"Following the Equator" by Mark Twain

I am usually not interested in reading Twain; but I find I have inherited a first edition of the book.

It was originally owned by the natty gentleman, pictured with his family in the photos above. I have written about him before, since in May was the 100th anniversary of his passing.

The book was published before the turn of the last century, it's about 123 years old; in pretty good shape, mostly standing in the bookcases of by my 2nd Great-Grandparents, then my Grand-Parents and my Aunt.  One of my cousins presented me with the book.

I'm about 1/3 of the way thru the book; he's still in Australasia (as Oz was called then), traveling to scheduled lectures in the cities and towns of Australia. It's interesting. I'm using You Tube to follow along, viewing selected videos about the various locations. My 2-g-gf did not have that opportunity when he read the book. In some ways, our lives have changed so much.   

He passed away in 1920---I believe it was some form of respiratory condition. I wonder if it was the Spanish Flu of the Pandemic of that era?? He was about 88 years old when he died.

At least a couple of other relatives died that year: my Campbell G-GF and one of his granddaughters, a young woman of 30.

What I've been doing? Gardening, some travel, reading, sewing, keeping house, walks in the neighborhood.

I hope this iris comes back next Spring. Savannah Sunrise-or ...set. Photo does not do it justice. 

Some of the usual day lily suspects in the yard. I spend some time in yard most mornings before it gets too hot. 

 I finished reading Faulkner's "The Hamlet". The trouble with Faulkner is: no matter how depressing the story or what a terrible time he gives his characters, his writing was so excellent that it is difficult to select another book to read.  A "go-to" author for me was always John Le Carre.

With "The Mission Song" it did not work. I finished the book--only "just". Yes it had points of interest. I have visited You Tube videos about various subjects concerning central Africa, D. R. Congo, Rwanda, etc. Can't forget news reports on bloody, gory genocides of recent decades.  I would never consider a visit to Africa for any reason. Too far, too long, too hot, too strange, I would not like the food. Maybe the fruit and flowers.

We traveled by car to Hopewell NJ to visit one of our sons and his wife and dog. It was a refreshing trip. We needed to visit our son, who we had not seen for a year.   Next we will need to find the strength to visit the other one in NC.  Not til "it cools down" in so many ways. 

For a global pandemic, (and us being 72) you'd think I be more frightened of the disease; I'm nervous about the social unrest (this seems worse than the 1960's; more intentional). I don't even know anybody who has COVID, though I've heard some 2nd hand reports.

I have picked up a Mark Twain book about his trip around the world at the equator. I'm not an actual fan of Twain, haven't read any since high school, etc.  The volume I am reading was handed down from my 2nd Great Grandfather and bears his signature so I wonder how many of his household may have read the book.  It's a little slow, the humor is not very funny: but Faulkner liked Mark Twain, so I'll give it a go.

Finally I finished "the Hamlet"

Now, what am I going to read next?

Our library is "open" but you have to make a reservation to visit the inside and search for new material.

I have a few things here I might look at.  We have missed the library; we usually visit once a week.

After the ordeal that reading The Hamlet was, I need a palate cleanser; something light.

Nearly finished with "The Hamlet" by William Faulkner

He wrote novels with subjects so shocking, they still seem raw today. His ability to craft his writing is what saves the taudrey, depressing stories---that, and his light touch with gruesome details. Your mind fills in the gaps. He portrays dynamic movement well--like a galloping horse, a person falling down a staircase, etc.

The Hamlet was the first "Snopes" novel in a trilogy. It is set about the turn of the 20th Century.

Faulkner's family was from the "planter class" of 19th century Mississippi, though not excessively wealthy; he was aware of the social decline of his family and friends; he had sympathy within the black community and friends, too.

The times did not favor the poor, white hill farmers of the South; even those who tried hard had difficulty to prosper. The Snopes family was beneath them. He said "a Snopes is a son-of-a-bitch's son-of-a-bitch", a "different kind of man, like a cotton mouth is a different kind of snake". Snopes's would burn peoples' barns for a grudge or kill another man for winning a court case, the family had to be forced to care for one of their own who suffered severe mental handicaps (to the point where he had fallen in love with a neighbor's cow and "married" it! Shocking) This book tells the story of Flem Snopes' rise to prominence in the village of Frenchman's Bend, his marriage to the local Big Man's daughter and their eventual departure for Jefferson.

