A Dead Zone

We find ourselves caught in a certain dead zone, a period between two holidays, both of which celebrate the spirit of renewal. A week of dawdling, unstructured days, resting in place. We of a certain age try to ignore the media’s pictorial reviews of the year. We don’t look back ourselves – too many goodbyes behind us. We take our diversion elsewhere than from our television. 

I surf my bookshelf and browse my favorites. 

The Eternal Frontier by Tim Flannery. How the West was made. Were I still teaching I would insist all students read this one, a geology of North America. Flannery writes so well, so readably. So many discoveries in historical geology since my own coursework, half a century ago. Flannery lifts your spirits. Life is good. 

The Demon-Haunted World by Carl Sagan. “How do we make intelligent decisions about our increasingly technology-driven lives if we don’t understand the difference…?” This one hits a nerve. With the Web, so much constant circulation, how to judge between information and disinformation? I see it every day, and you do, too. Forwarded nonsense. Sagan is dead serious. I sympathize with him, but put the book away. A bit depressing for this season. 

Wicked by Gregory Maguire. You’ve watched The Wizard of Oz with your children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and enjoyed the fable as a child yourself. Maguire takes it to an amazing level, a fantasy seldom captured in words. Like the movie, it’s to enjoy again and again. Especially if you think you would be a writer yourself. In Wicked e you can lose yourself, in this dead zone between holidays. 

Open a favorite book. And with me, turn a page of life. 

Dac Crossley

12/29/2009 

“We are here to help each other get through this thing, whatever it is.” – Kurt Vonnegut

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Jan Okey]

I love the quote by Kurt Vonnegut.........We are all on the same bus. Happy New Year.
Another chance to try and get it right. You
go Dac.

[Irene]

Haven't had time to experience the dead zone with collecting everything for sales and income taxes.
I published my Best Mystery Reads for 2009 as a Listamania. It should be listed on your space for Return of the Texas Ranger. To be fair I made the list alphabetical by author.
Have a great one. Irene

[Paige]

This is a blurred time of the year, especially in Athens. Over half the town is gone. The University staff, faculty and students won't return until Tuesday. The streets are empty, there is no waiting for fine dining. It is so easy to get lost in the emptiness. But I have been rereading my favorite Margaret Frazer historicals. And thinking about writing.

[Eric]

Lindsay, Steve, Tanya and I saw Wicked in Chicago. It was a great play. I never read the book, but Lindsay had and said the play followed the book closely.