What are you reading now?

[smittims]

I tried 'Little boy Lost' Alain, but couldn't finish it. I thought her other novel, 'The Village' much better.

[Alain Maréchal]

I understand completely, smittims. A recent reference to it (the one which prompted me to find a copy - here in France, as it happens) suggested that although the writer had intended reading it at one sitting (The Persephone Edition is about 200 pages in a decent sized font) they had to put it aside out of dread at the point where catastrophe seemed inevitable and get a night's respite before finishing it. I have reached that point, but I will return to it. I encourage you to try.

I will look for a copy of The Village, but - "so many books..."

An afterthought: "so many books..." is an unforgivable reason for not adding to the pile. I retract it, in shame.

[vinteuil]

I will look for a copy of The Village, but - "so many books..."

An afterthought: "so many books..." is an unforgivable reason for not adding to the pile. I retract it, in shame.

"And further, my son, by these words be admonished: of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness to the flesh."

Eccleiastes 12:12

[Alain Maréchal]

"And further, my son, by these words be admonished: of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness to the flesh."

Eccleiastes 12:12

I'm a Calvinist - I understand that much study, and weariness to the flesh, is an obligation! I wonder also if I should be publicly admitting that I read novels, and moreover, sometimes French novels.

[vinteuil]

I'm a Calvinist - I understand that much study, and weariness to the flesh, is an obligation! I wonder also if I should be publicly admitting that I read novels, and moreover, sometimes French novels.

... surely if you're a Proper Calvinist - it's already been decided : you don't need to do nuffink...

('obligations' are for those of a lutheran or romish persuasion)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Private_Memoirs_and_Confessions_of_a_Justified _Sinner


(such a good book... )

.

.

[Alain Maréchal]

Église Réformée de France. Although some years ago we merged with the Lutherans, so now we all spend a lot of energy forgiving each others' sins. Especially theirs. (I stole that joke from Garrison Keillor).

[vinteuil]

.

Barthes : Mythologies. I picked it up cheap in an oxfam shop (£1.99) because I needed a book to have, dining alone while mme v was away in Norfolk with girl friends from university days...

I wonder if anyone - even the French? - reads Barthes nowadays? - I mean, it's quite fun - his worrying over the significance of Wine vs Milk, Bifteck and Frites, the Citroen DS ... but assertion after assertion in that lofty French style - so hard to take seriously...

But it was an enjoyable side course to the meal -

rabbit tortelloni with white onion velouté, winter tomatoes and wild garlic;
duck breast with crisp potato galette, celeriac pureé and braised red cabbage;
apricot crumble soufflé with vanilla ice cream

( a glass of manzanilla and a half bottle of fleurie* helped... )

" ... Etant par essence une fonction, dont les termes peuvent changer, le vin détient des pouvoirs en apparence plastiques : il peut servir d'alibi aussi bien au rêve qu'à la réalité, cela dépend des usagers du mythe. Pour le travailleur, le vin sera qualification, facilité démiurgique de la tâche («coeur à l'ouvrage»). Pour l'intellectuel, il aura la fonction inverse: le «petit vin blanc » ou le « beaujolais » de l'écrivain seront chargés de le couper du monde trop naturel des cocktails et des boissons d'argent (les seules que le snobisme pousse à lui offrir) ; le vin le délivrera des mythes, lui ôtera de son intellectualité, l'égalera au prolétaire; par le vin, l'intellectuel s'approche d'une virilité naturelle, et pense ainsi échapper à la malédiction qu'un siècle et demi de romantisme continue à faire peser sur la cérébralité pure (on sait que l'un des mythes propres à l'intellectuel moderne, c'est l'obsession «d'en avoir»).... "

.

[Historian]

George Gissing The Whirlpool (1897). ff is an aficionado of Gissing I believe and I can now see why. I enjoyed New Grub Street (1891) to an extent, but the unrelenting hardships suffered by its central character limited my enthusiasm (although I now understand 'Ed Reardon's Week' on Radio Four much better).

[vinteuil]

George Gissing The Whirlpool (1897). ff is an aficionado of Gissing I believe and I can now see why. I enjoyed New Grub Street (1891) to an extent, but the unrelenting hardships suffered by its central character limited my enthusiasm (although I now understand 'Ed Reardon's Week' on Radio Four much better).

I share some of FF's liking for Gissing, but prefer the works where the misery isn't quite so unrelenting. Henry Ryecroft is rewarding, and his travel writing in By the Ionian Sea is a joy.

[Historian]

I share some of FF's liking for Gissing, but prefer the works where the misery isn't quite so unrelenting. Henry Ryecroft is rewarding, and his travel writing in By the Ionian Sea is a joy.

Thank you for the recommendations. I will keep an eye out for these.

[Ian Thumwood]

George Gissing The Whirlpool (1897). ff is an aficionado of Gissing I believe and I can now see why. I enjoyed New Grub Street (1891) to an extent, but the unrelenting hardships suffered by its central character limited my enthusiasm (although I now understand 'Ed Reardon's Week' on Radio Four much better).

I loved Ed Reardon and was aware of the connection with Gissing albeit i never followed it up. Reardon was probably the best BBC situation comedy since One foot in the grave. The writing was superb and the observations of contemporary complete with skewering of famous people was brilliant. Shame the writer passed away. Always wondered if Gissing was the same. Loved the long running joke about Jazz Milvane's Dermot the Dolphin series of films.

[Historian]

I loved Ed Reardon and was aware of the connection with Gissing albeit i never followed it up. Reardon was probably the best BBC situation comedy since One foot in the grave. The writing was superb and the observations of contemporary complete with skewering of famous people was brilliant. Shame the writer passed away. Always wondered if Gissing was the same. Loved the long running joke about Jazz Milvane's Dermot the Dolphin series of films.

I agree that it was wonderfully written (and performed).

[french frank]

I share some of FF's liking for Gissing, but prefer the works where the misery isn't quite so unrelenting. Henry Ryecroft is rewarding, and his travel writing in By the Ionian Sea is a joy.

By the Ionian Sea was my travel companion when I was mooching around in southern Italy. I think I must have had my nose in the book for too long as I can remember very little of the trip itself. It must have been between 1986 (the date of the latest reprint in my copy) and 1991 when I started writing a travel journal for each trip. Taranto and Brindisi I vaguely remember. Perhaps if I read the book again it will bring back memories ...