A Few More Books.

As I mentioned in my last blog post, I've fallen behind on my reading during the past few months. With Hangover Square by Patrick Hamilton, I hope to get back up to speed.

Upon finishing Hangover Square I began reading a book recommended by Christine Rosen on the Commentary Magazine podcast, Out by Japanese writer, Natsuo Kirino. Being a Japanese mystery/detective novel makes Out exactly what I'm looking for.

As I write this post, I am 50% in. I should be finished before long. There are more twists and turns in the story than I expected and I have absolutely no clue as to how the book will end.

I also mentioned in my last post that my PC had been acting up. While trying to get it back up to normal, I transferred quite a few ebooks to my phone. I'd have plenty to read if my PC continued to give me problems. Now that I'm back to reading, I'm going to read the ebooks in the order in which they come up on my phone app.. These means the next two books following Out will be The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories by Angela Carter and Dracula by Bram Stoker. I last read Dracula in 2016. I'd been watching newer film versions and decided I'd reread the book. I don't recall how I came upon Angela Carter's book. Looks to be a bit spooky.

My Return

It's been ages since I've last published a blog post......not since April 2, 2025 as a matter of fact.

There are a number of reasons why I've neglected the blog. First of all, there was a problem with my PC. It took quite some time to get it running and I still don't know if it's completely up to where it should be.

Also, I've not been reading as much as I had been doing in the past. Since that last blog post, I've only read nine books; fewer in nine months than had been my usual number for just one month.

In April, I read three books by Ed McBain: Lady Killer - Killer's Wedge and 'Til Death.

I managed two by Donna Leon in April and May:Transient Desires and Give Unto Others. In June, I read Pope Leo XIII's Encyclicals and reread The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle.

Only one book in July: Starry Messenger by Neil deGrasse Tyson .

From July 04 until December 21 I only managed to read one: Hangover Square by Patrick Hamilton.

I don't recall exactly how I came upon Hangover Square but I'm glad I did. The novel is dark and intense. It is considered by critics to be Hamilton' best work. According to wikipedia, the novel is

Set against the backdrop of the days preceding Britain declaring war on Germany, the main character is George Harvey Bone, a lonely borderline alcoholic who has a form of dissociative identity disorder, referred to in the text as a "dead mood".

When the novel was written,"dissociative identity disorder" would have been called "multiple personalities".

I'm hoping with this post, I'll return to blogging and after Hangover Square, I'll return to reading as often as I did in the past.