# a journal entry from 1991 *The Urth list — 7 messages, 5 voices, 30 Jul 2013* > Exported from an unofficial mirror of a public mailing list. Copyright > in each message remains with the person who wrote it. > Email addresses are obscured as `user at host`, the form the original > archive published. This file was rebuilt from parsed fields rather than > retained headers, so it is faithful in content but not byte-exact. --- ### Editor B *30 Jul 2013, 18:19* Hey all. I thought I'd delurk briefly to share an entry from my private journals dating way back to 1991. I'm pasting below for those who care to take a look. It's about reading Wolfe to my then-girlfriend, identified here simply as K to protect her identity. To date I've read *The Book of the New Sun* aloud four times now, and I'm kind of curious if others have tried this. It's quite an experience. Also, it should be noted that this was written before the net came to the masses, which may account for my presumption that I was some sort of super elite reader. That, and the arrogance of youth. — Editor B *7/10/91 Wednesday* the work day started late for K, so she woke me up around 8am and we had breakfast together (after I did my exercises — I think I'll be doing 30 of each now, though I haven't done push-ups for a while). After she left I looked over Chapter IX in *Shadow of the Torturer* ("The House Azure") but I only read it in a whisper because my throat was was a little raw from smoking *Leonicus sibiricus* last night with K. (Yes, the package came from Of the Jungle just a couple days ago. We smoked by candlelight, with spacy music playing, and seemed to enjoy some psychic effects. But the jury's still out.) As regards Gene Wolfe, I guess I should explain that K finally said go last week, after three agonizing months (at least) since I told her I'd like to share *The Book of the New Sun* with her. Every day I look over the chapter I am to read that night, and I read it aloud to myself, so that I can get the inflections right and look up any unfamiliar words. All day long I relish the thought of it, and it comforts me at work to think that when I get home, I will read her a chapter. I know that it's wrong to pin so much on this, but I do. At least we're past the anxious part — I asked her to listen to the first seven chapters before deciding whether she wanted to go on, and she did, and after the 7th (in which Severian meets Thecla) she said she was enjoying the story. From this point I can only imagine that her interest will wax. I know that she doesn't see even a fraction of what I see in Wolfe's writing, but then she hasn't read it ten times over. *The Book of the New Sun* is like a mystery that has to be unraveled, and that takes time and patience. How many of his readers have penetrated as deeply into the mystery as I, I wonder? His flowery sentences don't always lend themselves to being read aloud, but my prediction is that by this time next week, when Thecla is dead and Severian leaves the guild, K will be hooked. At this point, she's still rather ambivalent about Severian as a protagonist. --- ### DAVID STOCKHOFF *30 Jul 2013, 19:14 · in reply to Editor B* So did K get hooked? We want to know. > ________________________________ > From: Editor B > To: urth at urth.net > Sent: Tuesday, July 30, 2013 2:19 PM > Subject: (urth) a journal entry from 1991 > > > > Hey all. I thought I'd delurk briefly to share an entry from my private journals dating way back to 1991. I'm pasting below for those who care to take a look. It's about reading Wolfe to my then-girlfriend, identified here simply as K to protect her identity. To date I've read The Book of the New Sun aloud four times now, and I'm kind of curious if others have tried this. It's quite an experience. Also, it should be noted that this was written before the net came to the masses, which may account for my presumption that I was some sort of super elite reader. That, and the arrogance of youth. — Editor B > > > > > 7/10/91 Wednesday > the work day started late for K, so she woke me up around 8am and we had breakfast together (after I did my exercises ??I think I'll be doing 30 of each now, though I haven't > done push-ups for a while). After she left I looked over Chapter IX in Shadow of the Torturer ("The House Azure") but I only read it in a whisper because my throat was was a little raw from smoking Leonicus sibiricus last night with K. (Yes, the package came from Of the Jungle just a couple days ago. We smoked by candlelight, with spacy music playing, and seemed to enjoy some psychic effects. But the jury's still out.) As regards Gene Wolfe, I guess I should explain that K finally said go last week, after