Thursday, March 24, 2011

Selected Poems by Edna St. Vincent Millay


Modern Declaration

I, having loved ever since I was a child a few things, never
having wavered
In these affections; never through shyness in the houses of the
rich or in the presence of clergymen having denied these
loves;
Never when worked upon by cynics like chiropractors having
grunted or clicked a vertebra to the discredit of these loves;
Never when anxious to land a job having diminished them by
a conniving smile; or when befuddled by drink
Jeered at them through heartache or lazily fondled the fingers
of their alert enemies; declare

That I shall love you always.
No matter what party is in power;
No matter what temporarily expedient combination of allied
interests wins the war;
Shall love you always.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

OBIT: Inspiring Stories of Ordinary People who Led Extraordinary Lives by Jim Sheeler


This one was an odd choice for me. The only reason I picked it up was because I was out of town and needed something to read before I could fall asleep. I found this book on the bookshelf in the guestroom and picked it up since it is divided into seven page chapters (perfect for pre-sleep). Sheeler had a good concept, but it was a bit too sentimental for me.

Thanks to Amanda, my future-sister-in-law, for the loan.

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Shattered Hope: The Guatemalan Revolution and the United States, 1944-1954 by Piero Gleijeses


I find it incredibly depressing to read about the CIA's involvement in Guatemala. Talk about disheartening. It is like watching a bad spy movie.

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Women and the Nicaraguan Revolution by Tomas Borge


Borge's speech explains the Sandanista's views about women in Marxist terms. This slim volume was published in the United States in 1982.

A History of the Cuban Revolution by Aviva Chomsky


I was majorly impressed with this book. Chomsky manages to accomplish a truly remarkable feat, a balanced historical account of the Cuban Revolution through 2010. She explains events from the U.S.-centric view that I am familiar with and then addressed how Cuban historians present the subject. The historiography is vastly different depending on which country's historians you are reading. I thoroughly enjoyed it; I hope the other books that come out of this publisher's Viewpoints series are equally well done.

Key West...90 miles from Cuba. To put that in perspective, Cuba is closer to the United States than Memphis is to Nashville.

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Gah!

I am getting very far behind on this project that is meant to be my stress reliever. Somewhere in between the reading, writing, and wedding planning, taking photographs has slipped away. My list of books that I have read that are awaiting pictures is getting incredibly long; hopefully, I will be able to take a breather over spring break and catch up.

Also, I have read three books about women in the Civil War--anybody got any brilliant photo ideas?