Forcing the pace

Books Read Since Last Post: 13


W. Dalrymple, The Last Mughal: The Fall of a Dynasty, Delhi, 1857
K. Desai, The inheritance of loss
R. Gunesekera, Monkfish Moon
_____ The Sandglass
E. Gibbon, The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, vol.4
M.M. Kaye, The Far Pavilions
R. Knox, A historical account of captivity in Ceylon
C. Muller, The Jam Fruit Tree
V.S. Naipaul, In a Free State
_____ A bend in the river
_____ An area of darkness
M. Ondaatje, Running in the Family
R. Prawer Jhabvala, In Search of Love and Beauty


Not a long post. Just to update on my reading while away. The standouts for me were Gibbbon (who is as good as he is meant to be, though in many ways superceded), Dalrymple and Genesekara's Monkfish moon. All excellent. I was disappointed by Desai and Naipaul, especially An area of darkness.


I sense an impasse developing on the progress of vol 2; so I suggest that we aim to all be wrapped up by Christmas, and recommence on New Year's day. I can think of no better book to read hungover and on limited sleep than Proust....

Can I also suggest we discipline ourselves to post at least every 3 weeks on progress thereafter, even if none has been made.