Yes I had forgotten about the painting game so I will go in and put up a clue but it will still be quite difficult as the painting isn't very distinct. I hadn't seen any of the pictures portrayed in the music before, except for the Gate, and was surprised at the vagueness of the catacombs portrayal. I have often intended to visit them myself but they are only open at certain times of the year. The photo was taken a long time ago in the Vatican and looking at it now I have to ask myself whether I really did look like that. Anyhow, I'll pop over to the Games forum and try to give a meaningful clue now. Cheers
Hello Emil, Long time no speak. Magnificent photo! Are you inside the Pantheon? I'm guessing that based on the floor pattern, from what I recall. Although, I can't place the entrance behind you. It has been too long. I have two carrousels full of slides from my 1988 summer in Europe. My plan is to have them processed into digital images at some point here in the near furture. Anyhow, another reason fro stopping by, was to suggest that a clue may be in order for the Name the Painting game. I know who the artist is and the painting, but I am abstaining so others might participate. To be honest, I haven't checked the thread as of this typing. Perhaps someone has guessed it. I'll go check. Regards
Yes I watched it today but, unfortunately, it was not well done. Overly dramatic and unconvincing, although I admit that Deanna Durbin was very good in her role and a complete charmer. I think that Hollywood was very interested in adapting Maugham to the screen during the 1940s but they couldn't film Christmas Holiday in Paris as it was still under German occupation; so they decided to alter the story substantially by locating it in the US and it simply didn't make the transition.
Emil, Unfortunately, my reading time is limited, so if I expect to get through the challenge, I must move on to new authors and put Maugham on the back burner for the moment. Here’s what I have completed to date: The Moon and Sixpence by William Somerset Maugham. James Fenimore Cooper's - "Last of the Mohicans" Ian Fleming's - "Goldfinger" Karel Čapek – “Rossum’s Universal Robots” Anton Checkhov's "Ward No 6" and "On the Road". Still making my way through the "Inferno" and Cicero's "On Moral Duties" Oh, have you had a chance to watch "Christmas Holiday"?
Gilliatt, I didn't know you were in the 11 new authors challenge but my suggestion would be to read The Narrow Corner next as it is quite short and you will simply fly through it. My copy of The Razors edge is in French and runs to 402pp but it's so readable that it doesn't seem nearly that long, whereas Of Human Bondage is a very different kind of book and at over 1000pp it requires more time and dedication. However, if you are restricted to a different author for each book, you may already have a list drawn up. In which case, you might care to return to Maugham at some future date simply for the pleasure of reading him. Good luck with the challenge. Emil
Emil, I see you found my write up, albeit a brief one that does not do the book justice. "The Narrow Corner" sounds intriguing. I'll take your advice and move it up to the top of the Maugham list. Dante's "Inferno" was running concurrent with "The Moon and Sixpence" and continues to struggle onward, though I am nearly finished. I'm trying to complete the 11 new authors for 2011 challenge. Once I have that licked, then I just might give the "The Narrow Corner" a try. Gg
Hi Gilliatt, I read with interest your recent write up on The Moon and Sixpence and, if you are still deciding on The Razor's Edge or Of Human Bondage, you might also consider The Narrow Corner as an alternative. I have just been reading some write-ups of it on Amazon and discovered this one from your part of the world. It really brings one of his best books into focus, the description of the storm in the novel literally outdoes Conrad.
By Gail Cooke (TX, USA) - (TOP 50 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME) This review is from: The Narrow Corner (Vintage International) (Paperback) For me, one of life's pleasures is reading or rereading Somerset Maugham. The luster of his prose never dulls; his ability to capture a character vividly always intrigues. He never does this with anything as prosaic as a physical description or "He Said," but rather by revealing a telling thought or action. Thus, it was with happy anticipation that I opened THE NARROW CORNER. Once again Maugham carries us to the far corners of the world and introduces rare characters who meet aboard ship, a lugger to be exact.
We meet Dr. Saunders, an opium addicted medic, who has lived and practiced in Fu-chou for 15 years. He is an easy man to get along with, observant and non-judgmental. "Right and wrong were no more to him than good weather and bad weather. He took them as they came. He judged but he did not condemn. He laughed." Saunders is paid a sizeable sum of money to go to Takana to perform surgery on a nearly blind former patient. It turns out to be an incredible journey both on sea and land. The lugger is a rather sad vessel captained by Nichols, an unsavory character, happy to be escaping from his nagging missus. Saunders finds but one other passenger on board, Fred Blake, a mysterious young man. It seems that Nichols had been retained to take Blake to sea. Following a horrendous storm the ship puts in at a small island, Kanda, formerly a center for spice trade. Here they not only find refuge but the beginnings of a dark drama.
They meet a meager few islanders who are barely making a living, yet seem content with their lot. Among them is a beautiful young woman, Louise. What follows is unexpected emotional upheaval and death. Maugham sprinkles his narrative with descriptions of the tropical island so vivid that one can almost feel the heat. To read this author is to recognize a master at work, and to read one of his short novels such as THE NARROW CORNER is simply to leave one wanting more. Enjoy!
