You may have wondered at some point in your perusal of this blog how I keep my creative juices flowing. Well, as T.S. Eliot said, "Immature poets imitate; mature poets steal." I will leave it to you to decide whether or not I am mature, but the point is that however great a writer you are, you stand under the anxiety of influence. As the heirs of Saussure have observed, texts are tissues woven from other texts.
Am I still being too oblique? Fine: I can read. And I have proof:
Of course, I felt pretty busted when Dad caught me reading this book on parenting; it was so useful to be able to stay a step ahead of them; like when I read in Ferber that you could let your kids cry for up to 30 minutes, I knew I only had to go for 31 and the Mom and Dad would appear at my cribside....
As you may be able to tell if you click on that photo for the larger version, I am such a good reader that I sometimes get bored of reading right side up and read books upside down. It's just a thing I do.
--The Madster
1 comment:
Maddie, darling,
Gram is baby-proofing the house. But I have left the Music and Bon Appetits down where you can reach them, and all of your Dad's highschool textbooks, for stuffing in that big head of yours. But the houseplants are in the bathtub and the firetongs are in the attic (permanently since we now have gas logs, so thank you for being the impetus.) I know you will find something that Gram missed because you are a scientist at heart and will discover many new things. Can't wait to see you and am trying to wrap things up so Daddy and Mommy will bring you to Durham ASAP.
Love, Gram
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