Give it Up...

[fajrdrako]

I read a nicely-written book: Give It Up: My Year of Learning to Live Better with Less by Mary Carlomagno. It caught my eye because I love her name - it's the Italian translation of "Charlemagne" - and because I'm into themes of simplicity. Uncluttering metaphorically as well as literally.

It was, in fact, a delightful read. But... useless. The theme: Mary Carlomagno gave up one thing each month for a year. It wasn't cumulative: she gave up smoking, for example, for a month, and then went back to smoking. It was like giving things up for Lent, which is what inspired her - not giving things up permanently.

Then look at the things she gave up. I couldn't give up any of them, I don't think - and if I did, who would notice the difference? She gave up alcohol, newspapers, shopping, dining out, taxis, cell phones and television. I don't have alcohol more than a couple of times per year. I seldom read newspapers, especially since they have become sensationalist entertainment. I shop when I must, but not often. Certainly not every month, unless we're talking about groceries, which she wasn't. Taxis? I can't recall the last time I took a taxi - probably during my last trip to Stratford. I walk. I take the bus. I go places with friends in their cars. I only take taxis when travelling. I don't have a cell phone. It isn't any kind of virtue here - I'm just not into those things. That leaves television - and I wouldn't want to be without my fannish favourites; don't have time to watch much else anyway. Eating out? My favourite and most extravagant pleasure! But I like to think I don't do it in an extravagant way.

But I could give up eating out for a month. Giving up comic books? That would be a real challenge, and I don't plan on trying it. But she doesn't talk about that. I suppose I could give up libraries, or visiting friends, or (shudder) reading and writing Livejournal - but I can't think of any reason I should! Just to prove I could? I love these things, and I do them because I love them. I think that's a terrific reason to do them.

All in all, her choices of 'what to give up' reflected a lifestyle and tastes very unlike mine, and a general sense of life in New York that seems pleasantly foreign to me, like reading about Nick and Nora Charles, or Dorothy Parker.

Despite all this, it was fun to read Mary Carlomagno's commentary on life and the things she does. There's a friendly reflectiveness to it all. Very readable.

Comments

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

You make me wonder - is there a new Austen series coming on Masterpiece Theatre that I should be on the alert for?

Love your Oscar Wilde icon!

[tudorpot.livejournal.com]

PBS will broadcast screen adaptations of all six of Jane
Austen's novels on Masterpiece Theatre starting January 13.

They will show the BBC (Colin Firth) version of Pride and Prejudice and the Kate Beckinsale version of Emma, but the other adaptations are new. They also will air an original program based on Austen's life.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

PBS will broadcast screen adaptations of all six of Jane Austen's novels on Masterpiece Theatre starting January 13.

Hooray!

They will show the BBC (Colin Firth) version of Pride and Prejudice

Hmm. Not my favourite, but it has its good points.

the Kate Beckinsale version of Emma

Yay! I've never seen this. And I shamelessly adore Kate Beckinsale.

the other adaptations are new.

And if Persuasion is among them, I am a happy camper.

They also will air an original program based on Austen's life.

Interesting!

Thanks for the tip. I will be prepared to tape starting Jan. 13.

Not that I really consider myself a Jane Austen fan, you understand. But... I guess not entirely a non-fan either.

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

Have you seen Kate in Cold Comfort Farm? Rufus is in it, too, but wears far too many clothes.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Yes. Loved that one. And I agree about Rufus.

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

Yes. Loved that one. And I agree about Rufus.

We were re-watching it the other night, and it was definitely the case that the 1995 version was less sexy than the 1968 one. The scene with the dialogue about women being like spiders was quite chastely done (I think Roo was even wearing a waistcoat!), compared with the 1968 version, in which Peter was trying to drape himself half-naked around our stoical heroine…

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I don't even remember the dialogue about women being like spiders. Obviously I need to see the movie again!

(And given it's cast, nobody needs to twist my arm too much on that one. Hmm. I wonder if the library has a copy.)

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

I have a copy, anyway, and can send once I get back home.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Ooh, I love technology!