December Reading

I got on quite a reading kick in December, thanks for some extra downtime. Instead of writing at length about all the books, here's some mini-reports on what I was reading:

Lord of the Flies - William Golding

I originally read this classic back in high school, but on a whim I picked it up for a reread, as I feel a bit wiser to deeper meanings in things than I was when I was 16. The book has great pace to it, and the eloquent discriptions really allowed me to visuallize the characters, the island, and all of the events in vivid detail. The book is a giant allegorical saga that focuses on the dark side of human nature. I thought this was the perfect book to read along with my recent readings - as it really highlights the battle between Idealism vs. Materialism (under the guise of the Nature of Man vs. Structured Society, of course).

Siddhartha - Herman Hesse

In college I was in a very focused Engineering and German program, which didn't allow me the opportunity to read classics such as this. Hesse's brilliant book really resonated with my own journey of seeking - seeking truth, happiness, and the pitfalls inherint in such a journey. It's also an eloquent discourse on the beauty of nature - and in the quiet power gained by truly absorbing it - becoming it and of letting go of the self. This was a very powerful book for me, and I would reccomend it to anyone - not just those interested in Buddhism or Eastern Philosophy.

Mostly Harmless - Douglas Adams

I've always loved Douglas Adams and read most of his work - so in the mood for some fun sci-fi, I picked this book off my bookshelf for a reread. This is the 5th book in the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series, and is more a stand-alone book than a continuation of the first 4 books. The characters are (mostly) the same quirky ones from the series, but the book is a fun romp through infinately parallel and probable universes. The book is full of quirky humor, but as is typical of Adams' brilliance, there's moment of deep meaning tucked between the whirlwind of amusement. What I love most about his work is how honest they are - of both the fantastic and the mundane, he always calls a spade a spade, in his own brilliant and unique style.

Featured Commentary: Eric A. Kreuter, Ph.D.

Inner City Perspectives

The imagery in Stray Thoughts portray the possible perspectives of life in a large city by the city itself. This is possible only in art or story where inanimate objects can be given metaphorical life. The expressive pages of this book invite the viewer to contemplate the essence of each page. They can observe the flow of colors and ideas, as well as the unconstrained nature of deeper inner thoughts.

City life is a composite of hustle and bustle with a mosaic of colors and sounds unique to a large and diverse population. The city "feels" and "sees" the action of the people through footsteps, music, construction, transportation, and general movement.

There is a certain rhythm to the flow of activity and also a definitive, uncontrolled chaos. Traffic typically moves in definable patterns, whereas pedestrians move in every conceivable direction. Imagination leads one to wonder where everyone might be going. The city also "wonders" as the movement occurs surrounding it, over it, and under it.

In Chris' imagery you will be structures, everyday items, and people. In these items and faces you can see impressions of feelings brought out in context with the flow of movement. Life works similarly where people can be observed in the context of the current moment. We might judge what they say or feel based on their reaction to the same surroundings. This book shows us another view of others by recognizing that we are interrelated to their surroundings, and therefore have direct impact. By repressing our judgement, we may achieve a more harmonious sense of community, even in a large city. Thus, the rushing bicyclist is appreciated no differently than the old woman feeding pigeons from a park bench.

(Chris's Note: Eric's interpretation of drawing within the present moment appears in the two square images at the bottom of Page 11 of Stray Thoughts)