What are you currently reading?

[Jaakko Keskinen]

Elective Affinities by Goethe.

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Always wanted to read that one. Maybe one day... I've read that some of the material of Elective affinities was planned to appear in Wilhelm Meister's journeyman years (which I am still reading) or vice versa.

[NikF]

Always wanted to read that one. Maybe one day... I've read that some of the material of Elective affinities was planned to appear in Wilhelm Meister's journeyman years (which I am still reading) or vice versa.

Sadly, I'd never heard of the journeyman years until now. What do you think of it?

I'm certainly looking forward to reading Elective Affinities. I've also a copy of Italian Journey and I considered taking that with me, but Elective Affinities was so strongly recommended.

[Jaakko Keskinen]

Journeyman years includes dry text at times, even by Goethe's standards. Mostly I however think very highly of it. It is a sequel to more well-known Wilhelm Meister's apprenticeship, so-called Bildungsromans both in which character development is essential and that's what I like. Like with Faust preferring the latter part, so far Journeyman years seems more interesting than apprenticeship, which although I liked, was a bit too dry to my taste at points. I encounter it in journeyman years and both Faust parts too. I wonder if Goethe was getting a bit senile?

[NikF]

Journeyman years includes dry text at times, even by Goethe's standards. Mostly I however think very highly of it. It is a sequel to more well-known Wilhelm Meister's apprenticeship, so-called Bildungsromans both in which character development is essential and that's what I like. Like with Faust preferring the latter part, so far Journeyman years seems more interesting than apprenticeship, which although I liked, was a bit too dry to my taste at points. I encounter it in journeyman years and both Faust parts too. I wonder if Goethe was getting a bit senile?

I'm not very well read at all, but you've made that sound interesting. Thanks. And I hope you are eventually able to get around to reading Elective Affinities. 

[Jaakko Keskinen]

I'm not very well read at all, but you've made that sound interesting. Thanks. And I hope you are eventually able to get around to reading Elective Affinities. 

You're welcome. Thanks likewise. 

[stingo]

Slogging through (just over halfway) The Tin Drum by Guenter Grass. I know the writing is good, but I just can't get into the story or the characters.

[Drasko]

in Serbian translation

[Kontrapunctus]

[SimonNZ]

[NikF]

Henry and June by Anais Nin.

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[aligreto]

I bought this book on Monet some months ago but I am only getting around to it now....

[Spineur]

A couple of books on Myanmar

Donovan Webster "The burma road", the epic story of China-Burma-India theater during WWII

and Joseph Kessel "The valley of rubies"

I enjoyed both books

Also got Orwell
"The burmese days"
"A hanging"

But havent read them yet

[Parsifal]

Just finished The Book of Ebenezer La Page by Gerald Edwards, which was recommended by Brian. A slow burn of a novel, which is framed as the autobiography of a fictional character who was born on the island of Guernsey in the late 19th century and who lived through the two world wars and the postwar period in which the traditional culture of the island of Guernsey was swept away by modernism and tourism. A moving book.

Next up, The Wonder by Emma Donoghue.

[NikF]

I Served The King of England by Bohumil Hrabal.

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Because I've a generally sweet disposition that's allied to the most innocent countenance, strangers are often inclined to speak to me. Some weeks ago I was sitting in a charming tearoom, quietly reading a paperback while leering at one of the waitresses out the corner of my eye. An older couple at a nearby table made a show of trying to see the cover of the book. I acknowledged them and displayed the title. This sparked a friendly chat that included the recommendation of this book. 

[NikF]

Sea Adventures by Henry de Monfreid.

[Turbot nouveaux]

Cat Stories
Ed. Diana Secker Tesdell




Entertaining. The last story in this collection, by Steven Milhauser, a dead-pan account of a Tom and Jerry episode with asides,  had me laughing aloud.

[Spineur]

Still on the topic of comparative religions

[Artem]

I recently finished Moscow-Petushki by Venedikt Yerofeyev and Shatuny by Yuri Mamleev. Both books are sort of underground Soviet classics and rather grotesque. Also finished Gargoyles that is one of the earlier Thomas Bernhard's books.

[Crudblud]

Plato's Symposium translated by Christopher Gill.

[Crudblud]

Honoré de Balzac  - Lost Illusions (translated by Herbert J. Hunt)