The Scarlet Letter - Part 1

If you've been reading for a while, you may have guessed that as a self proclaimed bibliophile, I love great books!  But sometimes I get so wrapped up in reading to our children that I don't take time to read for myself.  A while back, while reading this post on LindaFay's Charlotte Mason Help blog, I was struck by the idea of "Mother Culture".  Karen Andreola devotes all of Chapter 46 in A Charlotte Mason Companion to Mother Culture.  In my mind, this notion of the teacher/mother replenishing her soul with a continual supply of ideas is paramount to preventing burnout.  In order to be of great service to our children, we must make time to refill ourselves. Therefore, as part of my New Year's resolution, I vowed to read four classic novels this year as part of my Mother Culture. 

I started the year with The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne.   I read the first four chapters back in January/February/March, but because I am only afforded the opportunity to read in small snippets got sidetracked and a little confused.  I set it aside for a week couple of months.  I have since went back and re-read those chapters, because I forgot everything, plus two more.  In addition, I checked out Spark Notes and I think it's finally coming together.

Hester met with her "husband", who is not the father of her child after he spotted her standing on the public square holding her babe and wearing the red letter "A" for adulterer.  I'm wondering about his disability.  I'm also trying to figure out why he left Hester and where he's been.  I did not catch the significance of the rosebush before reading SN.  And how ironic, that Pearl is such a beautiful child with a devil like spirit.  OK, I just re-read this paragraph and realize these are very random thoughts ;-)

After telling a dear friend about my reading, she disclosed that she didn't like the book, nor Hawthorne's writing in general.  So far, I'm liking The Scarlett Letter, though the writing is difficult....not "too hard" difficult, but "need to focus to comprehend" difficult.  I'll let you know if I ever finish..........