I’m trying not to feel down but, I’m not really succeeding.
Yesterday, I went to the Grande Bibliotheque.
I visit every 3 weeks or so.
I got a Henning Mankel for my mom, she loves his stuff,
me?
not so much.
I went with my friend Sylvain he explored and so did I.
I’ve already mentionned how I love to randomly peruse the stacks,
well, quasi randomly,
I would never peruse in economics or something like that.
I came across a whole bunch of Muriel Spark’s that I have never read,
it wasn’t that difficult I have only read two or three.
The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie, left such an impression on me as a teenager.
The movie starring the wonderful Maggie Smith might have left an even bigger impression.
I love books about boarding schools or just private British schools,
it is one of those inexplicable things,
like my love for books about Himalayan exploration,
go figure.
Anyway, Miss Jean Brodie, Goodbye Mr Chips and To Serve Them All My days—
I would re-read in a heartbeat.
Funny, how things impress you at a young age.
Twenty years ago or so, I watched The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie, with my ex.
She had never seen it and I wanted to share it with her.
Now, my ex is nothing like me,
very logical, very Cartesian.
I think, by now you guys know, that I am a hopeless romantic.
So, she says to me, ” how can you admire that character, she’s a bloody fascist.”
I was deeply offended but, on second look she was right, she usually is.
Miss Brodie is blinded by beauty and ideal she doesn’t see the ugly,
in her or in others.
If you haven’t read it you should, it is slim and a quick read.
Most, of Spark’s books are slim and yet, they are dense and full of the darkest irony.
I’m not sure I always get her irony but, I enjoy trying.
The novel I picked up yesterday is called, The Girls Of Slender Means.
I have seen it on a list of must read books. I’ll let you know.
Another book I brought home is, The Christmas Holiday by Somerset Maugham.
Somerset Maugham is one of my favorite writers.
I’m shocked to notice that I have never mentioned this fact.
I have read many of his books– novels and memoirs as well as numerous short stories.
I think he is a master.
The book I picked up yesterday, is called Christmas Holiday and I had never heard of it.
I love his style,
precise, never flowery and yet not stark like Hemingway.
I also love the fact that he never rewrites the same book twice.
Don’t get me wrong I like coming back to a familiar world ( Harry Potter)
or to an author who uses recurrent symbolism ( John Irving-bears, Vienna and wrestling).
Maugham is an old pro, was he died in 1965,
who I am always willing to follow on a journey through the human psyche.
Although, I have read about twenty of his books , only one I didn’t enjoy, The Magician.
I have no interest in the paranormal, OK, little interest.
Should be finished Finders Keepers, the Karin Kallmaker, today.
I’ll have quite a bit to say about it.
Later girls
take care
and don’t get heat stroke
BB
Caroline, you have such a varied reading list, funny, you remind me of my father who gave me my love of reading. Like you, I sometime go for the random approach to see what surprises I can come up with but usually go into a library with a list of recommendation, choosing to loan a book I’m unfamiliar with, especially with obscure authors. My father, however, use to chose four of the fattest books he could find on the new arrivals shelves. It never mattered what the subject, just whether or not they would consume him (his words). Looking forward to hearing what you think of Christmas Holidays.
Ah! About time you admitted that Jane is a fascist… even if Maggie Smith is… well Maggie Smith! :o)
That’s Jean not Jane, but, you’re right