I am reading a wonderful nonfiction book — “A Walk in the Park: The True Story of a Spectacular Misadventure in the Grand Canyon” by Kevin Fedarko. As has so regularly happened this year, W&P is on my mind as I read passages like this: “Sooner or later, every difficult journey collides against a moment that crystallizes the imperative of accepting that the outcome of any ambitious undertaking can neither be ordained nor engineered by its participants, and that the heart of an odyssey is reached — and its deeper truths begin to reveal themselves — only after the illusion of control is permitted to fall away and disappear into the gathering night, like a loose pebble over a cliff.”
Fedarko’s thoughts remind me of Tolstoy’s beliefs. But mostly — as my journeys through the Grand Canyon and W&P near their ends — I am grateful to embrace our deeper truths. Love and kindness chief among them. I’m in awe of how Tolstoy delivered us to this place. I especially admire his rendering of Kutuzov, who joins my list of favorites in the book. Thanks again, Simon, for thoughtfully guiding us this week. Onward!
I feel for Sonya in these chapters. I suspect she must feel excluded from the friendship that has formed between Natasha and Mayra and she cannot be spared from being upset at Petya's death. I hope we learn soon how she is faring.
It popped into my head this evening that perhaps I’ll do this read along again next year. I haven’t worked out why, yet. I guess just because I’m gonna miss it so much when it ends. That’s the best testimonial I can give. Cx
I decided I was doing it again too. I think because after I have read it to the end, I will feel better able to take everything in and link it all a second time round. Also, yes I would miss the daily chats.
Kutuzov's humanitarian values remind me of WW1 General John Monash whose battlefield management was founded on the morale, health and protection of his infantry. Conventional Allied strategy sacrificed countless men to protect military hardware, but Monash flipped that view, declaring, "The true role of infantry was not to expend itself upon heroic physical effort, but on the contrary, to advance under the maximum possible protection of the maximum possible array of mechanical resources."
I am reading a wonderful nonfiction book — “A Walk in the Park: The True Story of a Spectacular Misadventure in the Grand Canyon” by Kevin Fedarko. As has so regularly happened this year, W&P is on my mind as I read passages like this: “Sooner or later, every difficult journey collides against a moment that crystallizes the imperative of accepting that the outcome of any ambitious undertaking can neither be ordained nor engineered by its participants, and that the heart of an odyssey is reached — and its deeper truths begin to reveal themselves — only after the illusion of control is permitted to fall away and disappear into the gathering night, like a loose pebble over a cliff.”
Fedarko’s thoughts remind me of Tolstoy’s beliefs. But mostly — as my journeys through the Grand Canyon and W&P near their ends — I am grateful to embrace our deeper truths. Love and kindness chief among them. I’m in awe of how Tolstoy delivered us to this place. I especially admire his rendering of Kutuzov, who joins my list of favorites in the book. Thanks again, Simon, for thoughtfully guiding us this week. Onward!
Wonderful, thanks for sharing the quote Mary.
I feel for Sonya in these chapters. I suspect she must feel excluded from the friendship that has formed between Natasha and Mayra and she cannot be spared from being upset at Petya's death. I hope we learn soon how she is faring.
It popped into my head this evening that perhaps I’ll do this read along again next year. I haven’t worked out why, yet. I guess just because I’m gonna miss it so much when it ends. That’s the best testimonial I can give. Cx
I decided I was doing it again too. I think because after I have read it to the end, I will feel better able to take everything in and link it all a second time round. Also, yes I would miss the daily chats.
That IS the best testimonial there is!
I am thinking the same! 😁👍
I know I have already written you a heartfelt W&P testimonial. But here's a limerick one, too:
Simon puts on a great party
The chat is chock full of smarties
Reading so large a tome
We can't budge it from home
About Love and the war Buonaparte-y.
I debated over the last -y. Great art is difficult. 😆
🤣 What an honour!
Another thought provoking summary. Thank you.
Kutuzov's humanitarian values remind me of WW1 General John Monash whose battlefield management was founded on the morale, health and protection of his infantry. Conventional Allied strategy sacrificed countless men to protect military hardware, but Monash flipped that view, declaring, "The true role of infantry was not to expend itself upon heroic physical effort, but on the contrary, to advance under the maximum possible protection of the maximum possible array of mechanical resources."