this and that

[floatingleaf]

First, a link to an article on Thanksgiving and what it's really all about. Because, unlike my mother who thinks we should celebrate Thanksgiving for no other reason than that "we live in the US now and Americans celebrate it", I chose to actually inquire into the origins of said holiday and decide for myself whether I see a point in celebrating it. And, in all honesty, I do not.

http://www.alternet.org/news/148991/no_thanks_to_thanksgiving/

So, for me, it was just a regular Sunday dinner at my parent's place.:P Which really applies to all the traditional holidays (Christmas, Easter etc.), when I stop to think about it. I don't actually "celebrate" them, as in attach any symbolic meaning to them - I spend them with my parents, because THEY care about them, and about me being there. When I was still in Poland, and my parents already here, I didn't really mind spending those days alone. I actually tried to avoid/get out of holiday dinner invitations by extended family, because I felt much more comfortable by myself, holiday or not. But that's probably just proof of my antisocial tendencies.:P

Second, there's this author meme going around. The Rules: Don't take too long to think about it. Fifteen authors (poets included) who have influenced you and will always stick with you. List the first 15 you can recall in no more than 15 minutes, and they don't have to be listed in order of relevance to you:



Henryk Sienkiewicz (Polish 19th century novelist you've probably never heard of, though he did win the Nobel Prize at one point :)
Stefan Zeromski (see above - no Nobel Prize for him, though)
Boleslaw Lesmian (Polish poet)
Stanislaw Lem (Polish sci-fi author you MIGHT have heard of, since one of his books was made into a movie with George Clooney in it :)
Mika Waltari
Mary Renault
Jeanette Winterson
Sara Maitland
Cherry Potts
Kathryn Harrison
Margaret Atwood
Amelie Nothomb
Anne Rice
Alice Borchardt
Tanith Lee

Not in order of relevance. More or less in chronological order, though. The shift from Polish to foreign authors coincides roughly with the transition from late teens to early twenties (as well as the dramatic improvement of my English which took place around that time :). The shift from mostly male to mostly female writers might also have something to do with the discovery of feminism, the redefining of sexual orientation/identity and the like. Though my main "point of attraction" in reading has always been the same: a well-told story. Strong plot, good characterization and beautiful language. A world I can get lost in. Genre or time period is secondary.

That's it for tonight, because time has no mercy, and I still haven't folded the laundry I did at my parents' house on Sunday.:P

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[floatingleaf.livejournal.com]

I don't think I've even heard of The Powerbook. Must investigate.:)