Yes, you can blame your mother for our invasion. She brought Debbie over to visit with Cadie and wound up staying for lunch. At one point she asked me if I knew what a blog was. (I think to myself: "Umm, yes, I've been writing one for over 2 years and I sent you a link to it, as a matter of fact.") She couldn't remember any of the addresses exactly, but a short trip to Mr. Google fixed that. And then I sent the links to my kids . . . and the older ones spent an evening reading every single post of yours, in chronological order. I did hear some giggling coming from that part of the house. I don't know how far Teman and Rundy have gotten reading John's and Pete's, but I know they have read some.
I think you have my email via the Blogger profile. If you are interested in seeing the latest family photo, drop me a line.
My mom's a stranger to most of the computer's geography; she rarely visits my blog, visiting only when I tell her she must!
I am glad that you all have an electronic link, however tenuous, to some of us [ex]Johnson kids. I told John the other day that The Purdy Family (with much-deserved capitals) has taken on a mythic role in my mind, partly because of your unique nature (I've told many a tale of your wonderful brood of 12 children) and partly because it's been eons since I've seen any of you in the flesh! I will send you an email request for that offered photo just in case you don't check this comments section again...
Yes, I will confess to having read your blog through from the beginning. Very enjoyable. It is nice to have some reading that brings out the lighter side of light.
But it was Teman who giggled, not me.
It's funny how old bits of your past resurface sometimes when you are out on the web. I was shocked to discover you mentioning the Bone comics . . . I read a few portions of those comics way back in some stupid Disney magazine and had never been able to find the rest of the facinating story. Then Bone pops up in your blog and I discover the rest of the story. Now I must get the entire series out of the library.
Til We Have Faces, by C.S. Lewis is also one of my favorite books. I guess maybe it is tied with Wuthering Heights. I see some similiarty between the two. Somehow, I often have this urge to try and get people to read Til We Have Faces when I know they might/will be shocked that C.S. Lewis could write such a thing.
Personally, I think the first half up of the book (until after Agape, if I can say that without spoiling it for those who haven't read) is much better than the second half. I think Lewis wasn't bold enough to let what he said in the first half stand without "explaining" himself. Authors shouldn't explain. They should let us think.
If you are taking reading suggestions you should check out The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner. It's not so "literary" as Til We Have Faces but I have enjoyed it.
Man, I'll just have to dream up something so unbearably ridiculous that you can't help but giggle, too...
I am pleased to be the bearer of Bone info.; John checked a few out of the library for me before Christmas, but I had a looong wait. Boneville endears itself to a lot of library patrons, I suppose, so when he surprised me with the one-volume edition, I was understandably giddy.
I'm glad that you've not only read Till We Have Faces but also enjoyed it so much. The only people I've met who've read it were female, but Lewis himself said that, of all his works, it was his favorite. I wager that a large part of these girls' appreciation was due to identifying with Orual and her struggles, too, so I'm interested to hear a male's perspective on the same work.
As for myself, the last two times I read it, I was still attending college and read it simply for the enjoyment of story--for the beautiful retelling of a favorite myth--and not so much for thoughtful critique (I engaged in the merest smattering of that in my classes, and laziness of mind threatened rebellion). In spite of my intellectual laziness, I didn't ignore Lewis' movement beyond the confines of the original myth and his weaving in of Christian themes; I'm looking forward to another, and I anticipate, yet more thoughtful reading. I'm almost done with The Unusual Life of Tristan Smith, and plan to begin Till We Have Faces next. (And I think that anyone who likes Lewis' "safer" offerings should read it, too.)
I'll most likely post briefly after I finish the re-reading, and I'd enjoy any of your reflections on the book.
(Thanks, also, for the reading suggestion. I welcome suggestions as quickly as you or other Purdy kinfolk can send them, even if I don't actually read them for a few years!)
Hey abigail, cool blog! I came across you while blog-surfing around looking for similar information. If you are interested, go see my Weird & Curious eBay Auctions site. Can you believe people really sell this stuff??
Now that's the Abigail I remember!
ReplyDeleteI still make that exact same face; Pete, although far more handsome, can still count his ribs in the mirror. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat blog, by the way! You have such a wealth of knowledge, and from what I've read, it seems as if your entire, book-loving family is steeped in it!
