It's so cool because I know how much Smith loves 19th century novels, and her new novel is set in the 19th century and I was just thinking it that it read a bit like a George Eliot and suddenly there was George Eliot herself. Just a cameo for now, but who knows... I'm just over halfway through.
In any case it reminded me of this lovely quote by Eliot that is so perfect for this cloudy, moody, and perfectly fall day: "Is not this a true autumn day? Just the still melancholy that I love — that makes life and nature harmonize. The birds are consulting about their migrations, the trees are putting on the hectic or the pallid hues of decay, and begin to strew the ground, that one’s very footsteps may not disturb the repose of earth and air, while they give us a scent that is a perfect anodyne to the restless spirit. Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns." (from Letter to Miss Lewis, Oct. 1, 1841)
Early this morning, I did a handful of tough (for me) things I'd been ignoring (set a new timeline for the book, queried a weird credit card charge, fixed an IT snag on Canvas, addressed a difficulty with a coworker) and the rest of the day fell into a more predictable and productive pattern.
Pic: A mess of vines in dramatic fall colors from a short walk today.
6 comments:
I have this book on my pile, but I don't always love her, so I have been reluctant to start. Worth the plunge?
What a beautiful quote that is!
Yay for you for getting the difficult things taken care of. THIS WEEK, MAYA. We have been getting driver's licenses changed, new registration, new insurance FOR ALL FIVE VEHICLES and there is just so much paperwork to be done!
Yay!! You did the hard things! I'm so proud of you!
Good for you.
Lovely fall colors. And good for you tackling the tricky jobs.
Sarah--Somehow I remember that you didn't enjoy _Swing Time_! Yikes, I don't know... I was hooked by the end of the first page... perhaps give it a try and ditch it if it doesn't work for you? Do you ever ditch a book though?
Nicole--all that paperwork you have going on definitely does put my own small haul into perspective. Good luck, friend!
Thank you, NGS, Gillian, and Steph. NGS--it was your post that spurred me to get 'em done already. Thank you!
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