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September 18, 2006
The Students Are Coming!
I stopped by Tesco on my way home. We needed bananas, bread and yogurt (I forgot the yogurt). In my usual post-work daze it took me a few minutes of weaving in and out of the aisles before I realized that the place was just buzzing with conversation. All around I could hear chatter - the students were finding each other and wanting to hear all about this last summer. I heard one guy bragging to a couple 3rd Year co-eds that he was a 4th Year and had really seen all there is to see around this place. I heard another talking about the job placement he had managed to land in some far off, exotic place. No Scottish accents, but then that's normal in St Andrews. You're much more likely to hear Northern Irish, American or German.
As the autumn sets in and a new session starts at the University I'm somewhat nostalgic for my own college days which now seem very dim and far off (although my Orientation Week never included pub crawls, for better or worse). I remember throwing my arms around friends I hadn't seen all summer. I remember setting up our rooms and making decisions about whether or not to keep the beds in bunks. (I think I've slept in about as many bed configurations as is humanly possible - thanks, Jeannette!) I remember buying books and the thrill of a new class and a whole new topic. I remember the Great Hall buzzing with chat and laughter.
It almost makes me want to go back...almost...
Here's to memories and here's to those who made them with me!
Posted by j and b at 06:41 PM | Comments (1)
September 07, 2006
The End of Lymond
Well, after nearly 7 months of (somewhat) regular reading, I have now completed the Lymond Chronicles. Dorothy Dunnett's 6 volume set on Francis Crawford of Lymond redeemed for me the whole genre of historical fiction. They're set in 16th century Europe (the main character is Scottish), and she did her research for the books.
But the historical setting, as fascinating in itself as it is, is just the moulding within which her genius operates. Lymond is something like the ideal 16th century humanist (with late 20th century religious sensibilities... ok, so some of it is anachronistic). He's not only the brightest person in Europe by a good bit, he's also fluent in any number of modern and ancient languages (Latin, French, Spanish, Turkish), the best musician in the French court, the best swordsman and marksman with the bow in Scotland and beyond, the most athletic wrestler, etc., etc. A bit over the top? It's all part of the fun.
Dunnett's plots are intricate and captivating and in the last couple of books even subtle. She's very generous to the reader throughout; meaning that, since you are following around the life of the brightest guy to ever live, you are having to use your little noodle quite a bit to stay on top of things (even if you skip all the classical allusions and untranslated lines of foreign tongues). But the result is something that is both entertaining and intellectually satisfying. I feel smarter having read them and enjoyed the process. I'm not sure how to give a novel higher praise!
I would say more, but Bryonie's still in book 3 (which is where it really becomes fun) so I can't really give anything away. In any case I highly recommend the series to anyone who likes a smart and engaging read. They're the best novels I've read in a while.
Posted by j and b at 08:27 PM | Comments (5)
September 04, 2006
More on the Highlands & Islands
Well, it's been a while since we actually trooped around the North of Scotland with Mom and Dad and our friends from Tacoma, but as life returns to normal and returning students flock to St Andrews I'm remembering some favorite moments from our whirlwind tour.
A trip to Loch Ness is never complete without a stone skipping competition (I didn't win) and a fish dinner by the banks. The weather was cool and peaceful. Surprisingly enough we didn't see the monster...
I loved driving through the mountains and valleys. I loved the morning we woke up in our B&B to see heather blooming on the hills, and to enjoy a terrific Scottish breakfast complete with blood sausage. Yum.
The best moment though was sitting in the kitchen of our self-catering lodge - the last stop in our journey - and hearing our friends tell the story of how they came to Christ. I will treasure that memory for a long time to come.
Posted by j and b at 08:39 PM | Comments (1)