Yes, you can blame your mother for our invasion. She brought Debbie over to visit with Cadie and wound up staying for lunch. At one point she asked me if I knew what a blog was. (I think to myself: "Umm, yes, I've been writing one for over 2 years and I sent you a link to it, as a matter of fact.") She couldn't remember any of the addresses exactly, but a short trip to Mr. Google fixed that. And then I sent the links to my kids . . . and the older ones spent an evening reading every single post of yours, in chronological order. I did hear some giggling coming from that part of the house. I don't know how far Teman and Rundy have gotten reading John's and Pete's, but I know they have read some.
ReplyDeleteI think you have my email via the Blogger profile. If you are interested in seeing the latest family photo, drop me a line.
My mom's a stranger to most of the computer's geography; she rarely visits my blog, visiting only when I tell her she must!
ReplyDeleteI am glad that you all have an electronic link, however tenuous, to some of us [ex]Johnson kids. I told John the other day that The Purdy Family (with much-deserved capitals) has taken on a mythic role in my mind, partly because of your unique nature (I've told many a tale of your wonderful brood of 12 children) and partly because it's been eons since I've seen any of you in the flesh! I will send you an email request for that offered photo just in case you don't check this comments section again...
Yes, I will confess to having read your blog through from the beginning. Very enjoyable. It is nice to have some reading that brings out the lighter side of light.
ReplyDeleteBut it was Teman who giggled, not me.
It's funny how old bits of your past resurface sometimes when you are out on the web. I was shocked to discover you mentioning the Bone comics . . . I read a few portions of those comics way back in some stupid Disney magazine and had never been able to find the rest of the facinating story. Then Bone pops up in your blog and I discover the rest of the story. Now I must get the entire series out of the library.
Til We Have Faces, by C.S. Lewis is also one of my favorite books. I guess maybe it is tied with Wuthering Heights. I see some similiarty between the two. Somehow, I often have this urge to try and get people to read Til We Have Faces when I know they might/will be shocked that C.S. Lewis could write such a thing.
Personally, I think the first half up of the book (until after Agape, if I can say that without spoiling it for those who haven't read) is much better than the second half. I think Lewis wasn't bold enough to let what he said in the first half stand without "explaining" himself. Authors shouldn't explain. They should let us think.
If you are taking reading suggestions you should check out The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner. It's not so "literary" as Til We Have Faces but I have enjoyed it.
Man, I'll just have to dream up something so unbearably ridiculous that you can't help but giggle, too...
ReplyDeleteI am pleased to be the bearer of Bone info.; John checked a few out of the library for me before Christmas, but I had a looong wait. Boneville endears itself to a lot of library patrons, I suppose, so when he surprised me with the one-volume edition, I was understandably giddy.
I'm glad that you've not only read Till We Have Faces but also enjoyed it so much. The only people I've met who've read it were female, but Lewis himself said that, of all his works, it was his favorite. I wager that a large part of these girls' appreciation was due to identifying with Orual and her struggles, too, so I'm interested to hear a male's perspective on the same work.
As for myself, the last two times I read it, I was still attending college and read it simply for the enjoyment of story--for the beautiful retelling of a favorite myth--and not so much for thoughtful critique (I engaged in the merest smattering of that in my classes, and laziness of mind threatened rebellion). In spite of my intellectual laziness, I didn't ignore Lewis' movement beyond the confines of the original myth and his weaving in of Christian themes; I'm looking forward to another, and I anticipate, yet more thoughtful reading. I'm almost done with The Unusual Life of Tristan Smith, and plan to begin Till We Have Faces next. (And I think that anyone who likes Lewis' "safer" offerings should read it, too.)
I'll most likely post briefly after I finish the re-reading, and I'd enjoy any of your reflections on the book.
(Thanks, also, for the reading suggestion. I welcome suggestions as quickly as you or other Purdy kinfolk can send them, even if I don't actually read them for a few years!)
Time has been kind, very, very, very kind. My chest and arms aren't really that much bigger now though :'(
ReplyDeleteunfortunately, i've tripled in size. i'll let you borrow some of my arms.
ReplyDeletethat's some of the makeup of my arms, not the entirety of arms themselves...
Hey abigail, cool blog! I came across you while blog-surfing around looking for similar information. If you are interested, go see my Weird & Curious eBay Auctions site. Can you believe people really sell this stuff??
ReplyDelete