Book Review: Splintered Light

The view from my east window this morning made me think of the title of Verlyn Flieger's book Splintered Light.  There is actually a German word for this phenomenon of the sun shining golden through the new spring leaves, which translates as Mayshine, or May light.  Thank you to Robert Macfarlane for defining it on his blog.  He has a Word of the Day feature which I love.

And, since I mentioned it, here is my review Flieger's book:
Splintered Light: Logos and Language in Tolkien's World by Verlyn Flieger
An interesting look at Tolkien's use of the Word, words, language and light in the world that he created. Actually, he called himself a sub-creator, as there is only one true Creator. He believed that it was important to go back to the roots of words, even to their ancient Indo-European meanings, to understand what a word truly means, in all of its nuances. As language got more complex, as more dialects proliferated, as words were more tightly defined, he felt that it has inexorably separated us from one another and from our surroundings. The more the meaning of something is splintered in this way, the more it will be seen as Other than we are.

There are still a few tulips left in the garden, and a couple of late, double daffodils.  The creeping phlox is blooming like crazy.  In the front border the lilacs are in full bloom, though here on the east side of the house poor Miss Kim (lower right corner) seems to have expired.  She's been struggling the past few years.  I will not mourn, but view this as an opportunity to try something else.

Quote of the Day:

It isn't what you have, or who you are, or where you are, or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy,.  It is what you think about.

Dale Carnegie, from Everyday Happiness, ed. Emma Hill