our daily lives: The next time you encounter someone, unto which you know is lying to you, say, "Your answer is taken down!". In this, you will refrain from using derogatory words, and leave them clueless.

Media Fasting

I truly thought I had seen it all, until I came over this book about a week ago. It is a variation of Good Night Moon, a beloved story by children-even today as they say goodnight to the world before their head hits the pillow. But with the rise in technology, most things that are pictured in that book can be no longer found in the rooms of today's youth. But instead are replaced with the technology of today: Ipods, headphones, TVs, computers, and must I go on?
The book Goodnight Ipad addresses this issue of the great culture gap. I see pro's and con's to introducing this book to our youth though. You see TV's, ipods, mp3's, computers-just basically any type of technology possible in the pictured room of the book, is the first issue to which I have. What parent in their right mind would allow a TV in their children's room. When thinking about having these so called 'cuturally enhancing equipment' in the possession of little hands, my mind goes back to a study that was done to find a correlation between the reading level of students and then amount of reading material present while growing up as opposed to technology in homes. There was a huge correlation between the two-in fact, it was found to be that the more reading material (hence less technology) children had in their possession during those young formative years, they higher their reading levels as the child grew. Based upon this ideal, then, I have come to my personnel conclusion that if we are to expect something great out of the next generation, do not put money for new laptops in schools-nor have a TV in your child's room. But instead infiltrate their their minds with written words.
A pro that I can find with the book comes at the very end. When the old maid throws all the technology out the window. Granted the children seem sad, and it could be said that it has almost a tragic lesson: technology does not help our body to rest. Sometimes we need to take these things out of our lives so that we may rest and rejuvenate.
I remember the spring of my sophomore year of high school. We were made to do a week long media fast. This meant absolutely no TV, Internet, Ipod, computer, or basically anything that entertained us that either needed to be plugged in or takes batteries. This drastically changed my life. I found that even after the fast, I found myself going to books instead of TV and then Internet or a television show. This is something that I think our culture needs. Even just 24 hours. We could spend it outside, chatting with a friend, reading a good book or even just taking a nap.
With all of this said, it saddens me to think where children's books will be in 15 years-10 even. With finals next week, I am hoping when I go home, to take a media fast. Even if it is just for a week. I hope you plan to do the same sometime soon.
Here is a link if you would like to listen to Goodnight Ipad:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ouOwpYQqic

By Flashlight

Early morning today. 8am chemistry lab-but we did get out early, so that is a praise. Last night, into the wee hours, I read by flashlight to my roommate. A tradition most recently acquired. We started the Father Brown stories, to which I have already read several years ago, but have been wanting to re-read. The book did not reside upon my shelf until just yesterday, when my parents sent me an Easter box in the mail. Chesterton intrigues my mind-and stretches my intelligence. Here are just a few quotes to which I found last night in the story of the Blue Cross:
"The most incredible thing about miracles is that they happen."
"wisdom should reckon on the unforeseen."
It brightened my day to once again awake with a book upon my lap.


This afternoon, after my Roman History class, I head North with my roommate. Classes do not resume until Tuesday and I intend to spend a great part of my day basking in the cold air of the sun-reading and soaking in the great mysteries of Chesterton.

Book Finds

Spring weather has final arrived in the south I think. To me this means walks, cleaning the house and.....book searching! Just yesterday I went to an antique store and found several good finds. I shall a few pictures some. One is not a old book, but I have been wanting to obtain it for a while. Paul Johnson's, Art. It is a reference book with beautiful pictures and descriptions. Since I am on spring break today and have nothing better to do, save clean my room, I will bask in the gorgeous weather and look at art. Tomorrow I may even go to the newish modern art museum downtown,
Also upon my nightstand resides the Book of Amber, to which I have only gotten 100 pages through. It seems to have a very intriguing plot line, starting with a man named Corwin, who has lost his memories due to am accident. Because of this, the first few chapters are based on him trying to find his memories in this mystical world called Amber. Thanks to several siblings( he has a whole hoard of them)  by page 100, he gets them back, and we are introduced to yet another more definite plot. His evil brother, is now king of Amber, and his legacy as told to him by his supposed to be dead father, is to rule Amber. But with all of his brothers and sisters trying to fight for the throne, it seems impossible for him to gain this.
I am intrigued to see how the author will take the story now. It is not per say a book of great literature, but thus far it has intrigued my mind with story.