Classics... round 2

I am presently reading "Wuthering Heights," a novel I neglected to read in my college and post-graduate degree days. While I have had a great number of opportunities to hear and read some literary analysis which made reference to characters such as Heathcliff, the novel itself remained a mystery to me until now. I am in the first few chapters so I have little to say other than I find the overwhelming rudeness of the Heathcliff gang absolutely unrealistic when paralleled versus the long-standing idea of British hospitality and manners. Of course, that is not to say that there aren't people like that in other cultures. Heathcliff makes me think of those absolutely arrogant bastards one wishes not to cross but one ends up doing anyways. Of course, that is central to the plot (from what I have read about it) so I am expecting someone to collect the brunt of his anger.

I won a $20 gift card to Borders Books this week when I took a health screening provided by the Academy. I turned out to be one of the "fittest" people here. Mainly I know this is due to my running, but also to the fact that I eliminated some bad habits from my eating in the last year or so. Weight, blood pressure and other vitals were right on target, and I found out my body "thinks" it is 37 years old. At any rate, I stopped by Borders "Outlet" (a discount division of Borders) and had some great finds, ALL of them under $3. I found Don DeLillo's "Underground," and "Making the Corps" by Thomas E. Ricks (this one is attractive to me for obvious reasons). I also got an anthology of contemporary authors "best works," on the strength that it had sections of "Timbuktu" by Paul Auster. All these riches for under $10.

In order to save my Pre-Made in China "Moleskines," (it is nearly impossible to find the "made in Italy" ones now) I began to use "Moleskines Cahiers" last year instead. I find them easier to handle. What ever is it that I am saving my "original" Moleskines for, I have no idea.... but it is certain that they are now valuable, and even if I don't use them, I might leave them behind for my children to use (I don't have any children, but when I do, I'll make them aware of it). The fact that the cahiers only have 80 pages also helps to feel the sense of accomplishment without having to wait 190 pages for it. It's been a wild ride the second half of "The Silence of This Wall," and I continue to plug away now at a slower pace, looking at small details and carrying on research as the need for it appears. Hot cocoa on a snowy day never tasted better!