Interlude

     One of the books I was given for my birthday was Jon Fosse's Trilogy, thanks, M! As the name suggests it's in three parts. Wakefulness was published years before the subsequent sections. Fosse became curious about how the characters' lives in Wakefulness turned out.  Without the subsequent sections, Olav's Dreams and Weariness, the first section was almost Kafka like in dreariness. Paired with the next two sections it became much less dreary and more hopeful.

     Trilogy is true to Fosse's unique writing style, though unlike Septology, there are periods in this book. Music carries the imminence in this book that's in paintings in Septology. Fosse's carrying the lives of the characters of Wakefulness forward is almost séance like. The effect is very satisfying and true to his personal literary technique. It's a brief book which can be read in a session or two. There's a very good introduction but it should be read as an afterword. Fortunately I read the book first before the introduction.  The three books of his I had read previously; Septology, The Shining, and Aliss at the Fire, all had more reflections on the numinous. 

     This another book worth reading and Fosse is a great author, now I'll return to the Middle Ages in Norway.

Takk for alt,

Al

PS Never underestimate evil. 

Part II

      One of the realities of long life, way beyond the Biblical four score and ten, is the opportunity to encounter things about which one has long heard but not taken up. Such is Sigrid (my grandmother Negstad was named Sigrid) Undset's Kristin Lavansdatter books. It's the trilogy for which she won the Nobel in 1928.  Long I've known about them know, finally, I know them, the first two at least.

      My friend, Peter, who has been reading classics and Nobel prize winners, says that not all stand the test of time. Lavansdatter stands up well to time. Kristin Lavansdatter II; The Mistress of Husaby, is the one that I've just completed. It engaged me as much as the first volume.

     In the first book Kristin is a young woman, in the second she's in middle years and in the final volume an old woman. These books, set among the upper classes in the 1300s, illuminate Norwegian life among the gentry in the Middle Ages.  Roman Catholicism plays a large role in the stories well before Norway became Lutheran during the Reformation.

Takk for alt,

Al

Hunting Follies!

       The past two days of hunting revealed some birds but none within shooting range. It's satisfyingly to regularly see pheasants. Kaia and I ventured out again today. A rooster flushed at about the limits of gun range so I held my fire not wanting an unrecoverable crippled bird. A bit later Kaia was working some tall sweet clover ahead of me. 

    A cackling rooster flushed out of the clover toward me offering a shot that would be hard to miss. As I fumbled to switch off the safety to allow the gun to fire I took a step forward.  Oops, I stepped in a hole and fell down. There's another rooster not coming home with us.😀  Not, to worry, the ground was soft and I was no worse for the fall.

Takk for alt,

Al

                Does this look like anyone either of you know?

A foggy day in Little House environs...

         It was another day and another opportunity for a nice walk in the field. Several pheasants were observed, none of which came home with us. Beautiful switch grass in which to walk,  Kaia is mellow after a good workout. 

      Tonight nine family members have served for dinner at our usual place in Brookings. The service and food are good and, as eating places go, relatively quiet. Speaking of quiet, that depends on other guests. American diners are the LOUDEST ever encountered in my travels around the world. Why do they have to talk so LOUD?

Takk for alt,

Al

In the field!

        The Twin Cities had snow for Halloween. None here at The Little House though we could use the moisture.  Awakened to heavy fog this morning. As it burned off late morning we ventured out for a bit of hunting.  Conditions were ideal with a light breeze, blue sky and good cover.  We successfully saw a number of birds, none of which came home with us. Much better than paying for a gym membership.

      With this unseasonably warm weather winter preparations can easily be neglected. Winter could explode on us at any time. There are a couple of things I have yet to do. 

Takk for alt,

Al

Company coming!

         Lisa is due to arrive momentarily so this will be a brief post. The purpose of this current blog is to let you both know that I am still upright. And, yes. I can, rather easily, get off the floor, though seldom I fall. Every morning I do back exercises/stretches on the floor so I have daily practice on getting up. Now I'm at the life stage that at the doctor's office I'm asked if I've fallen recently. The honest answer is "no" becasue I haven't stepped in a badger hole lately.

Takk for alt,

Al

There are badgers on my land as evidenced by their digging for gophers.  Last year I saw one on the road next to my property. They are mostly nocturnal so I don't why that one was out in the daytime,

"Reading Genesis"

       While staying with Barb and Ken on my annual Iowa trip Reading Genesis, by Marilyn Robinson, was on an end table by my chair. They are both avid readers so it is always instructive to see what they are reading. Marilyn Robinson is know to me from her books which I've deeply appreciated; Jack, Lila, Home, Gilead and Housekeeping. Reading a few pages of Reading Genesis, while I was their guest, convinced me that I wanted my own copy, which Lars gave me.

     This is not a book to sit and read cover to cover. Filled with deep thought it's best read a few pages at a time and then ponder. Now, thirty two pages into the book, it struck me that my knowledge of Genesis could use refreshing. Therefore, I re-read the book of Genesis at one sitting. That, in itself is a worthy endeavor, which I'm glad I did. With the book fresh in mind reading Robinson will be more fruitful. 

     Robinson may or may not have a degree in theology. Obviously she's done her research on comparative religious narratives and brings her literary insights to that research. While I've only scratched the surface of the book it's already brought fascinating insights. Just the motivation to re-read Genesis at a sitting seems praise enough for her writing.

Takk for alt,

al