which was good. But.
But I didn't really like any of the characters.
Maybe because I couldn't identify with any of them?
Maybe because every decision they made had me question, why?
Maybe because I don't live in New York, and it's not 1938?
Maybe because I was saddened that none of the women in this novel knew how to be friends?
Maybe because it just seemed like no one had any morals?
But the story was good, in a Great Gatsby kind of way.
The title comes from a list of 110 rules that George Washington wrote out regarding the do's and do not's of civility and decent behavior in company and conversation. They are based on a set of rules composed by French Jesuits in 1595.
You can read the list here. (Keep in mind these were written in 1595, so the English is quite formal.)
SO fun, no?
Examples:
When in Company, put not your Hands to any Part of the Body, not usually Discovered.
In the Presence of Others Sing not to yourself with a humming Noise, nor Drum with your Fingers or Feet.
Shift not yourself in the Sight of others nor Gnaw your nails.
Let your Countenance be pleasant but in Serious Matters Somewhat grave.
When you see a Crime punished, you may be inwardly Pleased; but always show Pity to the Suffering Offender.
In your Apparel be Modest and endeavor to accommodate Nature, rather than to procure Admiration keep to the Fashion of your equals Such as are Civil and orderly with respect to Times and Places.
While you are talking, Point not with your Finger at him of Whom you Discourse nor Approach too near him to whom you talk especially to his face.
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And the other book I recently finished:
... which was another YA book. About teenaged angst. With a uber nerdy boy and a super cool girl.
This MIGHT be a fabulous book, but it was my third one in a row, so I was tired of the cliche'd storyline.
That said, I'm still glad I discovered John Green.
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I'm not sure where you are in the whole hell debate, but here's Tim Keller's perspective. (Written in 1997 and so very applicable to today's discussion.)
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Huh.
This mom avoids photographic evidence of her existence. I so know what she's talking about.
Good article.
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Going back to tonight's conversation re: Rules of Civility...
Kate's 'big' year, the year that changed everything, the year that set her future in motion, was 1938, when she was 25 years old.
We talked about 'our' big years. The ones that moved us in the direction that took us into adulthood.
For me? It was grade 10.
Grade frickin 10.
The boy. The job. The education choices. The faith growth.
That was my big year.
Seriously. What do 15 year olds know?
Another gal said for her, it was a random decision she made in March the year she was 18. It changed the course of her life forever.
When was your big, life-changing year?
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Three things I'm thankful for:
1. Friends who listen, patiently, to me rant/obsess about my Situation. Thank, Kim and Karm. Seriously. I will stop talking about this soon.
2. Wednesday nights and the stuff I'm learning. Northview will be doing another six week course thingy, starting in January. You should go.
3. Warm evenings. When the rain stopped tonight, it was lovely.
Shalom,
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