Verlyn Flieger's Splintered Light

It's nowhere near time for my monthly book report, but I can't wait until the end of the month to mention how much I enjoyed Verlyn Flieger's Splintered Light: Logos and Language in Tolkien's World. I found it utterly convincing, absorbing, well-written, and I learned so much. My copy is bristling with flags marking salient points. I found her e-mail address and I just might have to write her to fangirl her. I wonder if she gets many fan letters about a work of literary criticism.

Anyway, for those of you (like me) interested in Tolkien studies, I highly recommend it. It's actually gotten me excited about reading The Simarillion again.

More on Happiness

I have been mulling over this essay, which is interesting, particularly in light of my recent entry on happiness. Some meaty ideas to chew over here. Is happiness dependent upon virtue? (So why am I feeling happier now, if I'm not really back to work on the book yet?) Am finding the author's contrast of the Greco-Roman conception of happiness (springing from Aristotle) with the Christian perception quite intriguing.

And why has Boethius been cropping up in practically everything I've been reading lately? I probably need to get around to reading De Consolatione Philosophiae. Sometime. Maybe if I need a little light reading after finishing The Simarillion again.

(Yeah, I'm kidding, sorta.)