three agonizing months (at least) since I told her I'd like to share The Book of the New Sun with her. Every day I look over the chapter I am to read that night, and I read it aloud to myself, so that I can get the inflections right and look up any unfamiliar words. All day long I relish the thought of it, and it comforts me at work to think that when I get home, I will read her a chapter. I know that it's wrong to pin so much on this, but I do. At least we're past the anxious part — I asked her to listen to the first seven chapters before deciding whether she wanted to go on, and she did, and after the 7th (in which Severian meets Thecla) she said she was enjoying the story. From this point I can only imagine that her interest will wax. I know that she doesn't see even a fraction of what I see in Wolfe's writing, but then she hasn't read it ten times over. The Book of the New Sun is like a mystery that has to be unraveled, and that takes time and patience. How many of his readers have penetrated as deeply into the mystery as I, I wonder? His flowery sentences don't always lend themselves to being read aloud, but my prediction is that by this time next week, when Thecla is dead and Severian leaves the guild, K will be hooked. At this point, she's still rather ambivalent about Severian as a protagonist. > _______________________________________________ --- ### Christopher Simon *30 Jul 2013, 21:09 · follows DAVID STOCKHOFF* That was really a pleasure to read, thanks for sharing. -----Original Message----- From: "Editor B" Sent: ?7/?30/?2013 2:19 PM To: "urth at urth.net" Subject: (urth) a journal entry from 1991 Hey all. I thought I'd delurk briefly to share an entry from my private journals dating way back to 1991. I'm pasting below for those who care to take a look. It's about reading Wolfe to my then-girlfriend, identified here simply as K to protect her identity. To date I've read The Book of the New Sun aloud four times now, and I'm kind of curious if others have tried this. It's quite an experience. Also, it should be noted that this was written before the net came to the masses, which may account for my presumption that I was some sort of super elite reader. That, and the arrogance of youth. — Editor B 7/10/91 Wednesday the work day started late for K, so she woke me up around 8am and we had breakfast together (after I did my exercises — I think I'll be doing 30 of each now, though I haven't done push-ups for a while). After she left I looked over Chapter IX in Shadow of the Torturer ("The House Azure") but I only read it in a whisper because my throat was was a little raw from smoking Leonicus sibiricus last night with K. (Yes, the package came from Of the Jungle just a couple days ago. We smoked by candlelight, with spacy music playing, and seemed to enjoy some psychic effects. But the jury's still out.) As regards Gene Wolfe, I guess I should explain that K finally said go last week, after three agonizing months (at least) since I told her I'd like to share The Book of the New Sun with her. Every day I look over the chapter I am to read that night, and I read it aloud to myself, so that I can get the inflections right and look up any unfamiliar words. All day long I relish the thought of it, and it comforts me at work to think that when I get home, I will read her a chapter. I know that it's wrong to pin so much on this, but I do. At least we're past the anxious part — I asked her to listen to the first seven chapters before deciding whether she wanted to go on, and she did, and after the 7th (in which Severian meets Thecla) she said she was enjoying the story. From this point I can only imagine that her interest will wax. I know that she doesn't see even a fraction of what I see in Wolfe's writing, but then she hasn't read it ten times over. The Book of the New Sun is like a mystery that has to be unraveled, and that takes time and patience. How many of his readers have penetrated as deeply into the mystery as I, I wonder? His flowery sentences don't always lend themselves to being read aloud, but my prediction is that by this time next week, when Thecla is dead and Severian leaves the guild, K will be hooked. At this point, she's still rather ambivalent about Severian as a protagonist. --- ### aaron *31 Jul 2013, 00:58 · in reply to Christopher Simon* I read TBotNS to my wife back in '05. It was a blast. I even got to the point where I had different voices and cadences for each character. I have also read 5HC to her, and Vance's Dying Earth series. I find it a great way to introduce someone to my favorite works--I mean, there is no pressure other than to listen and relax. Looking forward to reading some Wolfe