Absence

Page: n/a
Pages read since last post: 0
Days elapsed reading Proust: 30 (23, 7)
Books read since last Post: 4 (R.W. Johnson, South Africa, C. Thubron, In Siberia, L.
MacNeice, Autumn Journal, J. Roth, The White Cities)

I remain smug, though less so this morning as I am freezing in my house while a may fixes my radiators. However, that will pass. I post to highlight two absences.

1) I am off to the Raj tomorrow, and will not be taking Proust with me. I return on the 3rd, ready for action. I am taking the opportunity to take a pile of Indian and Sri Lankan writing with me and will report back.

2) More seriously, if we can characterise my absence as with leave, Alexis must surely be without. For this blog must have posts or it will shrivel and die or loneliness, which, while a true Proustian sentiment, is not the point. I demand posting.

Since Proust I have also read a fine crop of books. With the exception of the Thubron (which was fine), all the above books are excellent. Roth and MacNeice are prticularly fine, though both lend themselves to reading in small sections rather than at once. Roth makes me want to go to the Midi as soon as possible and I am hastily rearranging my holidays for next year.