Tag Archives: Simone de Beauvoir

The Mandarins: Simone de Beauvoir

Last night I finished reading Simone de Beauvoir: A Biography – all 600 something pages of it – then launched right into her own 600+ page book, The Mandarins. Man, the first chapter alone was so poignant; I found myself exclaiming, “Harsh!” out loud after reading the final scene between Henri and Paula. I can certainly see why the friends she patterned these characters after would be upset… I have to admit that this is actually the first de Beauvoir book I’ve read. I picked up the biography because I’ve read so much about the turn of the century French art and intellectual scene, I though I might enjoy her story, as well.

I’d read Jean-Paul Sartre’s Nausea, a few years back. I found it in a box of Ryan’s college books. He said he didn’t care for it, but I enjoyed it. Of course, I also enjoyed Crime and Punishment, which a lot of folks seem to find unreadable these days. I have a pretty high tolerance for “unreadable” literature in general, owning a fairly complete collection of William S. Burroughs and more than one book each by Gertrude Stein and James Joyce. (I was going to type a tongue-sticking-out smiley here, but on second thought, it seemed inappropriate.)

My favorite writer for years and years was Anais Nin, whose prose work is also a bit ah… what is the word I’m searching for? Formless, perhaps? I think everyone agrees that it is her vast journal writing that is most fascinating, but still, I own everything. Fills up a whole bookshelf. Perhaps one day I’ll make a page on the site to list some of my favorite books.

Chillin’ with Anji Bee #17

A little late this week, but better late than never, right? Quick wrap up on my week’s activities, including my little Paul & Price boo boo, conversing with the irrepressible Jules, and recording with Lovespirals, plus discussion of the vidcast viewership and it’s future release schedule, birthday plans, book reading update etc… If you love the vidcast, be sure to comment this week!

Chillin with Anji Bee #17

Watch Chillin’ with Anji Bee #17

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Anji’s Currently Reading…

Simone de Beauvoir: A Biography I’m finishing up Deidre Bair’s Simone de Beauvoir: A Biography at long last. I picked this up used at a college book sale back in the late 90’s and somehow never got around to reading it. My M.O. is to buy a small stack of books and stash them away for future reading, so I guess I stashed this one too well… I usually mix up my reading between biography, classic literature, spirituality, journals/letter collections, and a little contemporary fiction every now and then (generally given to me by someone) so I don’t get too bogged down by any one type of book. I don’t tend to read much self-help or how-to books, though I do have a decent collection of Arts and Crafts movement books for inspiration with my Craftsman bungalow.

I’ve been an avid reader ever since I was a tiny child; I had already read all the Dick and Jane books before starting kindergarten so my teacher had me assist the other children in learning to read, even the Spanish speaking kids! I used to spend whole weekends devouring books, until we got our first computer… But still, I find that nothing can replace the cozy feeling that curling up with a book in the tub gives me. Or reading in bed before going to sleep. Or sitting at the breakfast table with a cup of coffee and good book. Heck, where’s my book? What am I doing at the computer?

Anyway, I always kind of enjoy seeing what other folks are reading, so I figured I’d make that a new part of my blog, for the curious. I’m actually also reading Thoreau’s Walden, which I like to bring with me to the beach because it just seems wrong to read it indoors.