and Vance to my son one day soon, too. On Tue, Jul 30, 2013 at 5:09 PM, Christopher Simon wrote: > That was really a pleasure to read, thanks for sharing. > ------------------------------ > From: Editor B > Sent: 7/30/2013 2:19 PM > To: urth at urth.net > > Subject: (urth) a journal entry from 1991 > > Hey all. I thought I'd delurk briefly to share an entry from my private > journals dating way back to 1991. I'm pasting below for those who care to > take a look. It's about reading Wolfe to my then-girlfriend, identified > here simply as K to protect her identity. To date I've read *The Book of > the New Sun* aloud four times now, and I'm kind of curious if others have > tried this. It's quite an experience. Also, it should be noted that this > was written before the net came to the masses, which may account for my > presumption that I was some sort of super elite reader. That, and the > arrogance of youth. — Editor B > > > *7/10/91 Wednesday* > > the work day started late for K, so she woke me up around 8am and we had > breakfast together (after I did my exercises — I think I'll be doing 30 of > each now, though I haven't done push-ups for a while). After she left I > looked over Chapter IX in *Shadow of the Torturer* ("The House Azure") > but I only read it in a whisper because my throat was was a little raw from > smoking *Leonicus sibiricus* last night with K. (Yes, the package came > from Of the Jungle just a couple days ago. We smoked by candlelight, with > spacy music playing, and seemed to enjoy some psychic effects. But the > jury's still out.) As regards Gene Wolfe, I guess I should explain that K > finally said go last week, after three agonizing months (at least) since I > told her I'd like to share *The Book of the New Sun* with her. Every day > I look over the chapter I am to read that night, and I read it aloud to > myself, so that I can get the inflections right and look up any unfamiliar > words. All day long I relish the thought of it, and it comforts me at work > to think that when I get home, I will read her a chapter. I know that it's > wrong to pin so much on this, but I do. At least we're past the anxious > part — I asked her to listen to the first seven chapters before deciding > whether she wanted to go on, and she did, and after the 7th (in which > Severian meets Thecla) she said she was enjoying the story. From this point > I can only imagine that her interest will wax. I know that she doesn't see > even a fraction of what I see in Wolfe's writing, but then she hasn't read > it ten times over. *The Book of the New Sun* is like a mystery that has > to be unraveled, and that takes time and patience. How many of his readers > have penetrated as deeply into the mystery as I, I wonder? His flowery > sentences don't always lend themselves to being read aloud, but my > prediction is that by this time next week, when Thecla is dead and Severian > leaves the guild, K will be hooked. At this point, she's still rather > ambivalent about Severian as a protagonist. > > > _______________________________________________ --- ### António Pedro Marques *31 Jul 2013, 01:56 · in reply to aaron* More power to yous, but personally I can't follow a book that is being read aloud by someone else. Maybe if I really had to... No dia 31/07/2013, ?s 01:58, aaron escreveu: > I read TBotNS to my wife back in '05. It was a blast. I even got to the point where I had different voices and cadences for each character. I have also read 5HC to her, and Vance's Dying Earth series. I find it a great way to introduce someone to my favorite works--I mean, there is no pressure other than to listen and relax. Looking forward to reading some Wolfe and Vance to my son one day soon, too. > > > On Tue, Jul 30, 2013 at 5:09 PM, Christopher Simon wrote: > That was really a pleasure to read, thanks for sharing. > From: Editor B > Sent: 7/30/2013 2:19 PM > To: urth at urth.net > > Subject: (urth) a journal entry from 1991 > > Hey all. I thought I'd delurk briefly to share an entry from my private journals dating way back to 1991. I'm pasting below for those who care to take a look. It's about reading Wolfe to my then-girlfriend, identified here simply as K to protect her identity. To date I've read The Book of the New Sun aloud four times now, and I'm kind of curious if others have tried this. It's quite an experience. Also, it should be noted that this was written before the net came to the masses, which may account for my presumption that I was some sort of super elite reader. That, and the arrogance of youth. — Editor B > > > 7/10/91 Wednesday > > the work day started late for K, so she woke me up around 8am and we had breakfast together (after