Thursday Text: The Forgotten Affairs of Youth

I just got caught up on the Isabel Dalhousie novels again.  The latest in the series by Alexander McCall Smith is The Forgotten Affairs of Youth.  I've enjoyed reading them, but I realize they're not for everyone.  You'd like them better if you were married to a philosopher and had been to Edinburgh...

Thursday Text: The Charming Quirks of Others

The Charming Quirks of Others is the latest Isabel Dalhousie novel by Alexander McCall Smith. It came out a couple of weeks ago, and I had one shipped in from the nearest library that had an available copy. It was good - very much along the same lines as the others. I can never remember their titles, but I always learn something as I read them. And, of course, I love to read about Edinburgh.

Thursday Text: The Lost Art of Gratitude

I'm all caught up with the Isabel Dalhousie series by Alexander McCall Smith now. I finished The Lost Art of Gratitude last week. I liked a passage in which he was expressing the idea that God has something to do with beauty.

He said:

It was an intriguing thought, as it meant that a concert could be a spiritual experience, a secular painting a religious icon, a beguiling face a passing angel.

Thursday Text: The More Loving One

In Alexander McCall Smith's book, The Right Attitude to Rain, he mentions a poem by W.H. Auden (actually, he mentions a lot of Auden throughout the series). This one is called The More Loving One.

Looking up at the stars, I know quite well
That, for all they care, I can go to hell,
But on earth indifference is the least
We have to dread from man or beast.

How should we like it were stars to burn
With a passion for us we could not return?
If equal affection cannot be,
Let the more loving one be me.

Admirer as I think I am
Of stars that do not give a damn,
I cannot, now I see them, say
I missed one terribly all day.

Were all stars to disappear or die,
I should learn to look at an empty sky
And feel its total dark sublime,
Though this might take me a little time.

Thursday Text: The Parting Glass

I just finished the 5th book in the Isabel Dalhousie series by Alexander McCall Smith. I know, I'm plowing through them - but they're a fun read. This last one mentioned a traditional Irish/Scottish song called The Parting Glass. As it turns out, this song is also in Waking Ned Devine. Have you seen that movie? So funny.

Oh, all the comrades e'er I had,
They're sorry for my going away,
And all the sweethearts e'er I had,
They'd wish me one more day to stay,
But since it falls unto my lot,
That I should rise and you should not,
I gently rise and softly call,
Good night and joy be with you all.

Glasgow Jug

I've been reading more of the Isabel Dalhousie series by Alexander McCall Smith. Probably my favorite thing about them is their setting in Scotland. In one of them, he mentions something called a Glasgow jug. This is what he's referring to. They were made in the late 1800s/early 1900s and were in this shape and often painted in blue and white with this design. I'm not sure what the design signifies, but I think it's nice.

Thursday Text: John Anderson, My Jo

The Sunday Philosophy Club by Alexander McCall Smith (that I recently finished) contained many references to music, poetry, and art. One of the poems that was mentioned was John Anderson, My Jo by Robert Burns. It's a nice poem about friendship - if you can figure out all of the Scottish words!

JOHN ANDERSON my jo, John,

When we were first acquent,

Your locks were like the raven,

Your bonnie brow was brent;

But now your brow is beld, John,

Your locks are like the snaw,

but blessings on your frosty pow,

John Anderson, my jo!

John Anderson my jo, John,

We clamb the hill thegither,

And mony a canty day, John,

We've had wi' ane anither;

Now we maun totter down, John,

But hand in hand we'll go,

And sleep thegither at the foot,

John Anderson, my jo!

Thursday Text: The Sunday Philosophy Club

I recently finished reading The Sunday Philosophy Club by Alexander McCall Smith. He wrote The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. I haven't read that series, but I bought this book for $1 at NIU. I was intrigued because my husband is a philosopher, but this seemed like a light read. It was very fun. I mostly enjoyed it because it's set in Edinburgh, and Edinburgh was one of my favorite places that we visited in the UK last summer. The mystery is interesting, and the philosophical discussions that are sprinkled throughout are relatively easy to follow. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series!