Gray

Dec. 8th, 2009 11:54 am
osprey_archer: (kitty)
[personal profile] osprey_archer
I DO NOT WANT to write this paper. It's nothing to do with the topic - I love the virgin martyrs generally, and I love St. Katherine (although my favorite is St. Juliana, who whipped the devil with her own chains) - it's just the end of term, and close to Christmas, and I either want to go home or go to Paris or go anywhere (my medieval history professor made the mistake of showing us pictures of medieval wall paintings of St. Katherine in a church in Pickering, not to far away. Do want) - anything, except study.

I wish I had some chains to beat my restlessness. Where's St. Juliana when you need her?

Does anyone know how to fight off this sort of failure of will?

***

In other news, I've been reading Anne Bronte's Agnes Grey in preparation for going to Haworth this weekend.

So far, the heroine is mostly bemoaning the fact that she can't beat the children she's governessing as they deserve, the little brats. This is hilarious (in a horrible sort of way - it was a different time), but does not incline me to the sympathy that I think I am supposed to feel for her predicament. Children who don't hop to obedience instantaneously! Imagine that!

Date: 2009-12-08 12:34 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] asakiyume.livejournal.com
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall gives you the other side of Anne Bronte's ideas about childrearing--some people see the single mom as permissive with her son, but she makes modern-sounding arguments in favor of her approach. I liked that book, though there was some Victorian nursing-of-the-sick-and-degenerate-husband that I could have done without. Fortunately the husband does finally obligingly die. I haven't read Agnes Grey, though.

Still haven't read Richard III--still ready to. Dang work -_-

It's hard to get motivated--terror is usually what motivates me. Sometimes little rewards can help, for me anyway. (Such as... work for 15 minutes, read an LJ entry, work for half an hour, read an LJ entry--that kind of thing.)

Date: 2009-12-08 02:33 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] osprey-archer.livejournal.com
Wildfell Hall is rather thicker, which is why I picked out Agnes Grey, but I've heard good things about it.

I'm not very good at using LJ as a reward, because I say I'm just going to read an entry...but there are three new entries up...and of course I must reply...and of course this reminds me of my RL friends, so I need to check Facebook...and look! My beloved friend X who is never online is on Facebook chat, so obviously I must talk to her!...you see how it goes.

But perhaps I should go into town and see if the baklava stand is still there. Baklava is a good reward. And there's a chocolate shop...

Date: 2009-12-08 03:14 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] asakiyume.livejournal.com
I'm not very good at using LJ as a reward, because I say I'm just going to read an entry...but there are three new entries up...and of course I must reply...

...actually, this happens to me, too -_-

Well, here's to baklava as a delicious motivator!

Date: 2009-12-08 09:04 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] osprey-archer.livejournal.com
Om nom nom BAKLAVA.

Date: 2009-12-08 09:13 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] chaletian.livejournal.com
Mon dieu, I hate Agnes Grey! I ploughed through it years ago and have never felt the urge to revisit it. Have you read The Tenant of Wildfell Hall? It's awesome, and hard to believe the same writer wrote it.

ETA: Should read comments first! But do read TOWH - it's definitely the better book by far.
Edited Date: 2009-12-08 09:14 pm (UTC)

Date: 2009-12-08 10:37 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] osprey-archer.livejournal.com
Clearly I picked the wrong Anne Bronte book to start with. *shakes head* Oh well, it happens...

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