I did my exercises — I think I'll be doing 30 of each now, though I haven't done push-ups for a while). After she left I looked over Chapter IX in Shadow of the Torturer ("The House Azure") but I only read it in a whisper because my throat was was a little raw from smoking Leonicus sibiricus last night with K. (Yes, the package came from Of the Jungle just a couple days ago. We smoked by candlelight, with spacy music playing, and seemed to enjoy some psychic effects. But the jury's still out.) As regards Gene Wolfe, I guess I should explain that K finally said go last week, after three agonizing months (at least) since I told her I'd like to share The Book of the New Sun with her. Every day I look over the chapter I am to read that night, and I read it aloud to myself, so that I can get the inflections right and look up any unfamiliar words. All day long I relish the thought of it, and it comforts me at work to think that when I get home, I will read her a chapter. I know that it's wrong to pin so much on this, but I do. At least we're past the anxious part — I asked her to listen to the first seven chapters before deciding whether she wanted to go on, and she did, and after the 7th (in which Severian meets Thecla) she said she was enjoying the story. From this point I can only imagine that her interest will wax. I know that she doesn't see even a fraction of what I see in Wolfe's writing, but then she hasn't read it ten times over. The Book of the New Sun is like a mystery that has to be unraveled, and that takes time and patience. How many of his readers have penetrated as deeply into the mystery as I, I wonder? His flowery sentences don't always lend themselves to being read aloud, but my prediction is that by this time next week, when Thecla is dead and Severian leaves the guild, K will be hooked. At this point, she's still rather ambivalent about Severian as a protagonist. > > > > _______________________________________________ --- ### aaron *31 Jul 2013, 03:20 · in reply to António Pedro Marques* Oddly enough, while I enjoy reading to others, I do not enjoy listening to books being read. Audiobooks put me to sleep. Strange but true. > On Tue, Jul 30, 2013 at 9:56 PM, Ant?nio Pedro Marques wrote: > More power to yous, but personally I can't follow a book that is being > read aloud by someone else. Maybe if I really had to... > > No dia 31/07/2013, ?s 01:58, aaron escreveu: > > I read TBotNS to my wife back in '05. It was a blast. I even got to the > point where I had different voices and cadences for each character. I have > also read 5HC to her, and Vance's Dying Earth series. I find it a great > way to introduce someone to my favorite works--I mean, there is no pressure > other than to listen and relax. Looking forward to reading some Wolfe and > Vance to my son one day soon, too. > > > On Tue, Jul 30, 2013 at 5:09 PM, Christopher Simon < > kierkegaurdian at gmail.com> wrote: >> That was really a pleasure to read, thanks for sharing. >> ------------------------------ >> From: Editor B >> Sent: 7/30/2013 2:19 PM >> To: urth at urth.net >> >> Subject: (urth) a journal entry from 1991 >> >> Hey all. I thought I'd delurk briefly to share an entry from my private >> journals dating way back to 1991. I'm pasting below for those who care to >> take a look. It's about reading Wolfe to my then-girlfriend, identified >> here simply as K to protect her identity. To date I've read *The Book of >> the New Sun* aloud four times now, and I'm kind of curious if others >> have tried this. It's quite an experience. Also, it should be noted that >> this was written before the net came to the masses, which may account for >> my presumption that I was some sort of super elite reader. That, and the >> arrogance of youth. — Editor B >> >> >> *7/10/91 Wednesday* >> >> the work day started late for K, so she woke me up around 8am and we had >> breakfast together (after I did my exercises — I think I'll be doing 30 of >> each now, though I haven't done push-ups for a while). After she left I >> looked over Chapter IX in *Shadow of the Torturer* ("The House Azure") >> but I only read it in a whisper because my throat was was a little raw from >> smoking *Leonicus sibiricus* last night with K. (Yes, the package came >> from Of the Jungle just a couple days ago. We smoked by candlelight, with >> spacy music playing, and seemed to enjoy some psychic effects. But the >> jury's still out.) As regards Gene Wolfe, I guess I should explain that K >> finally said go last week, after three agonizing months (at least) since I >> told her I'd like to share *The Book of the New Sun* with her. Every day >> I look over the chapter I am to read that