May be time to dust off the Shakespeare project
As I’ve mentioned, I tend to work in cycles: I have studied Esperanto intensively, for example, 4 or 5 different times, each time learning more and going further, then drifting away and putting it aside. I’ve learned to save the project materials for those kinds of things, because I’m pretty sure the interest will in time revive.
Other such interests: Go, chess (though I believe I’ve permanently abandoned that), letterwriting (pens, papers, and inks), and so on. One reading project is to read one excellent biography of each US president in order of their time in office, the idea being that the time-span overlap of the various biographies will give me multiple takes on significant events and developments, which should reinforce the learning as well as provide diverse perspectives. (I’ll worry about Grover Cleveland if I ever get that far.)
And, of course, there’s the Shakespeare project: to read and ponder the works of The Bard, whoever s/he was. This article makes me think it’s time to get back to that one.
Re the President Project. Gore Vidal’s “Narratives of Empire” novels cover many Presidents from Washington to Truman. They are easy to read. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narratives_of_Empire
Bob Slaughter
4 December 2011 at 9:25 am
Interesting resource. I went with the biographies idea because (generally speaking) each biography would have a different author, thus I would get a different view on the same historical events. If I read the same author for all, I am stuck with the one point of view.
LeisureGuy
4 December 2011 at 10:12 am
I’m in the Shakespeare Allowed! group, and it’s incredible fun. We’re hoping DG’s Salon article inspires groups in other cities to try something similar.
If you pursue your reading project, be sure to read at least some of each play aloud. Besides putting the poetry right in your mouth, it can help you catch nuances of plot and meaning.
middlesmith
4 December 2011 at 11:38 am
Please don’t overlook Edmund Morris’ trilogy bio of TR, which he worked on for 30 years. The first volume was selected by Modern Library as one of the 100 best books of the 20th century.
I found LINCOLN’S MELANCHOLY most satisfactory. It is a fine survey of his life: the melancholy part only a small portion.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_15/192-4797913-0215805?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=lincoln%27s+melancholy&sprefix=lincoln%27s+melan
Bob Slaughter
4 December 2011 at 12:57 pm
@Middlesmith: Yes, indeed, that’s what I meant: to try reading the plays aloud. And then listen to the same play being performed…
@Bob: Many thanks for those tips. I’m not yet that far along, but I’ve noted them for the future.
LeisureGuy
4 December 2011 at 1:45 pm
I would not abandon Chess…
Anthony
4 December 2011 at 3:05 pm