Reading a book every day keeps the leisure to stay – Summer reads
Summertime is reading time, immersing into fiction novels and diving into the one or other non-fiction books. And that’s what stuck this summer – thoughts and quotes selected across the board.
“We can only be who we are and do what we do” (p. 293), says Little Ray in this homage to LGBT in general and transgender in particular. It took me a long time to pick up an Irving again, but these 1,080 pages have done it to me. As always, bizarre, grotesque and dramatic. New England in a leading role and the Arlberg ski swing as a sideshow I always associate with personal memories. John Irving, The Last Chairlift.
“Act in such a way that the effects of your action are compatible with the permanence of real human life on earth.” (p. 62). It is about the key concept of trust and a quote from the philosopher Hans Jonas, which was created in the context of atomic energy use in the 70s. It is more relevant today than ever. Read at Nils Ole Oermann in his book “Business Ethics”. Thanks Anke Trischler for the reading tip.
“Look at everything carefully, because you won’t see it again.” (p. 24). Gert Loschütz calls his novel “Ballad of the Day That Is Not Over” because the original title “Escape” has become too general for him. What is meant is the day of the first-person narrator’s farewell to his parents’ home in East Germany, which does not let go of him and reminds him as an anniversary for decades.
My conclusion: ⏭ Be aware of the uniqueness of the moment and include it in your memories if it is important to you. ⏮
Unfortunately, we missed the Jinbocho district in Tokyo during our trip to Japan a few years ago, the book and publishing city with the world’s largest collection of bookstores of all kinds, as the book itself says. What a pity. “The Days at the Morisaki Bookstore” gives an impression of this. Satoshi Yagisawa’s novel is a tribute to literature and reading, but also a touching tale about the search for oneself and the meaning of life.
Thinking about a long life is a new phenomenon. Fifty years ago, living into one’s seventies was considered the mark of a long life. Today, seventy feels young, eighty feels normal, and ninety is within reach. My personal central theme is depicted on pages 68/69: A Life of Purpose is a process in four steps –
✳ Working to learn
✳ Learning to work
✳ Living to work
✳ Working to live.
Ayse Bircel encourages us to “design the long life you love”. Thanks to Karolin Helbig for your idea to bring this book to me. Wonderful.
And one highlight is now on my table. Reading about the “unexpected journey” of Minette Norman, author of “The Boldly Inclusive Leader”, I am sure, that my take-aways will make a separate post. I am so excited for that book.
➡ Is there a suggestion? I’m always happy to receive book tips. What are you reading this summer and why?
