Books I Read July 16th 2023

Turns out not waking up at 3 AM has really improved my reading habits.

The Book of Merlyn by T.H. White – A tedious and unnecessary epilogue to the classic work of YA fantasy. You should never, never read a late sequel to a beloved work of literature, especially YA, but I had never heard of this and saw a nice edition in a fun book store in Joshua Tree (shout out Space Cowboy Books) and took a foolish chance.

The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward – Mysteries abound behind the boarded up windows in this disturbing nightmare of a novel.

A Private Affair by Beppe Fenoglio – A partisan tries to save a potential romantic rival in this sensitive and sincere-seeming portrayal of the last days of the Ducce regime. In the minor details and the broader themes, the author's experience speaks out. Good stuff.

The Right to be Lazy by Paul Lafargue – A paean to sloth by an early communist. The eponymous essay didn't do much for me but the accompanying 50 pages slamming Victor Hugo was worth the price of admission.

The Printer of Malgudi by R.K. Narayan – A directionless writer becomes the beneficiary of a lively, chicanerous printer. Beneath an entertaining light comedy (of the kind Indian literature tends to excel) lie thoughtful observations about the limitations and pointlessness of the artistic/creative life. I liked it.

The Hive by Camilo Jose Cela – In a cast of hundreds thronging post-Civil War Madrid, you would think the writer would manage to find a single redeemable soul. Alas. This reminded me a lot of Curzio Malapart, in the sense of being well-written but pitiless in the way that makes you think the author was probably an asshole. Also, they were both fascists.