What I'm Reading (And Not Reading)

Since I abandoned The Satanic Verses part way through I've also abandoned In The Shape of a Boar and The Black Book. I was thinking this was because I've grown blase about not finishing novels (ars longa, vita brevis) but then realized it's also because I've been choosing to read outside my comfort zone.  The Black Book taught me a lot about Turkey- ancient and modern- and was a chore from beginning to (near the) end. It's odd how you can become a revered- even classic- novelist and not know (or care) about story-telling. 

The books I have managed to finish in the past week or two have all been by Henning Mankell. I suppose I identify with Wallander. Last night's nasty episode-when I lay awake and fretted about growing old and lonely and helpless- may well have had something to do with him. 

Panhandlers

Saturday is when the panhandlers are out in force. We were leaving Asda when Ailz got snagged by a woman recruiting for the Friends of the Canal and River Trust. If I understood the spiel they're sort of like the National Trust only for wet stuff. If I'd been the one who got snagged I'd have smiled and made my excuses but Ailz is made of gentler stuff. We're now members. I suppose I'm happy about it. I like canals. They're photogenic.

I left Ailz in the car at B & Q. On the way in I was greeted by a member of staff who was raffling a hideous garden ornament for some good cause or other. I was polite but firm. On the way out I had to run the gauntlet of a bunch of sad looking, uniformed young people with buckets. They were collecting for the Air Cadets. I'm not at all sure I approve of the Air Cadets. Kids should be hanging out on street corners outraging the middle-aged, not learning to be instruments of the State. I put my head down, clutched my bag of compost to my chest and hurried past.