After my roommate sent me this interview of George Saunders, read The Semplica-Girl Diaries over at the NYer. Roomie calls it the best out of the recently released Tenth of December collection. Interesting narrative voice. Apparently he uses a similar technique/voice in his other stories. I'll try and read Tenth of December por el verano, si posible.
For now, reading thru The Poetic Edda (trans. Hollander). Hollander's translation seems almost grotesquely contorted to me at pts., but it's still a great read. Heaps of fun! Hope to read in O.N. eventually, though. Finals are coming up in a week, so found this bit quite relevant:
54.) Middling wise - every man should be: / beware of being too wise; / happiest in life - most likely he / who knows not more than is needful.
55.) Middling wise - every man should be: / beware of being too wise; / for wise man's heart - is happy seldom, / if too great the wisdom he won.
- taken from The Sayings of Hár (Hávamál)
Orig. ON (acc. to heimskringla.no):
54.
Meðalsnotr
skyli manna hverr;
æva til snotr sé;
þeim er fyrða
fegrst at lifa,
er vel margt vitu.
55.
Meðalsnotr
skyli manna hverr,
æva til snotr sé;
því at snotrs manns hjarta
verðr sjaldan glatt,
ef sá er alsnotr, er á.
