Thomas Hardy

Since I am currently without pictures of the projects I am currently working on, I will tell you about what I am reading. Several weeks (or months?) ago, I was voicing my disgust and distaste to my father about the quality of writing in contemporary literature. I had recently begun reading a few books on recommendation, and I was very unimpressed with the use of language in them. The quickest way to ruin a good story idea is to write it in a way that the reader stumbles through it.
I would consider myself somewhat of lexophile. I have an appreciation for vocabulary and proper grammar, and I love new words and the games that can be played with them. I'm no writer, but I appreciate those who can put words together in creative and compelling ways. My father encouraged me to return to the classics to satisfy my need for quality of writing. He lent me Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy and I have been enjoying it very much.
In Far From the Madding Crowd , Thomas Hardy takes the reader into the life of an up-and-coming shepherd, Gabriel Oak, in the English countryside. It is a story of rural life, the pursuit of love, and the struggles which come with the aforementioned. I really appreciate the depth of the writing in this book. Hardy's use of complex metaphors and creative allusions makes the writing multi-dimensional and unique. In chapter 22, I came across this quote:

"Men thin away to insignificance and oblivion quite as often by not making the most of good spirits when they have them as by lacking good spirits when they are indispensable." Chapter 22, Far From the Madding Crowd.

This line really resonated with me. It's almost like Thomas Hardy summed up my entire existence. Lacking motivation when one needs it is problematic, but what is worse is when one has motivation and does not make full use of it. This is why I have projects!