- The Class Reunion by Franz Werfel
- The Image of Her by Simone de Beauvoir
- Nothing to Be Rescued by Asta Sigurdardottir
- A Month in Siena by Hisham Matar
- What’s left of the night by Ersi Sotiropoulos
- The Splendor of Portugal by António Lobo Antunes
- The silence by Don DeLillo
- The Yellow Sofa by Eça de Queirós
- Cement by Fyodor Vasilievich Gladkov
- The Fatal Eggs by Mikhail Bulaglov
- Carry on Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse
- The Polygots by William Gehardie
I didn’t do a round-up of the two books I read in September, after Amanda’s heart attack. I didn’t get to post, and yesterday, Amanda had her stent put in. So touch wood, everything will start getting back to normal now. Anyway, in September, I read a lost classic by Franz Werfel and a book that seems more apt on class and image by Simone de Beauvoir, both excellent. Then, in October, I started with some modern Icelandic classics by a female writer. Then off to wander Siena, talk to a lost father, and Art. Then, with a great poet on an eye-opening weekend in Paris. Then a family look back at the Angolan war and its effect on their family. Then, is it the end of the world? A short novella. Then Amna captures his wife with his partner in Victorian Portugal. Then, to Russia, a man returns from the war to find the factory and his wife have changed. Then we have a man discovering a ray and some animals getting loose and out of hand. Early Jeeves stories and finally an odd family observed in a lost classic. I am still behind, but I have had a productive October, reviewing 10 books and writing a couple of other posts.
Book of the months
The Splendor of Portugal by António Lobo Antunes
He is one of my favourite writers, and I still have one of his books to read. This captures the madness of the Angolan war, but not just that, the whole area is captured in the book. I said this is maybe a lot of Europe’s Vietnams in the way the wars unfold and the violence, etc. I have a couple more from him on my TBR.
Non-book things
One great series I watched was the new series of Slow Horses. This time, I felt it had a bit more humour in it than other series. I also have enjoyed the classic series of Dixon of Dock Green and Z Cars on Talking Pictures TV. I have been trying to cut back on my YouTube and watch series. My current series watching is Foyle’s War. Music-wise, there is a tremendous new Jeff Tweedy album. I, in fact, picked up the triple LP today. The album came out a few weeks ago, but the vinyl followed a few weeks later. I also love Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska 82, as that was my favourite album from Springsteen.
Next month
Well it is German Lit month I have a few books in mind. A few crime books a choice of Thomas Mann books. I have a lot of books I have read to review that I want to clear this month. I hope to get them removed and to review a good few books for German Lit month. I feel I am in a purple patch, blogging-wise and reading-wise.
What are your plans ?
Hope the stent goes well. Foyle’s War definitely, the attention to detail, clothes, hair, hats, to be a props girl on that. No telly now, mum’s gave up the ghost when she went into hospital along with her free TV licence, I’m a radio person
Yes the attention to detail I love in it. I like occasional radio mainly listen to a drama in bed
Hope Amanda continues to improve. And you’ve read some interesting books, too – look forward to seeing what you choose for German Lit Month!
I’ve a few books in mind
Very best wishes to Amanda – I hope her recovery goes well. I’m not surprised your reading dropped off, but when you have telly the quality of Slow Horses to watch, it kind of makes up for it a bit. I loved the latest series – his feet at the end!
Oh yes his feet some great make up well I hope lol thanks