Memoria Errata
Mindfully mistaking wandering memories
Hey! Do you ever look for constellations?
There’s a strong weight in that image of the dark sky. The complete timeline of existence strewn across the stars. How an infinite set of probability collapsed into the moments of our every day.
Mountain Descent
The Maneus book club is going strong with some fun back-and-forth comments over the last week. I think the move to Facebook groups was a good idea and it’s nice to see people sharing their thoughts and emotions about and around the story.
I also decided to slow down the pace a bit further, setting the goal for this week to reaching Book II Chapter 18 or page 249 in the physical copy of Maneus.
After sending this newsletter out, I’ll make a new post with a few questions.
Anyone following along should feel free to answer them or add any other comments or critiques!
Competent Happiness
The discussions around Book II’s main character, Lithan, are always enlightening to me. He is young and naive and stuck in a relationship few if any would envy. Some like my dad see that as almost irredeemably bad - or at least aggravatingly annoying.
However, there is also an earnest appeal to how hard he tries to appease both his own desires and those his community, his family, and life itself thrust upon him. Perhaps that’s why he comes across as not taking a strong enough lead. His stands are often perceived as very soft and to many he is thus weak and ineffective.
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Yet in that inauthentic hero is also a strong claim to what it means to be good. I find Lithan forces you to think about how specific actions - or inaction - can color what the otherwise best intentions would desire.
An exploration into how humanity expects us to have a higher level of competence than we may necessarily be ready to handle.
Space Cadet
Then there are those who simply find Lithan to have his head way too far above the clouds. Constantly dreaming of other worlds or flying with his friend, the benalphyn.
Claiming to be a guide then getting lost in the woods.
Stuck up a snowy mountain with limited supplies and even less direction home.
Despite those odds, Lithan does in fact know how to survive - maybe even thrive. With a good heart and years of practice, he seems to show how well he can prevail.
And yet it’s not enough.
A triumph only lasting in his clouded mind while reality has that victory quickly slip between his worn hands.
In a few words, whether it’s a cherished memory or a lost dream, Lithan always makes an honest attempt.
The tragedy being how for many that’s simply never enough.
Until next time.
Cheers,
John