h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Another new challenge for me in h2g2 (in order to work towards another personal space badge!) was to enter the h2g2 University

I chose Plato as I found a starter Entry in the Flea Market and I had already read The Symposium, because it was referenced in one of my favourite books - Maurice by EM Forster. I enjoyed The Symposium, especially the comic playwright Aristophanes' description of double people who were split in two and hence love is a yearning for one's other half.

Reading the books about Socrates was quite emotional, as the situation of Socrates being put on trial was sad - his persuasive speeches to the jury were to no avail, but in the end he was surrounded by his friends. A particularly romantic and beautiful scene was when Phaedo sat at Socrates' feet while Socrates stroked his hair - the episode inspired a similar scene in Maurice, and it was especially lovely in the Merchant Ivory film of the book

The phrase that most caught my eye in all my readings, though, was in the book Lysis (on friendship) - in the process of discussing friendship, Socrates considers love and whether someone who loves is lovable. Socrates' first conclusion is that yes, if Hippothales loves Lysis, then Lysis must also love Hippothales, so "Hippothales changed into all manner of colours with delight".

Unfortunately for Hippothales, Socrates then found that the statement was not necessarily true after all, but I really like the description of Hippothales' reaction I can imagine how he felt - full of happy emotions mixing themselves up inside him at the thought that he was loved.

SashaQ - "He changed into all manner of colours with delight"

[Amy P]

Deb

ahh... that explains the 'tag' after your h2g2 name... I thought it must be a qote, but I didn't know from where I keep meaning to read Maurice , I'm sure I may have even started reading it, at some point... (catching up on journals I missed iN november!)

I recommend Maurice - I identified with some of the storyline, which made it extra powerful for me, but even so I think it is an excellent read

I may identify with it too I seem rahter good at identifying with characters, often entirely irrelivent of if they're male, or female, or sort of what they are like well, afterall its all about the characters emotions, what happens to them, etc., etc., so I guess that kinda makes sense... I can't recall anything about the book, cept I know I did look at it, and maybe even started reading it Not sure if I did start reading, why I stopped... I may go start reading it now; the internet ... twitter in particular but also h2g2 does just swallow up time.... I hardly ever even seem to sit down and listen to music anymore unless its on in the background whilst I do something else... yeh, play about on the net... rather than actually* listening to the music, or reading a book

"afterall its all about the characters emotions, what happens to them, etc., etc."

Indeed

I'm the same with music - I used to sit down specifically to listen to music at least once a week, but these days I very rarely do, and it is in the background, if at all, as I need to concentrate more to read text on the internet. I do read a book in the evening, though, to help me wind down just before I go to sleep.

I also try to read in the evening, but I keep finding it harder to start a new book... after finishing one now, unless I've something obvious already lined UP, I sort of hit a total blank as to even what sort/style of book I want to read... I've not been able to start reading anything else now, since I finished reading the story of O... and I finished that ages ago... (two or three weeks ago?; I'd normally have read one or two more books since)... I tried a couple of times to start some books, but nah, just couldn't get into them, or got the feeling staright away, that they just weren't for me

One of the few times I sit down to just* listen to music now, is over at friends, after the pub, (about once a week normally), and we dig out all the old stuff we both like; Pink floyd, Beatles, lots of Queen and suchlike...

In my new, dream house (sideways drift here from one of your other jorunals I think!), My 'front room'.



'Our' front room (William and I), will be computer free; no PC tower, taking up teh front wall. Just the combination of William's and my HiFi's, (including at least two sets of speakers at the front).

We'll probably have a TV in the middle, (audio from which coming through the HiFi). but, it will be a room to sit* and listen...

Found the book BTW, must just start reading it now (well, my reading is listening as I use audio books, but the same applys really, I guess) Its only 6 hours or so, in audio, so shoudln't take more than a few nights to read... though I'm not sure how much I'll get started on to it tonight... ; the internet will distract me for sure!

I hope you enjoy the book.

I'm being distracted by the internet now - must log off and go and read a book myself...

Excellent idea for your front room I need to invest in a decent music system, but in my flat I do keep my computer zone separate from my lounge zone, so that's quite good for starters - very pleasant relaxing place for me and DF to watch TV

Oh, its not even my computer in the front room; I have a seprate 'studeo', (well, OK, I think it was described as a clokeroom or something when I bought hte house; just big enough for my recording equipment, speakers, guitars, computer and stuff), the computer in teh front room is the lodger's, so he's working on it most days (he mainly works from home), then he uses it for watching moovies and stuff on off the net too.... Mind, we've the little HiFi of mine in the front room, which is just about perminatnly on BBC radio four)

I'm so* looking forward to eventually getting rid of the lodger, and having William move in... Its just so* nice when I@m at his, and we can sit togehter and on teh sofa whilst watching some rubbish on TV, or listening to some Medavial, or renaisence, or simular music, or, just listening to the wireless I don't relaly have any privacy in my own house and my front room is far too full of computers, and stuff, and just electronics, and piles of the lodgers paperwork and stuff from work

goodluck with the reading.... I've just been distracted by twitter, and the internet... now not sure I want to start the book, quite so* late, or I'll maybe not have the concentration to 'get into' it properly... I might... maybe...