Monday, January 17, 2011

Finishing a Book

I love to read books, but I find myself taking forever to finish them.  I get distracted by other books while reading and end up having three or four books going at the same time; therefore, I am rarely giving my full attention to a particular book.  It usually takes getting through two-thirds of a book before it gets to take center stage and be finished.

I just finished a book.  I wish I could say I loved it, but I can't.  I can't say I didn't like it either; I also can't say it wasn't a good book.  Amy Tan is hard for me to read, as she takes a very Asiany, long time to get to the little nuggets of wisdom that pepper the pages of her stories.  The book I just finished is Saving Fish from Drowning.  It was on the dollar rack at Books-a-Million a few months ago and pulled me in with this quote that was written on the page before the title page.  Does anyone know what that is called? I just googled it and found more information than I could take in, so that is a mystery I will solve at a later date.  Go to this link to read some fascinating information about books, though: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book.
Ah, back to the quote:
"A pious man explained to his followers: 'It is evil to take lives and noble to save them.  Each day I pledge to save a hundred lives.  I drop my net in the lake and scoop out a hundred fishes.  I place the fishes on the bank, where they flop and twirl. "Don't be scared, " I tell those fishes.  "I am saving you from downing."  Soon enough, the fishes grow calm and lie still.  Yet, sad to say, I am always too late.  The fishes expire.  And because it is evil to waste anything, I take those dead fishes to the market and I sell them for a good price.  With the money I receive, I buy more nets so I can save more fishes."
-Anonymous

I don't know who this Mr. Anonymous (or Ms. Anonymous, or Dr. Anonymous, or Terry Anonymous...) is, but he sure does say some great things.   I wish I knew someone who has read this book and wants to talk about it.

Anyway, I thought is was an appropriate follow-up to Lucy's swimming escapades.  No, I will not buy you a swimsuit, but thanks for offering all of us the chance to make you more streamlined.

2 comments:

  1. I've come to conclude that the book page I couldn't find the name for is actually called the flyleaf. I like that name and will work it into conversations repeatedly over the next month.

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  2. I want to read it! Bring it to dinner Wednesday night and I'll get cracking. Also, bring quarters.

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