Less reading, more writing.
1. Slouching Towards Bethlehem
— Joan Didion
Great essays and my book of the month.
2. The Hole
— Hiroko Oyamada
An enjoyable novella that descends into magical realism — or does it?
3. Herzog
— Saul Bellow
Parts of this I loved. Others bored me. A mixed bag that I’d have enjoyed more if it had been 100 pages shorter.
4. Hard Rain Falling
— Don Carpenter
A hot book these days. A good read. Never dull.
5. The Skating Rink
— Roberto Bolaño
His first published novel. Bolaño is very easy to read. Although I wish there had not been three narrators with the same — the author’s — voice. I would have much preferred for Enric Rosquelles (who becomes infatuated with the skater Nuria Martí) to have been the sole narrator throughout.
6. Shanti
— Vikram Chandra
A charming and simple tale, well written. Will read more by this author.
7. The Human Stain
— Philip Roth
My first by this author and 100-or-so pages in I thought this would be my book of the month. But there are long and needless sub-stories (rather than sub-plots because they don’t appear related to the main plot). However, some great writing, ideas, and character development. I might try his The Plot Against America next.
8. Voices in the Evening
— Natalia Ginzburg
I enjoyed this. Loved the opening scene and dialogue between mother and daughter.
9. Love at 6000 Degrees
— Maki Kashimada
‘An extended exercise in what it means to attempt to describe the indescribable.’ — The New York Times Book Review
Remarkable Renaissance Books
My new book, Remarkable Renaissance Books, is now available for preorder from:
