I have so many fond memories of the books that I read in my childhood. I remember sitting on my chair in my reading spot or lying in bed reading my beloved books. They opened a gateway to other worlds, worlds that I have never stopped exploring.
One of the first of these books was Alice in Wonderland. Until recently I still possessed the edition that my parents had bought for me. It was falling apart, so I got rid of it. (Forgive me!) I still have the first page in my possession. On it my mother had written: "Beloved book of Martin T. Gamble, 7 years old. Read entirely by him on Sunday, January 10, 1965." I don't remember much else about that Sunday, but I certainly remember reading that book.
It was a vivid, yet surreal experience. I mean, it starts with a young girl sitting beside her sister,who is reading a book, but then a white rabbit runs by her, exclaims, "Oh dear! Oh dear! I shall be too late!" and pulls a watch out of its waistcoat- pocket. At this point I could have said to myself, "Man! This is too weird for me!", or an equivalent expression more suited to my seven-year-old brain, and tossed the book aside. I had already read some popular science books. I knew that rabbits don't speak, don't wear waistcoats, whatever they were, and don't carry watches.
But I continued. I was intrigued. I felt empathy for this young girl, who was probably my own age, and who underwent such harrowing adventures. Imagine falling down a bottomless rabbit hole, imagine meeting such bizarre creatures. I acutely remember how bizarre it all was. But part of the allure of the book was that no matter how strange her adventures were, I could relate to her. And even though the characters were rather eccentric, to put it mildly, I felt that they were actual characters. I was enthralled. I forgot everything until I had finished Alice in Wonderland and its sequel, Through the Looking Glass.
I possess several annotated versions of Alice. The annotations are very helpful, but I managed to understand Alice without them. For example, in one chapter there is a reference to treacle. My notes tell me that treacle is British for molasses. I did not know that then, but it certainly didn't impair my enjoyment in reading the book. Are annotations essential to understanding a piece of fiction? The magnificent illustrations by John Tenniel helped me far more than any notes could have. They also managed to convey the splendour and strangeness of Alice's adventures, and formed a perfect complement to the text.
Lewis Carroll, or Charles Dodgson, the author of Alice in Wonderland, taught Mathematics at Oxford University. Throughout the book there are logical puzzles. They eluded me then, and I am sure that they would still elude me. I was not interested in its logical puzzles, but in the its fascinating world and in the sense of something on the horizon, something wonderful and unexpected that kept me reading to the very end.
It was a memorable Sunday afternoon. That book kindled in me a love for fantasy and science-fiction that has remained with me to this day, and a desire to explore the boundless vistas of the imagination. Thank you, Lewis Carroll.
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Monday, October 8, 2012
Twilight
My favourite time of the day is, without question, the time after sunset and before nightfall: evening or twilight. (Twilight can also refer to the time just before sunrise, but I'm hardly ever up that early, so I won't talk about that.)
It's the time when the day cools down and when the stars begin to appear. Familiar landscapes assume a mysterious air and lights turn on in buildings, so that even the drabbest of edifices begin to look like faery palaces, aglow with lambent lights. It's as if for a few brief minutes, two different worlds are intersecting, one our mundane reality, and the other a realm of wonders.
I've experienced twilight in the lakes of Northern Ontario. It is something to hear the cry of the loon across the stillness of an evening lake, and to walk through the trees of a darkening forest. It's in the twilight that I wonder at the immensity of that primeval forest, which stretches from the cities of Southern Ontario to the frozen desolation of the tundra, hundreds of miles to the north.
Twilight in the city is something else entirely. During the day the city is loud and garish and crowded. At night it can be equally loud, but often too quiet and dangerous. The twilight is the best time. Walking along the streets of a large city in a summer's evening makes me forget the grime of the streets and the heat of the day, and transports me for a little while into a city of enchantment. I well remember walking along Broadway during the dusk. New York City was then like the fabled cities of the great fantasy epics, a city of illimitable vistas and marvels.
Everything assumes different contours in the twilight. I spoke of the intersection of two different worlds. I don't believe that is just a passing fancy. I do believe that the evening time foreshadows the transition to another, much greater world. It is a symbol of the junction of our world and this other world. That's when things that are familiar become vessels of splendour, showing glimpses of something far greater than we could ever imagine.
In the twilight you can reflect on the day that has departed and make plans for the day to come. What a privilege it is to be able to do that as the sunlight slowly fades, and the stars begin to shine in the darkening sky.
Those are some reasons why I love the twilight. What is your favourite time of the day?
It's the time when the day cools down and when the stars begin to appear. Familiar landscapes assume a mysterious air and lights turn on in buildings, so that even the drabbest of edifices begin to look like faery palaces, aglow with lambent lights. It's as if for a few brief minutes, two different worlds are intersecting, one our mundane reality, and the other a realm of wonders.
I've experienced twilight in the lakes of Northern Ontario. It is something to hear the cry of the loon across the stillness of an evening lake, and to walk through the trees of a darkening forest. It's in the twilight that I wonder at the immensity of that primeval forest, which stretches from the cities of Southern Ontario to the frozen desolation of the tundra, hundreds of miles to the north.
Twilight in the city is something else entirely. During the day the city is loud and garish and crowded. At night it can be equally loud, but often too quiet and dangerous. The twilight is the best time. Walking along the streets of a large city in a summer's evening makes me forget the grime of the streets and the heat of the day, and transports me for a little while into a city of enchantment. I well remember walking along Broadway during the dusk. New York City was then like the fabled cities of the great fantasy epics, a city of illimitable vistas and marvels.
Everything assumes different contours in the twilight. I spoke of the intersection of two different worlds. I don't believe that is just a passing fancy. I do believe that the evening time foreshadows the transition to another, much greater world. It is a symbol of the junction of our world and this other world. That's when things that are familiar become vessels of splendour, showing glimpses of something far greater than we could ever imagine.
In the twilight you can reflect on the day that has departed and make plans for the day to come. What a privilege it is to be able to do that as the sunlight slowly fades, and the stars begin to shine in the darkening sky.
Those are some reasons why I love the twilight. What is your favourite time of the day?
Monday, October 1, 2012
Hello and Bonjour.
I'm Martin. In this blog I will share my reflections. I've read quite a lot. I don't consider myself a particularly profound thinker. But if you, gentle reader, want to read what I've written, here are some of my lucubrations.
I plan to write book reviews and talk about things that have affected me. I'll also write on some philosophical and theological issues. There will be some fun posts, too. I'm not always a serious guy. I'll be glad to read your comments. It will be a pleasure to learn from all of you.
I'm Martin. In this blog I will share my reflections. I've read quite a lot. I don't consider myself a particularly profound thinker. But if you, gentle reader, want to read what I've written, here are some of my lucubrations.
I plan to write book reviews and talk about things that have affected me. I'll also write on some philosophical and theological issues. There will be some fun posts, too. I'm not always a serious guy. I'll be glad to read your comments. It will be a pleasure to learn from all of you.
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