I just finished reading Elizabeth Kostova’s The Historian. It is actually the reason I have started this journal. Most of the times I just take notes in the margins of a book I am reading but sometimes the margins are not large enough so I really need a journal. However, every time I start a reading journal I never seem to use it more than a couple times and then forget about it. I also have that problem with blogs. So, this experiment will be interesting. I will either never write in this blog again or the double negative will work in my favor and this will be very well used.
Back to Kostova…I did not pick this book up for several months because I thought this was yet another modern book which is like every other modern book. Yet, and maybe it is just because of who I am, I loved this book. I am History/Anthropology double major and I do prefer European history and have an odd fascination with Eastern European history/folklore like Dracula so in an odd way it was perfect (for me). I don’t always like it when people add to history but Kostova seemed to me to be very respectful of it, and as often as she could stuck with facts, only adding to history (or just being very free with her interpretation) when the plot demanded.
I think what I appreciated most from this particular read was how it excited me again about my major. I think every student goes through times of losing a little of the passion that made them love their subject in the first place. This work reminded me of the joy of researching for hours, staying up till 4am, and drinking more coffee than is good for a person. It has also instigated my exploration of other areas of European history. I think any book that creates more questions than it answers is good, no?
Back to Kostova…I did not pick this book up for several months because I thought this was yet another modern book which is like every other modern book. Yet, and maybe it is just because of who I am, I loved this book. I am History/Anthropology double major and I do prefer European history and have an odd fascination with Eastern European history/folklore like Dracula so in an odd way it was perfect (for me). I don’t always like it when people add to history but Kostova seemed to me to be very respectful of it, and as often as she could stuck with facts, only adding to history (or just being very free with her interpretation) when the plot demanded.
I think what I appreciated most from this particular read was how it excited me again about my major. I think every student goes through times of losing a little of the passion that made them love their subject in the first place. This work reminded me of the joy of researching for hours, staying up till 4am, and drinking more coffee than is good for a person. It has also instigated my exploration of other areas of European history. I think any book that creates more questions than it answers is good, no?
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