November Reading
The Years of Victory Arthur Bryant
I read about half of this precursor to The Age of Elegance, the sequel of which is Years of Victory, both of which I was able to download, Iliad having for once come up empty. It’s wonderful up to the sad Death of Nelson, which saves Britain at the same time as Napoleon’s military genius at Austerlitz against the hapless Austrians condemns the Continent to ten more years of his dictatorship. But of course the coarse Corsican can’t resist hurling himself on those Russians and their endless Empire, which causes the eventual death of his. Excellent history if like me that is your bag.
The Last Kind Words Saloon Larry McMurtry
Larry McMurtry is some kind of genius. I always enjoyed reading him. You look at his list of titles and he has an incredible run from Evening Star, through Texasville, through Lonesome Dove, The Desert Rose, Cadillac Jack on to Terms of Endearment and The Last Picture Show. An amazing writer of effortless stories, his people spring to life from the page, his characters fighting in and out of bed… This one is almost mythical in the way he handles Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday, so that the O.K.Corrall comes up at you almost unexpectedly so used to their company have you become. Yes, definitely some kind of genius.
Mr. Hire’s Engagement Georges Simenon
An exquisite early detective tale, without Maigret but in the same milieu. An innocent man is hounded to his death by police and public. The amazing part of the story is the relationship between Mr Hire and the killer’s girlfriend. The ambivalence, the use of sex to entrap him, Simenon is brilliant, honest and original.
The Vanity Fair Diaries Tina Brown
Tina Brown is wonderful and I was sorry I missed her talk with Bruce Wagner in LA. This is not as great a book as The Diana Chronicles because while it fascinatingly charts the amazing rise and rise of Vanity Fair under her editorship, once that has been achieved we are left with a series of social events with New Yorkers, some fascinating, some brilliant, some merely rich. I found I began to skim the latter category. She is fascinated with the man who will provide the end game on Reagan Presidencies, but to be fair, in the mid-eighties, who could have foreseen that Donald Trump would be in the White House, even for dinner? As the Reagans passed from the scene the pursuit of money seemed to replace the pursuit of happiness. Perhaps that all went up the nose in Studio 54 in the Seventies. Her achievement in resuscitating an almost dead magazine title and making it hip and smart and funny and readable is clearly and determinedly and modestly described in her extraordinary well-written diary. So I enjoyed the book but it is what it is, and unless you are fascinated by just how the wealthy designed their next party you should be prepared to skip. Certainly worth it.
Ma’am Darling (99 Glimpses of Princess Margaret) Craig Brown
The glimpses go from early intrigue, through contempt for her, through to eventual pity. A sad life in many ways and surely her greatest accolade was that she ended up as The Pantomime Princess Margaret appearing at all our live Monty Python shows in the Royal Box. We actually once stayed at her house on Mustique with David Bowie and Iggy Pop when the chartered Yacht didn’t show up for a week. She wasn’t there of course. Very beautiful Oliver Messel bungalow in the most exquisite setting.
Our Kind of Traitor John Le Carré
I was enjoying re-reading this about two innocents recruited on holiday in Antigua to deal with a proposed Russian Mafiosi defector. I felt the same this time, that it sags after the Paris tennis scenes, indeed once the two leave the centre of the action. Nevertheless some great stuff.
The Golden House Salman Rushdie
Possibly the most peculiar experience I have ever had reading. I was quietly enjoying Salman’s latest when I entered the novel! Most disconcerting and slightly scary. I was so shocked it took me a while to go back to the book. The anonymity that you are guaranteed as a reader was ripped away and I realise how much we are dependent on that. We sit in the dark and respond but don’t interfere and that is the implicit contract between writer and reader. When that is gone it is rather like being discovered on the toilet. A most unique and interesting lesson. When I wrote to him Salman hoped it was a happy surprise. I think I’m still a bit shocked…
My lawyer wanted to charge him for appearing in his book, which I thought was pretty funny.
The Rub of Time Martin Amis
More fascinating articles from the most fascinating writer. Dip at will and you will find gold.
