Saturday, October 23, 2021

Saturday Morning at the Library


When I was 5 years old, I was forced to take dancing lessons while the Brother was forced to take accordion lessons. I hated dancing class. The Knights of Columbus Hall where the classes were given had no heat or it wasn't turned on. I hated wearing the pink beginner tights. I liked clacking around in the tap shoes, but Ma wouldn't let me practice inside the house on the wood floors. I spent most of my time in class being miserable and crying. Eventually, I was taken out of class.

While the Brother still had to endure accordion lessons, Dad took me to the library. He would leave me upstairs in the children's library where I could look at the books and choose to take some books home with my own library card. As I got older, I would go downstairs to the adult library and wander among the stacks enjoying the scent of the books before going to find Dad in the reference area consulting the law books and catching up on his work.

So for the next several weeks, a list of my favorite books, some I have read as a child, others as an adult and some  I have read more than once.

This week, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (c. 1400attributed to the Pearl Poet. Newly minted knight, Gawain, nephew to King Arthur, accepts a challenge from the Green Knight for the honor of the King and Camelot.

If you haven't read this Arthurian romance, you can find read it for free online at The Gutenberg Project or find it at your public library or at your favorite bookstore.

13 comments:

  1. These stories were all lovely. I think we could do with some knightly manners these days. Valerie

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  2. You really love those King Arthur inspired stories, don't you? Thanks for the link to the Gutenberg Project. I'll check it out.

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    1. I love the stories from the Middle Ages, but I'm glad to have central heating and indoor plumbing. 🎃

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    2. Don't forget central AC, too. Needed for our 100+ Kansas days, at least.

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  3. I remember this from college. It is a good one. Not sure if I remember it correctly, but it is a really a long poem? Happy Saturday. Any sun for you? It's cloudy here now.

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    1. Yes, it's an epic poem. Lots of sun and nice out. Not windy though I'd be happier if the temp. was 30 degrees warmer (80 oF)

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  4. Another great tale! I'm still waiting King Arthur's return...

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  5. I'll stick to the 20th/21st centuries....indoor plumbing for sure....lol. ;)

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