Watch me now!

Look at me with my bad self. Okay, but it's been awhile since only a week has passed since my last post.

Brideshead Revisited, by Evelyn Waugh. A beautifully written book about grace, the disappearing aristocracy, famly dymanics, and goodness knows what else. Very complex characters, particularly Sebastian. Was Sebastian gay? Were Charles and Sebastian more than just "friends." How can Bridey get religion so wrong. He embodies much that is wrong with religion.

All of the characters changed; Nanny Hawkins is mostly the constant against whom all others are measured. In the end, Lord Marchmain seems to accept the religion he spent so much of his married life rejecting and even Charles seems more open to God's grace.

I tried to negotiate for a used copy of this book. The bookseller refused to give on the price because she rarely gets in used copies. "People tend to hang on to their copies." I have a better understanding of why.

Finally . . .

The Satanic Verses, by Salman Rushdie. Through most of this book, I felt like the ignoramus who visits an art museum. He knows the artwork is expensive, important, provocative, and so on. But he just doesn't get it. The back of The Satanic Verses described the book as erudite. I'm sure that's it. I'm now "erudite" enough to understand the allegory. The prose was beautiful. Salman's command of the language is quite impressive. Parts of it were laugh-out-loud funny. And there were many parts that were quite enjoyable.

I actually finished the book yesterday. Sleeping on it has helped me understand the interplay between good and evil and the fact that both dwell within individuals. I think I'll try to find time to review it so that I can pick up more than what I did in the six weeks it took me to finish it.

Either way, it will probably be awhile before I pick up Midnight's Children. BoilerBaby 1 loved that book, but I'll have to mentally prepare for it. Sort of like getting ready to run a marathon.

The Bridge of San Luis Rey, by Thornton Wilder. Jack McCoy reads The Bridge of San Luis Rey! That's what this audio book, read by Sam Waterston. A short book, about the lives of five people who died when a bridge collapsed, it raises questions about the nature of God and whether we can truly understand it, as well as reminds us how little we really know about the people we see and interact with daily. The story was set in a small community; everyone knew each other, at least by name. But yet they really didn't entirely. Complex lives in a simple setting. It was a beautiful story. Would have been better had it not been read by Sam Waterston.

Currently: Listening to Lolita. Started reading Brideshead Revisited.