June 29, the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul



"…we commemorate each of the saints with hymns and appropriate songs of praise, how much more should we celebrate the memory of Peter and Paul, the supreme Leaders of the pre-eminent company of the Apostles? They are the fathers and guides of all Christians: Apostles, martyrs, holy ascetics, priests, hierarchs, pastors and teachers. As chief shepherds and master builders of our common godliness and virtue, they tend and teach us all, like lights in the world, holding forth the word of life."

From St. Gregory Palamas (The Homilies Vol. 2; St. Tikhon's Seminary Press pg. 68):

Happy Feast Day! Especially to Arielle, James, and Susan Sophia on their Parish Feast Day and to Christina’s sons, husband, and father; and to Father Paul on their Patron Saint Days! Many Years to everyone!

For the love of books.

I didn’t realize that my “to read” pile was getting low, but in the past few days I’ve been working on adding to it, and am very excited with some of my new finds. The other day, I was in a shopping center that has one of those Paperbook Exchange used book stores, I stopped in to see if they had my Book Club Choice, even though it isn’t their style of book to carry, and while they didn’t, they were having a buy two get one free for their 3.00 books – so SCORE. Plus I had some credit at the store (not usable on the sale books, natch), so I got 5 books for quite a reasonable price.

I ultimately did find my book club book, When We Were Orphans by Kazuo Ishiguro(who wrote Remains of the Day , which I did not know), at my favorite local used book store . I read it over the weekend – it’s not my usual style, but it was really engaging and a very interesting story. I can’t wait for Book Club, because there were several layers that I think will be good to discuss.

One of the books I picked up at the Exchange was One Hundred Years of Solitude. I know that Christina mentioned it the other day, and it came up in a list I recently saw of 1001 Books You should Read (I’ve read about 50. I’m not clear on what the requirements were, or who wrote the list) I’m about 180 pages into it and enjoying it. The genre is Magical Realism – I think this may be my first venture into that realm.

And, Lorna asked me the other day:

... curious about your comment on my blog , what do you do with the books you have read Mimi?

I have to admit, in a bit of unfrugalness, I’m not a huge fan of the library. It’s hard to read books in their time frame, so I’m a big believer in borrowing and used book stores.

I don’t have a lot of book storage, and while I think that a house full of books is a house well decorated, I do try to honestly ask myself if I *need* to keep a book after I read it. If I plan on re-reading it, think someone else in the family will read it, want to keep it for reference, or think it will make me look erudite (grin) I will keep it. Otherwise, I keep a basket of books on my stairs to send on their way – I give to friends, sell back to used book stores, put in garage sales, send along to family members, or even donate them to Goodwill. Next time you are over, feel free to peruse the basket.

So, what are you reading? And, what do you do with books when you are done? Oh, and how many of the 1001 books have you read?

The Painting is
Bookshelves
c. 1725
Oil on canvas
Civico Museo Bibliografico Musicale, Bologna