July 17, 13.40pm
It's about this time of year that the various arts and literature supplements of the major newspapers publish their books for the beach lists in which a number of minor celebrities and literary types come over all pretentious and list the various highbrow books they'll be taking to their villa in Tuscany.
I thought I'd do the same. In the BC era (before children) it was my habit to take roughly one book for every day away on holiday; the demands of kids don't allow for anything like that anymore, and so for 17 days away I will take an optimistic eight or nine books, and if I finish five, fantastic. (I certainly wouldn't want to get caught short) I'll list the first four today and the rest tomorrow.
- A Dance to the Music of Time by Anthony Powell. I've been working through this 12 volume series for a few weeks now and am currently part way through volume 4 - At Lady Molly's - which is regarded in some quarters as the best of the lot. I don't know about that yet, but it is a wonderful read, full of understated wit and wisdom, careful and caring characterisation and a narrative that could be under-estimated as meandering and fateful, but is nothing of the sort. The problem with series like these is that it can be torture to finish one volume and find one's self away and without access to the next. So whichever book I am reading at time of departure, I will also take another two.
- Hit Parade by Lawrence Block. I can't remember the exact form of words that Block used when I invited him to talk about the fact that some of his characters cross the line between lawful and not in the course of their activities, but it was something along the lines of their "ethical relativism" or "moral ambiguity", and it was in connection with the Matthew Scudder series or perhaps even the Bernie (the burglar) Rhodenbarr. It was definitely not in connection with Keller, the professional hitman, as there is no morality, ambiguous or otherwise, in a paid gun. That makes it surprising that this series - Hit Parade is the third book after Hit Man and Hit List - should be quite so easily readable and quite so enjoyable, and Keller himself such a sympathetic character. (I know it sounds unlikely, but you'll either have to take my word for it or check out one of the books. Anyway, a proof arrived for this through the post this weekend and it's another good reason to look forward to going away in two and a half weeks time.
- Blood from a Stone by Donna Leon. If, like me, you have got into crime fiction through workaholic/alcoholic detectives who rip through cases at a million miles an hour tearing up trees until they get their man, then a first introduction to Commissario Guido Brunetti of the Venetian police comes as something of a shock. "The first 24 hours are crucial", is a mantra oft-repeated in crime fiction, but in Brunetti's case the first 24 hours rarely start until he has finished a three course lunch (always including wine) with his wife. Justice may work slowly in Venice, but Brunetti is a charming, urbane companion, Leon brings the city to life beautifully and these books are immensely enjoyable. And a poolside in the Dordogne seems the perfect place to unwind with this book.
- Everyman by Philip Roth. I'm a bit of a latecomer to Roth, having not picked up any of his books until I came across The Plot Against America and found the alternate history described on the jacket irresistible. It made a fan of me as I found the intersection of major, global events and family trauma utterly compelling and, in some parts, extremely disturbing. And so Roth's latest novel in 3 for 2 offer in Waterstone's seemed like an offer not to be refused.
More tomorrow.