A few posts ago I mentioned that I had moved my computer into my office because my eyes were getting tired. Well, not only are my eyes feeling better, but I’m getting tons more stuff done away from the Internet. I’ve been doing lots of sewing—some designing and prototypes. Nothing to show yet, though. Hopefully soon.
I’ve also been doing a lot of reading. Surprisingly, reading books is way easier on my eyes than reading online. Some of you may remember that the last book I posted about was Founding Mothers. Sadly, I had to ditch this one. It was like slogging through heaps and heaps of historical facts and that’s just not for me.
My next book was Pope Joan and it’s a historical novel, so I was a little worried it would be like Founding Mothers. Not so! This book was fantastic! It was a fast and compelling read and I think I wasn’t the only one in my book group who had maybe a tiny little crush on Gerold. I highly recommend it. Here are some excerpts. This has got to be one of my favorite parts of the book:
“It appears that the child has some knowledge of orthodox theology. Nevertheless, this in itself does not prove anything. There is, in some women, a highly developed imitatative ability, which allows them to memorize and repeat the words of men, and so give the appearance of thought. But this imitative skill is not to be confused with true reason, which is essentially male. For, as is well known,” Odo’s voice assumed an authoritative ring, for now he was on familiar ground, “women are innately inferior to men.”
“Why?” The word was out of Joan’s mouth before she was even aware of having spoken.
Odo smiled, his thin lips drawing back unpleasantly. He had the look of the fox when it knows it has the rabbit cornered. “Your ignorance, child, is revealed in that question. For St. Paul himself has asserted this truth, that women are beneath men in conception, in place, and in will.”
“In conception, in place, and in will?” Joan repeated.
“Yes,” Odo spoke slowly and distinctly, as if addressing a half-wit. “In conception, because Adam was created first, and Eve afterwards; in place, because Eve was created to serve Adam as companion and mate; in will, because Eve could not resist the Devil’s temptation and ate of the apple.”
Among the tables, heads nodded in agreement. The Bishop’s expression was grave. Odo smirked.
Joan felt an intense dislike for this thin-faced man. For a moment she stood silently, tugging on her nose.
“Why,” she said at last, “is woman inferior in conception? For though she was created second, she was made from Adam’s side, while Adam was made from common clay.”
There were several appreciative chuckles from the tables in the back of the hall.
“In place,” the words tumbled out as Joan’s thoughts raced ahead, and she reasoned her way through, “woman should be preferred to man, because Eve was created inside Paradise, but Adam was created outside.”
There was another hum from the crowd. The smile on Odo’s face wavered.
Joan went on, too interested in the line of her argument to consider what she was doing. “As for will, woman should be considered superior to man”–this was bold, but there was no going back now–”for Eve ate of the apple for love of knowledge and learning, but Adam ate of it merely because she asked him.”
I really hope there was a Pope Joan because she was pretty darn cool!
Next on my list to read is The Creative Family. I was planning to read it last week, but when T’s mom came into town I squeezed in the third Harry Potter book. It was amazing how much I could get read when I had someone else to play ball and color with Bella! The third book was just as good as the first two. Now it’s back to The Creative Family. I’m trying hard to read it in order, but I can’t stop flipping through to check out all of the cool projects.
