Bennington

My first week, in short:

Classes are going great, people are shiny, the reading's interesting, and I've already managed to somehow fuck up my back. Yes, the beds here really are that bad.

Thoughts on assigned reading so far

Literate History of Russia
Scenarios of Power: Myth and Ceremony in Russian Monarchy, from Peter the Great to the Abdication of Nicholas II, by Richard S. Wortman (Read: Introduction and the first two chapters; 39 pages)

This is not a light read. It demands you read it closely, with a pencil on hand for underlining. It also contains some truly neat ideas, and is a good choice for a history buff with serious gaps in her knowledge, like myself. I approve entirely.

This Meager Nature: Landscape and National Identity in Imperial Russia, by Christopher Ely (13 pages read so far, out of the 26-page assigned introduction)

Mind-numbing. No, seriously, my brain feels drugged into oblivion by virtue of my having read this. Actual landscapes are nice, as are paintings of them. Reading on and on about the theory of landscape envisionment? Aaaaah, Motherland!

I do hope this book gets better. My brain doesn't enjoy dribbling out my ears.

ETA - 21 pages in: Dude, stop repeating yourself. Dude, stop repeating yourself. I feel like Ely is spending more time talking about what he's going to talk about, than he does actually talking about it. I hereby dub him Redundant Disclaimer Man.

(no subject)

Congratulate me, boys and girls. McCullough has just had its first fire drill of the year!

Also, I think I may be allergic to something outside. My eyes won't stop itching after this forced excursion.