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poliphiloI used not to re-read novels. Now I do.
In the case of Hilary Mantell's Beyond Black I gobbled it down so hungrily first time round I was afraid I hadn't done it justice. And I'm finding that's true. It's not an easy book- in terms of who, when and where- and on this second reading I'm getting all that straight in my mind. It's a tremendous book- full of grief and pity and a deep dark misanthropy I find wonderfully soothing. Very funny too. One of the great books of our age; I'm sure of it.
Otherwise, I feel as if I've read all the books I want to read- except, of course, for the new Iziguro. I'm sure that's not really true- and there will be authors out there whom I haven't met yet and whose company I'll enjoy- but right now I'm not aware of any. I tried reading a" new" author the other day- new to me I mean- and- apologies to any fans of Anya Seton who may come across this but Green Darkness is unbelievably bad.
In the case of Hilary Mantell's Beyond Black I gobbled it down so hungrily first time round I was afraid I hadn't done it justice. And I'm finding that's true. It's not an easy book- in terms of who, when and where- and on this second reading I'm getting all that straight in my mind. It's a tremendous book- full of grief and pity and a deep dark misanthropy I find wonderfully soothing. Very funny too. One of the great books of our age; I'm sure of it.
Otherwise, I feel as if I've read all the books I want to read- except, of course, for the new Iziguro. I'm sure that's not really true- and there will be authors out there whom I haven't met yet and whose company I'll enjoy- but right now I'm not aware of any. I tried reading a" new" author the other day- new to me I mean- and- apologies to any fans of Anya Seton who may come across this but Green Darkness is unbelievably bad.
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Date: 2015-03-06 08:11 pm (UTC)I've just bought a dozen Jean Plaidy novels for tuppence. I loved her historical romances in my early teens and later discovered that her historical reserach was excellent. I am a little wary of ready one now; I might be horribly disappointed.
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Date: 2015-03-06 08:23 pm (UTC)I went back to Rider Haggard's She a few years back and found it was really quite shoddy.
I was going to say that Mantell diminishes the "fiends" by explaining them- but then I thought that that's rather the point. The more Alison understands who they are- and what they did- the less power they have over her.