Update General Literature.

Update General Literature.

Recently, during a lockdown here in the UK; that has gone on now for thirteen months; I found myself indulging and enjoying some light reading, namely “Farewell my Lovely” by Raymond Chandler.

Back in the incipient dawns of February 2020; when the world first began to comprehend the seriousness of the pandemic that lay before us, I had resolved to use the ensuing period of isolation in a positive manner; by undertaking what was and is, deemed by those more learned than myself, as “some serious reading.” More Shakespeare, Sir Thomas Wyatt, Old Testament, Byron, Chaucer & Marlowe; whose tome like works stretched out into unlimited horizons and unachievable targets.

Some progress was made in the early six months; but now resolve is dwindling, akin the prospect of the first gin and tonic after 40 days in the wilderness living on locusts and honey. There are after all, only so many ways one can consume a locust: gently simmered al dente, sauteed with garlic, en croute, flambe with French fries, en cocotte, curried with Scotch bonnet peppers or on toast.

So, Chandler came as something of a respite. Not as heavy as Gerard de Nerval, nor as meaningless as “Blonkity Blonk.”

And even though Chandler used words like “nigger” with carefree, non-political correct abandon, (having been written in 1935), it was a product of its time. A bit like Rabelais with his predilection to defecation, although to this date I have failed to understand the affinity.

In one weeks' time here in Glorious Albion, one can attain entry to a gym & a barbers. Thank God, as my extensive white beard is becoming a bit of a showstopper. I currently stride into my local supermarket like a commanding patriarch parting the Red Sea!! I hope, soon to get back to a facial cut more resemblant of Sean Connery as a submarine captain in “Red October.”

As for the gym, I can: pump my pecs, (man boobs actually), clench my glutes and gratifyingly observe nubile female devotees firming up their glutus maximus's.



Reading wise, as Chandler has proved such a boon, I might indeed dip into some Ed McBain. “He Who Hesitates.” might be a good starting point.

Happy Easter everyone.

A bit of updating too, though on a less entertaining note.

Shakespeare is noble cost, but one can´t read him all the time, not in these so different times. I have been traveling to far countries though books, mostly written in German because of my other Forum. I´ve been to Bosnia with Stanisic, to Japan with Ishiguro and Murakami. I visited Poland with its Jewish dissidents in the seventeenth century with the learned Olga Tokarczuk. You might like the Books of Jacob, because it combines History, Religion and imagination.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Books_of_Jacob

I was also impressed by the Faulkner tale, "Red Leaves".

Fact is in these pandemic months I read more than in all the former years together. It was perhaps my means of dealing with reality.

Hi Dank

You have done much better than me with a much wider range of reading. The Books of Jacob look interesting by the way.
Perhaps our reading intake is inversely proportionate to the severity of the virus as well. The UK has the worst record in Europe, but it pales into insignificance compared to what Brazil has, (and is) suffering.
Glad you got to travel via your books read. Mine is a bit more unconventional over my working life. I remember reading French authors in Japan, Russian in Qatar, and lots of Hemingway in Papua New Guinea. Vietnam very little, as I was too busy socialising and chasing the girls.:smilewinkgrin:

Take care buddy.
M.

Well you speak and read several languages I can´t even say "Good Morning" in.

"Perhaps our reading intake is inversely proportionate to the severity of the virus as well. The UK has the worst record in Europe, but it pales into insignificance compared to what Brazil has, (and is) suffering."
That´s so true! Your Rollout of the vaccines has been very quick.

Olga Tokarczuk is for me the Tolstoi of the 21.C. She is absolutely equal to her controversial protagonist. I think you might like her.

I have been reading The Tolstoy Estate. It hasn't blown my socks off but neither is it an unpleasant experience. I had less time to read (nature of my work) and less concentration during our lockdowns.