Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Tuesday Intros, No. 1: Walden and Other Writings, by Henry David Thoreau



Welcome to First Chapter, First Paragraph Tuesday Intros,
hosted by Diane @

Every Tuesday, each participant
shares the first paragraph 
(sometimes two) from a book
they're reading,
or thinking about reading.


The book I've picked this week is....


Walden and Other Writings
Henry David Thoreau
Hardcover, 368 pages
Barnes & Noble
November 1, 2000
Classics, Memoir, Philosophy, Nonfiction


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7476042-walden-and-other-writings




Economy

When I wrote the following pages, or rather, the bulk of them, I lived alone, in the woods, miles from any neighbor, in a house which I had built myself, on the shore of Walden Pond, in Concord, Massachusetts, and earned my living by the labor of my hands only. i lived there two years and two months. At present I am a sojourner in civilized life again.

  


I remember reading a couple of selections from
this book in high school. It was part
of an assignment on the Transcendentalists,
of which Thoreau was one.
I would certainly like to read the entire
book sometime this year! 





Have you ever read this classic?
If so, what did you think?
If not, has the selection above
enticed you to do so?
I would love to know!








20 comments:

Brian Joseph said...

This indeed a classic and a must read.

There is so much that one can say about it. I find it very rich and bursting with ideas and emotions.

I wrote two blogs on it a while back.

In think that you will really like this. Have you read Whitman or Emerson? They had some similar ideas.

(Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea said...

I'd love to read this one. Love reading about Walden Pond and Concord, MA is a lovely area.

Kay said...

I have not read this one, but the beginning is appealing. I'm not much of a classics reader, but maybe a bit at a time. :-)

grammajudyb said...

I have not read this one, or any other by Thoreau I don't think. If I did it was under duress while in High School and that was a lifetime ago. I missed a lot of the classic and am trying to remedy that a bit at a time. Currently, I am plodding through EMMA by Jane Austen.

Anonymous said...

Walden is one of those books that I always felt I should read. I read a lot of classics, but always seem to pick up fiction books instead.

Mine this week: Traveling with the Dead by Barbara Hambly at http://wp.me/pZnGI-tu

Maria Behar said...

Hey, Brian!

I have only read a couple of selections from this book, and that was back in high school. As for Whitman and Emerson, I have also read selections from their works. I remember reading Emerson's "Self-Reliance", and parts of Whitman's "Leaves of Grass". I need to revisit these authors, as well, and read their works in their entirety.

These really are profound works, and I know I'll enjoy familiarizing myself with them again.

Thanks for the comment!! :)

Maria Behar said...

Hi, Diane!

I have read a couple of selections from this book, but that was back in high school. I really need to read the entire book, as it is a profound work.

As a Floridian, I have always wanted to visit the North, and see snow....I never have, not in person. And I know the Concord Massachusetts area must be lovely! You get seasons up there, too, unlike down here. Lol.

Thanks for commenting back!! :)

Maria Behar said...

Hi, Kay!

I'm a very eclectic reader, as you can see from my two blogs. I do love classics, and want to read more of them this year, as I have quite a few sitting on my shelves that I have not read.

Thanks for commenting!!

Monica's Bookish Life said...

I haven't read any Thoreau since high school, and I haven't read Walden. It would be fun to read more of his writings.

Maria Behar said...

Hi, Monica!

I read parts of Walden when I was in high school, and would certainly love to read the entire book! I need to get it in tjis year!

Thanks for stopping by and commenting!! :)

Girl Who Reads said...

I read some of it in high school. Maybe I should put it on my to read list as I'm trying to pick up some of the classics I "should" have read. Girl Who Reads

Unknown said...

Always a good one to dip into!

Maria Behar said...

Hi, Donna!

I read some of it in high school, too. And I, too, want to read more classics. I'm an eclectic reader, as you know from my other blog, A NIGHT'S DREAM OF BOOKS. I need to strike a balance, so I definitely need to read more classics!

thanks for commenting back!! :)

Maria Behar said...

Hi, Heather!

It sure is! But now I want to read the whole thing through, as I've only read parts of it before.

Thanks for dropping by and commenting!! :)

Book of Secrets said...

It's been so long since I've read Thoreau, my high school days, I think. I love the intro!

Maria Behar said...

Hi, Diana!

Yeah, it's been a long time for me, too. I hope to read the entire book this year! Thanks so much for commenting back!! :)

Cleopatra Loves Books said...

I haven't read this book but from the opening passage I would like to know more!

Maria Behar said...

Hi, Cleo!

I've only red certain selections from it, and that was in high school, so now I'd like to read the whole thing!

Thanks for commenting back!! :)

Anonymous said...

What a lovely idea this is! I love this passage, and this line particularly 'At present I am a sojourner in civilized life again.' So profound. Thank you for sharing this. :)

Maria Behar said...

Hi, there!

Yes, I think this meme is GREAT! This was my first post for it, and I'm going to participate every week. Hope you join us!

This is indeed a very profound book. I read selections from it in high school, and want to read it thoroughly sometime this year. You've picked a wonderful line! It's very elegant, as well as profound.

Thanks for dropping by and commenting!! :)