Faulkner has a gift for shoving you into his stories. After a few sentences, You Are There. I was mesmerized. Read three of them, put the book down and felt sated. Couldn't take anymore. Sort of in a state of shock. I read a lot. A lot. And told Gary after that there are some authors who have such a strong gift for words, and Faulkner is definitely one of those people. And Southern writers---I don't know. They're in a category all their own. The extremes are more extreme, and the personalities are more peculiar. We blame it on the humidity.
And speaking of authors who aren't Southern---I got some Virginia Woolf as well. For some odd reason, they remind me of one another. You have to apply yourself to read each of them, least I do. So much literature that's cranked out today is lame. Canned plots and not much to tantalize or shock the reader. I don't want horror or heartache, but a story that grips me, that fills me up. So many times I can see the ending before it arrives. With Faulkner, that doesn't seem to happen. He comes up from behind you.
In other books, reading The Screwtape Letters aloud to the three youngest during the week. Just got to the part where Screwtape tells Wormwood about how Christians are more usable to God when He puts them through tough times and they remain faithful. He talks about how those believers are the hardest to sway. A book that has some difficult sentences to decipher, but the truth really does shine through. Lewis was something.
Anyway, a fresh day spreads out ahead of me. Just me and the girls at home. Had a storm overnight, and the garden is all damp and cool. Might weed a bit, but don't feel much pressure about it. Might putter around the house. White beans for dinner. Will throw in some bacon and onion. Made flour tortillas for dinner last night, and that might happen too. Mine ended up like naan, which was my intention, anyhow.
Three cups of flour, one teaspoon each of salt and baking powder, 1/3 cup of oil (I used butter-flavored Crisco---didn't even melt it beforehand), one cup water. Blend together in mixer. Let sit for about 15 minutes (didn't happen). Form into pancake shapes, put on hot, greased griddle and cook for about a minute on each side. So easy. Wonderful texture.
Will go get dressed now. Praying for our kids, and protection for all. For the Lord to put people in their paths who speak truth and live for Christ. For the Lord to show favor on Gary's shop. He's got repair work coming in, and while I don't want to complain, more would be nice. Hard to keep your head above water when it stays just below your nose. Life is too full of prayer needs, but maybe that's as it should be. I get to praying and it just goes on and on.
Enjoy the day.
