Author Archives: susan

LITERATURE: Great Dialogues of Plato – Timeliness

It seems a plan of sorts, that as I delve into further study and love of philosophical works they appear to be so perfectly attuned to what is happening in my personal life just as I read them.  But of … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in LITERATURE | Tagged | Comments Off on LITERATURE: Great Dialogues of Plato – Timeliness

LITERATURE: Phaedrus – Example by Example

While I cannot say that I have understood all the lessons put forth on speaking, writing, and love of both man and philosophy in this first complete reading of Phaedrus, I am interested in both the arguments used for the … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in LITERATURE | Tagged | 1 Comment

LITERATURE: Phaedrus – On Writing

Socrates. "The disgrace begins when a man writes not well, but badly." Hmmm.  If I take little else from Phaedrus, this statement shall live with me the rest of my days. Not the best time to hear it, as my … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in LITERATURE | Tagged | Comments Off on LITERATURE: Phaedrus – On Writing

LITERATURE: Phaedrus Socrates’ Speech

I must admit that Phaedrus is not easily read.  There are many different concepts going on, and I get the feeling that they are not clearly defining merely love, and at that, not merely love of man (or woman), but … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in LITERATURE | Tagged | Comments Off on LITERATURE: Phaedrus Socrates’ Speech

LITERATURE: Phaedrus – On The Soul

It is difficult to get through this without discussion, and I find myself questioning my thoughts as I have only myself with whom to argue.  This, of course, despite the best intentions and efforts at playing Devil’s Advocate taints somehow … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in LITERATURE | Tagged | Comments Off on LITERATURE: Phaedrus – On The Soul

LITERATURE: BASS & BAMS – Publication

This may be either very, very good news for writers, or maybe not. As I mentioned, in February I read the 2005 Best American Short Stories and did brief reviews on the twenty selected stories here on Spinning.  Last week … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in LITERATURE | Tagged , | Comments Off on LITERATURE: BASS & BAMS – Publication

LITERATURE: BAMS 2005 – Uh…

I really had no intention to do other than enjoy this issue of Best American Mystery Stories as mystery and horror had always been one of my favorite reading (and writing!) genres but one I’ve sadly neglected for many years.  … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in LITERATURE | Tagged | Comments Off on LITERATURE: BAMS 2005 – Uh…

LITERATURE: Phaedrus – Logical Progression

This is what I’m up against: "Now, the beginning is unbegotten, for that which is begotten has a beginning; but the beginning is begotten of nothing, for if it were begotten of something, then the begotten would not come from … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in LITERATURE | Tagged | Comments Off on LITERATURE: Phaedrus – Logical Progression

LITERATURE: As I Lay Dying – Finale

Your typical backwoods family: Anse, hardworking, toothless, faithful, semi-useless; Addie, his wife, very hardworking, resentful, cheated on her husband, dead at an early age; Cash, their oldest son, focused, determined, honest; son Darl, intelligent, watchful, non-risk-taking, strange, arsonist; son Jewel … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in LITERATURE | Tagged | Comments Off on LITERATURE: As I Lay Dying – Finale

LITERATURE: As I Lay Dying – Drama

We knew the river was rising, the rains swelling it to wash out the bridges, and the Bundren’s are in trouble crossing with the wagon loaded with Addie in her coffin.  Two things detracted from the drama of the moment … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in LITERATURE | Tagged | Comments Off on LITERATURE: As I Lay Dying – Drama

LITERATURE: As I Lay Dying – Time

Though I’m not sure I agree with the language and thought patterns that Faulkner assigns his characters, I do again see his dedication to understanding the passage of time in other than our own decided measured out format.  Here Darl, … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in LITERATURE | Tagged | Comments Off on LITERATURE: As I Lay Dying – Time

LITERATURE: Phaedrus Sexual Love

In his comment to a prior post, Mark brings up what I have been purposely avoiding, or justifying on terms meant to allow the reading to apply to modern times and society. There is no denying that in Symposium and … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in LITERATURE | Tagged | Comments Off on LITERATURE: Phaedrus Sexual Love

LITERATURE: Phaedrus – Love as Control

From Socrates’ opening speech, we catch a glimmer of the selfishness of love: "He who is the victim of his passions and the slave of pleasure will of course desire to make his beloved as agreeable to himself as possible. … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in LITERATURE | Tagged | 1 Comment

LITERATURE: Phaedrus – A Word on Technique

Something about the style of Plato’s essays, his use of what was common then, the play and interaction of the actors, permits a wonderful sense of realism to his lectures. Phaedr: Now, Socrates, what do you think? Is not the … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in LITERATURE | Tagged | Comments Off on LITERATURE: Phaedrus – A Word on Technique

LITERATURE: As I Lay Dying – A Grammar Lesson

Man, after this novel if I don’t get it right I’ll give up.  (I’ve just gotten used to good and well.)  Addie, for eighty pages, has been lying in her bed, and now in her coffin, where they laid her. … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in LITERATURE | Tagged | Comments Off on LITERATURE: As I Lay Dying – A Grammar Lesson