Faulkner could find no sympathy for the Snopes's, though he spoke with evenness about those Snopes wives who were able to care for their families with the poor lot provided by the usual Snopes man.

Why am I writing about this? I'm writing about what I am doing--above the level of household chores--This is what I am doing.  Faulkner's world was complex, dangerous and perplexing: wars, depression and worry.

You Tube During the Quarantine? (disappointed).

I probably annoy my friends and acquaintances with my reliance on You Tubes for entertainment, news, interviews, discussions, instructions etc.

I don't know why--and maybe it was just "Me"--but the platform lost it's so-called "sizzle".

During the Stay-at-Home order, I was careful not to watch too much, careful to try to keep busy about the house and garden, take long walks. But anyway, it seemed most of the You Tube creators were over-taxed by the tendency to "over-produce"....

So maybe this whole You Tube Thing was just a phase with me...?

We're not going back to cable.

Our public library is not fully open yet. That has been difficult.

Farmhouse Vernacular is the one of my former favorites that still makes me smile.

And I'm reading more books, of course.

What Am I Doing?

Summer Solstice is my favorite time of year.

I like to get up "in the 4's" and watch the sky get light and listen to the birds wake up. Depends on how well I have slept.

Which normally is not too well these days.

I like to work in the flowers early in the day, with my best energy. Then work around the house or go shopping for food once a week.

I tend to lose energy after noon. Or I sew. Or read.

I'm continuing with my "Faulkner Studies" by reading "The Hamlet".

I'm not very happy. Worried about everything. But I understand most people are right there with me, on the worrying. I've been very fortunate to live in peaceful times most of my life. Most of the world's population has never known real peace. Prayer, instead of worry.

But I worry about the younger people. My own kids. Pray for them.

I finally finished the William Faulkner bio

         The book was written by Joseph Blotner, as I mentioned before. It was over 700-pages; it was a page turner, surprisingly.

          The subject, William Faulkner, was complex, moody and elusive; he seemed to believe that his work should stand on its own, without people invading his privacy. 

           The book was full of little nuggets of information: conversations he had with other famous people (which they later reported or remembered). Joan Crawford, Clark Gable, Ernest Hemingway, etc.

What he told Robert Oppenheimer on the subject of the emerging medium of popular TV cannot be repeated in today's world.

            Speaking of TV, at one point the author revealed that Faulkner only valued TV for horse races, occasional sports events and one favorite situation comedy series he enjoyed.  We were left hanging for a few hundred pages, wondering which show he liked. I thought and thought.      Finally, the reveal: William Faulkner enjoyed a silly show called "Car 54, Where are You?"  

            What would William Faulkner make of the sad circumstances the country is in now? Of course, he wouldn't be happy. But by the time he passed away, he was ready to go. He was beyond caring what would happen to the rest of us.  By now, his daughter has gone, also. He has grandchildren still living. 

            He wrote about and was disturbed by the unequal treatment of Blacks by our legal systems. In his day, there were no Federal Civil Rights laws, so inequality could vary wildly, depending on where you were. His views made him rather unwelcome in his home state of Mississippi. Read "Pantaloon in Black", as an example of his  ability to relate the story of a Mississippi tragedy that will burn your soul---in his usual poetic prose, smoothly veiled but unmistakably pointed toward his message.

            Safe to say, he would be horrified by the rioting, looting and random murders. 

            As I proceed to read his novels and stories, I am comforted by an understanding of his tortured life, always worried about money, unable to fight his alcoholism consistently; yet able to produce some 19 novels and countless stories. A real body of work.  He died from the effects of several severe falls from his horse, over the course of the last year of his life. He had internal injuries which were not addressed--maybe could not be at that time. And his back bones were all chipped and cracks. He was racked with pain.