Now reading: I know this book has been reissued, but I am a sucker for these old New Canadian Library editions- probably because of my childhood memories, as my parents had many of these.

In which I mention multiple masterpieces and malign many mediocrities:

There were also some birthday books:

My daughter’s commitment to her tradition of giving me a Frankenstein themed birthday present every year is truly impressive.

During grad school, I spent the better part of a summer with this book, and it came to mean a lot to me. Fortunately, I didn’t read the whole thing, so there is still more to look forward to.

A lot has been said about Del Toro’s questionable choices in his Frankenstein, but if you really want to talk about questionable choices, I have just the movie for you:

Thinking about Brian Moore because of nonsuchbook.bsky.social and because he is finally up next for me, 6 years after the Nov 2019 library sale when I bought many of his books. At the time ds228.bsky.social teased me that I wouldn’t get to the M shelf for 3 years. He massively overestimated me.

Christmas books. Some of you may note how heavily my wish list was influenced by conversations on here:

For some strange reason, it has become a family tradition to go to the local zoo first thing Christmas morning to sing “Feliz Navidad” to the meerkats. This year, we had some very patient tortoises in the audience as well.

Now reading: I bought this lovely volume the last time I was in Montreal. (Mental note: go back to Montreal some day)

Now Reading. I started this book on a flight from Ottawa to Halifax in 2016 and never got back to it. This is my whole problem in a nutshell!

Back to my classic Canlit (although I’m not sure I’ve ever read a book with the words “#1 Bestseller” on the cover before)

Nothing against Del Toro, but this is the Frankenstein I need right now.

Blue Jays exceeded expectations by so much this year… which in a way makes this loss even more painful.

My heart can’t take much more of this.

The fact that their #8 hitter just set a post-season record for hits says everything about the Jays’ depth.

Now listening: And the devil asked me to supper - he said “Careful with the spoons!” And God said “Oh, ignore him! I’ve got all your albums.” I said “Yes, but who’s got all the tunes?” (“When I Was Dead”)

Now watching: Henri-Georges Clouzot’s La Verite (1960) including a courtroom discussion of the corrupting power of literature.

New arrivals

Leigh Hunt’s political commentary from 1807 still seems relevant somehow (from Prospectus to the Examiner)

I know this is usually my secret distress signal, but I really am reading another book *that was written in this century*. Holding @ds228.bsky.social responsible for this one.

Now reading: bawdy Jacobean comedy (A Chaste Maid in Cheapside)

Now reading: my favourite neglected Victorian poet

Could not park here as I was unable to achieve the requisite angle.

Now reading:

Question for crime fiction readers: can you suggest anything that might appeal to someone who likes writers such as Val McDermid and Ian Rankin? Looking for something for someone who is quite well read in the genre, so I’d particularly welcome new or obscure recommendations.

Matthew Lewis (of all people) taking a shot at Homer (of all people!) (from Journal of a West India Proprietor)

18th century zinger about the bookish (from Hannah Cowley’s Which is the Man? -1782)

Every year, my #WITMonth goals get increasingly modest (and I still fail to meet them). Surely, I can manage one book, though, right?

Next up: I must admit that I have never read Cormac McCarthy, as I have had the vague feeling that he might not really be my sort of thing. Only one way to find out though…

More new additions

Was feeling nostalgic so ordered some 19th century novels from my favourite local publisher (as one does)

Maupassant, Mauriac, and now Maurois… I have reached a very French part of my shelves.

OK, I never do these, but I can’t resist this one. Favourite film from many decades: 20s The General 30s Grand Illusion 40s Citizen Kane 50s Rear Window 60s Cleo from 5 to 7 70s O Lucky Man 80s I’ve Heard the Mermaids Singing 90s Night on Earth 00s Pan’s Labyrinth 10s Phoenix 20s Poor Things

Next up: an old school recommendation from @ds228.bsky.social

Recent arrivals

This week I received the best kind of book mail- unexpected book mail! (From a relative in the UK who can only send small books)

Still on a Kurosawa kick. Enjoyed this one, though I’d be tempted to call it more of an anti-samurai film.

Next up: a book notable for two reasons: 1) The oldest recommendation in my reading project, having come from a friend in high school (over 30 years ago). 2) The cover! Which is kind of awesome in its sheer inappropriateness.

Recent arrivals (no, I have no idea how they got here)

It’s tough to disagree with archy’s take on humanity right now

Now reading: the greatest work of American poetry (will die on this hill).

Started reading this about 25 years ago, and am only about halfway through, which I figure is a rate of about 2 Years of Solitude per year. Needless to say, I’m starting over.

Finally used the gift cards I’d been hoarding for the last year or so.

Spending some time with everybody’s favourite spy/bar fighter/guy who definitely didn’t write Shakespeare’s plays.

Had not read Marias before, though I have often seen him recommended by folks on here. Not sure if this was the best place to start with him, but it’s what I had and is quite a remarkable story, so I’m interested in reading more. Any recommendations?

If you like authors whose names begin with the letter “L” (mostly), have I got a post for you! Thanks to Dorian for enabling me to write about my quixotic project for 6 years now.

Great book, love the cover, and really love the idea that one could once buy a book for $1.95 Canadian.

Having listened to about 20 different versions of the song during my Dylan retrospective, this seems like a good book to dig into now.

Can’t remember who here recommended this (*looks vaguely in the direction of causticcovercritic.bsky.social *) but this is a phenomenal book.