Reading list for May 2005
I have finally finished reading von Ranke, which was excellent. Very few histories manage to go beyond the recital of facts, to discuss their meaning and the connections between them, but von Ranke has mastered this. The eastern Mediterranean was a very busy place 2500 years ago, with empires rising and falling in a generation (quite literally: none survived to the grandson of the man who founded them). Fascinating; makes me wish there were a second volume.
Currently reading
Marc Aurel (Marcus Aurelius), Wege zu sich selbst
Alfred Döblin, Wallenstein - still!
Recently read
Alain de Botton, Trost der Philosophie - again, inspired by Witho's ex-blog (wipes away a tear)
Donna Leon, Das Gesetz der Lagune
Philip Roth, Ghost Writer
Arundhati Roy, The God of Small Things
Most interesting new purchase
Palästina-Bilder-Testament "The New Testament of our Lord and Redeemer Jesus Christ, translated into German by Dr. Martin Luther" printed in 1934 with many halftone illustrations, a coloured map of Palestine, and a two-year Reading Plan to tell you which verses to read when. Today's text is Luke 7:35-50.
Next month's list
Last month's list
Labels: reading
posted by Udge @ 08:56
3 Comments:
Of those, I've read the Roth and the Roy. How did you like them, Udge?
Short answer (due to pressure of time): I liked them both and would recommend them to others.
I'm a Roth fan from way back, "Ghost Writer" pleased me well. The change of gear in the middle section was quite surprising; it was almost a pity to come back to reality at the end. And what an ending! but I bet she comes back and life goes on. "Nothing so easy to bear as the well-known Unbearable" as the poet said.
Arundhati Roy's "God of Small Things" was a fine tale, though I found it slightly show in comparison to the works of Rushdie and Rohinton Mistry; in fairness Roy had her own tale to tell and surely didn't intend to write in their style or at their pace. It must be hard for an Indian writing in English to avoid the shadow of Rushdie, much of this tale echoes his "Moor's Last Sigh".
That should have been "I found it slightly slow". Duh.
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