Yay, Fall! Do not chilly weather, hot beverages, and reading go perfectly together?
Paradise Lost
Finally made it to the 5th and final book of my 'epic, epic, poetry project'! Time to dive into John Milton's poem of epic proportions. Or as he calls it, "my advent'rous song."
I previously procured copies of this book from the used bookstore last year when dreaming up this epic project, but I've learned something after reading Homer, Virgil, and Dante and it is this: constantly flipping to the back of the books for notes gets tedious and disruptive.
To solve this problem with The Divine Comedy I purchase a kindle edition of the John Ciardi translation. The footnotes were on a pop up menu. Much less disruptive to reading. However, I missed reading an actual book.
So,
for this last epic poem (The Divine Comedy), I found a copy (the Modern Library edition) that has the notes at the bottom of the page (see above photo).
Notes:
09.06.2024
Got a new copy of Paradise Lost. Notes on the same page as the poem.
09.24.2024
I waited a few weeks to get started as my Dante-reading-buddy was still fiinishing Paradiso. I can wait no longer. I must begin! By page 35: I go into this thinking of how it is paradise lost for Adam and Eve, but it is starting out with the loss of paradise for the angels. Finished book one.
09.28.2024
I think my favorite speech was Mammon. However, it is strange because I can relate and see the reasons for all their arguments about what to do next. I feel kind of weird relating to these fallen angels. Is it me or did Milton write it to be this way?
10.04.2024
It's been almost a weeks since reading PL. One of the things that bother me at this point about this poem is the capitalization of each line. It doesn't matter if it is the middle of a though or sentence, the next line is capitalized. It feels disruptive to the flow (imho).
I didn't think that PL would fit into my horror novel 'ghostober' month reading but I'm thinking - maybe Paradise Lost is the ultimate horror story.
Wow, just wow. I'm towards the end of Book 2 and the personification of "Sin" as the daugther of the devil is horrifying - especially her speech to her "father". Definitely fits in with 'ghostober' reading.
Paradise Lost seems to be a very human (fallen human) poem. Things are relatable. Some examples: Sin relating why she should listen to God's command to lock the gates, the speeches of each demon in hell on what they should do next, and even Satan's reasoning. You can definitely see Milton's Protestant view of things and it's disconnect.
10.10.2024
Finished Book 3 tonight. I don't know why but heaven seems kind of boring. I don't like the anthropomorphic aspects of God. The God of Milton just feels "man made". Milton is very protestant and the protestant views of Christianity show Paradise Lost. I read other commentators mention how you kind of are rooting for Satan in this epic poem (at least in the beginning) and I completely get that. Finished Book 3 much faster than I thought I would.
10.16.2024
Reading book for and one of the footnotes mention how Newton explains the usage of a word in the poem. (If you have the same edition I do it's on page 143, and the word is "even".) It was exciting to think that I am reading the same epic poem that the scientist Isaac Newton also read. People from all walks of life throughout time love reading and poetry.
10.17.2024
Finished Book 4. There are so may references to Virgil and The Aeneid. This is why I love reading these back to back because the are so fresh on my mind. Still thinking about Newton reading Paradise Lost. What company do we keep by reading the same books as one another.
10.19.2024
Book 5. Love this:
"Innumerable as the stars of night,
Or stars of morning, dewdrops, which the sun
Impearls on every leaf and every flower."
~ lines 745-74
10.20.2024
Finished Book 5. Starting Book 6. Raphael relates the battle in heaven. Here is what I start thinking: Satan gets knocked down and keeps getting back up. It's is admirable to us in today's world. Until you realize that it is his pride that never let's him stay "defeated" for long. But it is a foolish pride because he will never match God.
Pride causes his fall, but it is also what causes him to get back up and try again and again. A Sisyphean effort?
10.22.2024
Reading while waiting in line at the store. I realize you can't really something like Paradise Lost in the in-between times. It really demands more sustained focus and attention. So, I had to go back and re-read when I got home later in the day. Why is Satan such a likeable character? It's weird.
The whole battle was equally matched with the angels. Great imagery throughout. Amazing how Satan blasts angels with cannonball fire and they respond by literally picking up mountains and throwing them. The whole thing was very descriptive. And wild.
10.25.2024
Finished Book 6 and starting Book 7 over the next few days. Book 7 is my least favorite so far.
11.6.2024
Reading Book 8. Book 7 retells the story of how God created the world -it's basically a retelling of Genesis. However, what is more interesting to me is reading in Book 8 Adam's perspective of waking up alive in Eden. We are all born as babies. Adam was made as a fully formed human. Enjoyed this part.
The other books:
The Brink
by James S. Murray and Darren Wearmouth
Book 2 of the Awakened series. Reading on my Nook when I need a break from Paradise Lost.
Awakened
by James S. Murray and Darren Wearmouth
Re-reading this book at the end of October so that I could finish the trilogy (as I mostly forgot it). The next two in the trilogy I bought as ebooks on my Nook Glowlight 4 (I love this ereader- page turning buttons!) Update: Finished late October - still a fun (and quick) read!
Tales from the Gas Station, Vol. 3
by Jack Townsend
Been reading through this one on and off for about two months. Love this series. Reading with kindle unlimited. I think this is only available on the kindle. This 3rd book is not as good as the first two. Update: It is now November - why have I not finished this book yet? That is the question.
Never Whistle at Night
edited by Shane Hawk and Theodore C. Van Alst
Got this one on sale (09.04.24) on my Nook. (Yes, I'm a nookworm!) I was excited to read horror stories based on Native American legend. So far I'm disappointed. It's not like I thought it would be at all. But, I will keep reading.
The Midnight Game
by Cynthia Murphy
Another book I found on sale ($1.99, 09.05.2024) that I downloaded and read. Totally took over this first weekend in October. It's been a long time since I read a YA novel. Update: Finished in October - this book was 'meh'.
Hell House
by Richard Matheson
A 70's scary house novel by Richard Matheson. I'm just in the mood for some 70's horror - horror in the 70's was a unique time. Update: Finished in October - this book was okay. Starting to wonder if the epic, epic poetry project is ruining me for other books...?