What I have been reading/watching: The Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter and Run with the Wind

Oh, the craziness! I wonder if work will calm down or if not until after the New Year, and then I will have inventory, which is a nightmare in and of itself. And the state of our country and politics…I don’t even want to think about it! So I’m not going to write about it either. Besides this blog is suppose to be more about being a writer and writer kind of things.

So on that note let me tell you what I have been reading and watching. Recently I finish the Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis for the first time. I read it slow which I think is best and digest the different points brought up. I don’t know if I agreed with everything in it, but it was an interesting read and one I would recommend.

The other series I have been reading is the Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter. There are seven or eight books total by Susan Witting Albert. Their mystery crimes but not high suspense or bloody gory. They are entirely fictional, but I still find them fun and sweet. And, maybe more importantly at this time, an easy read and relaxing. If you don’t know Beatrix Potter is the author of the famous children’s story Peter Rabbit, as well as many others. It does keep things generally historically accurate. After the sudden death of her fiancé, she bought a farm in the north in the community of Sawrey. Eventually, she would move there permanently and build a life there. This is all historically accurate.

The books cover the years in between her buying Hill Top Farm and her coming to live there. They are made up stories of adventures that involve both human and animals, small-town life, and fairy tale fantasy. The animals can talk but only to each other. There’s nothing too series or revolutionary in writing. They're just a fun read I stumbled upon.

As for what I have been watching, I have been watching more of the volleyball anime, Haikyuu. I have kind of been string it out. Savoring it maybe. I am ready to start season four. I also watch one call Run with the Wind. It’s kind of funny. For someone who is not athletic At All, I have been watching sports anime. I think Haikyuu got me started. There’s a basketball one I kind of want to check out and a swim one I have been thinking of checking out for a while too. But Run with the Wind is all about running, a college track team to be exact. I was enjoying it but after finishing it last night, I kind of want to buy it and watch it again. It’s got my analytical brain going. Like any good story, it is about more than just running. You have a diverse group of characters and a realistic setting. But what has me going is it dives into what does it mean to run. Is it all about winning? Is it about speed and being the fastest? What if you apply that to other things? And is life the same way? Do we live to win, to go as fast as we can? Sometimes we do live like that, but I think most would agree that’s not the best idea. The show leaves it somewhat open, that running will mean different things for different people, but it left me with this impression, it’s about getting strong. It’s about doing your best, about being a part of something bigger. It’s fine, even good, to win and be the fastest, there’s nothing wrong with that. But when it becomes just about that, it can quickly turn toxic.

Anyway, this is what my analytical brain has put together. I also found it interesting because of the main character (I think I would call him that anyway), I had a hard time getting in his headspace. I try to understand people. How they think and why. But this character kind of threw me off. I don’t think it was because it was unrealistic, I think it was more because what he said and did, didn’t always match what he thought or wanted. He was often very quiet but then would have a strong, emotional outburst. It made it hard for me to understand him but all the more intriguing. (I’m not the smartest person, and I often feel it takes me longer to understand or pick up on things than others, but it’s who I am. Even if I’m not the sharpest I will continue to try to understand.)

Well over the next two days I hope to meet up and hang out with two different friends. That will be good, and I feel like I need it. Being alone too much and too long with myself does not help my anxiety, especially with/in this crazy world. So until next time,

God Bless