Marie Howe's "The Kingdom of Ordinary Time"

You have to read this. Yesterday, in Central Park, I finished reading it in one sitting, pausing now and then, to look up, to see how the world had changed. "Unsparing" was the first word that came to mind. Then, "religious." Not "spiritual" which sounds so wishy-washy to my ears, but "religious." The final, but not the last, word was "love."

The Quarterback is thinking of buying all three of her books for his mother. They would make a beautiful present for Mother's Day.

Comments

Pam said…
I've been trying to decide whether to get this book. Thanks for urging me/us on.
11:10 AM
A.H. said…
Hello and hope you are well. I have a questions about this:'Not "spiritual" which sounds so wishy washy...but "religious".' I notice the uncertainy implied by the use of speech-marks, but why is the realm of the Spirit to be seen as diluted? Is religion really the concentrated option? You give an idyllic picture of your reading: Central park, fine weather, a good poetry book. Paradise. Would this be a religious or a spiritual experience?
3:48 AM
Jee Leong said…
Hi Pam,
I think you will enjoy the book tremendously.

Hi eshuneutics,
Good to hear from you again. I used speech marks not because I was uncertain, but because I was using the words in a personal sense. I didn't, don't, like "religious" because it implies dogma, but now it also says seriousness to me. My park reading experience was certainly spiritual, but now I am wondering if it's also religious. Cheers!
8:47 AM
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