night, and I read it aloud to >> myself, so that I can get the inflections right and look up any unfamiliar >> words. All day long I relish the thought of it, and it comforts me at work >> to think that when I get home, I will read her a chapter. I know that it's >> wrong to pin so much on this, but I do. At least we're past the anxious >> part — I asked her to listen to the first seven chapters before deciding >> whether she wanted to go on, and she did, and after the 7th (in which >> Severian meets Thecla) she said she was enjoying the story. From this point >> I can only imagine that her interest will wax. I know that she doesn't see >> even a fraction of what I see in Wolfe's writing, but then she hasn't read >> it ten times over. *The Book of the New Sun* is like a mystery that has >> to be unraveled, and that takes time and patience. How many of his readers >> have penetrated as deeply into the mystery as I, I wonder? His flowery >> sentences don't always lend themselves to being read aloud, but my >> prediction is that by this time next week, when Thecla is dead and Severian >> leaves the guild, K will be hooked. At this point, she's still rather >> ambivalent about Severian as a protagonist. >> >> >> _______________________________________________ --- ### Editor B *31 Jul 2013, 20:07 · in reply to DAVID STOCKHOFF* Yes. I read the entire tetralogy to her. Also to my previous girlfriend and to my subsequent girlfriend who is in fact my wife. In fact I've read it to my wife twice, because she more or less forgot all about it. Strange but true. We celebrate our 20th anniversary in September. Thanks for the replies, everyone. B > On Tue, Jul 30, 2013 at 2:14 PM, DAVID STOCKHOFF wrote: > So did K get hooked? We want to know. > > ------------------------------ > *From:* Editor B > *To:* urth at urth.net > *Sent:* Tuesday, July 30, 2013 2:19 PM > *Subject:* (urth) a journal entry from 1991 > > Hey all. I thought I'd delurk briefly to share an entry from my private > journals dating way back to 1991. I'm pasting below for those who care to > take a look. It's about reading Wolfe to my then-girlfriend, identified > here simply as K to protect her identity. To date I've read *The Book of > the New Sun* aloud four times now, and I'm kind of curious if others have > tried this. It's quite an experience. Also, it should be noted that this > was written before the net came to the masses, which may account for my > presumption that I was some sort of super elite reader. That, and the > arrogance of youth. — Editor B > > > *7/10/91 Wednesday* > the work day started late for K, so she woke me up around 8am and we had > breakfast together (after I did my exercises — I think I'll be doing 30 of > each now, though I haven't done push-ups for a while). After she left I > looked over Chapter IX in *Shadow of the Torturer* ("The House Azure") > but I only read it in a whisper because my throat was was a little raw from > smoking *Leonicus sibiricus* last night with K. (Yes, the package came > from Of the Jungle just a couple days ago. We smoked by candlelight, with > spacy music playing, and seemed to enjoy some psychic effects. But the > jury's still out.) As regards Gene Wolfe, I guess I should explain that K > finally said go last week, after three agonizing months (at least) since I > told her I'd like to share *The Book of the New Sun* with her. Every day > I look over the chapter I am to read that night, and I read it aloud to > myself, so that I can get the inflections right and look up any unfamiliar > words. All day long I relish the thought of it, and it comforts me at work > to think that when I get home, I will read her a chapter. I know that it's > wrong to pin so much on this, but I do. At least we're past the anxious > part — I asked her to listen to the first seven chapters before deciding > whether she wanted to go on, and she did, and after the 7th (in which > Severian meets Thecla) she said she was enjoying the story. From this point > I can only imagine that her interest will wax. I know that she doesn't see > even a fraction of what I see in Wolfe's writing, but then she hasn't read > it ten times over. *The Book of the New Sun* is like a mystery that has > to be unraveled, and that takes time and patience. How many of his readers > have penetrated as deeply into the mystery as I, I wonder? His flowery > sentences don't always lend themselves to being read aloud, but my > prediction is that by this time next week, when Thecla is dead and Severian > leaves the guild, K will be hooked. At this point, she's still rather > ambivalent about Severian as a protagonist. > > > _______________________________________________ ---