After looking at this book in a library last week, I decided to do a little research on Joseph Conrad. We own some of his works, but have never read one that I know of ( assigned reading of a short story or novella in school is always possible.) In my mind I placed him with Melville and London, without knowing anything about him or his writing style. I vaguely recalled the film Apocalypse Now was based on Conrad's Heart of Darkness (which is in my bookcase.) I didn't know that he was a British author, a Polish author who learned his perfect English in his twenties. John Updike died. One of my favorite short stories, A&P was written by him. I read it when I was a very young teen, with great interest. And yet I never continued on, to see what his novels were like. Someone even gave me a copy of The Witches of Eastwick and I lost it before opening it. I think I left it in a cab. (If I ever got back all the things I left in cabs I'd have a big pile of hats, gloves, scarves, umbrellas, about twenty eight books, and one nice jacket.) Anyway, Updike wrote a lot of novels, I should put at least one of them on my library list.
To all the books I have not read, I cannot fit you in my head, I know you're on the shelf, and I often tell myself, I'll get to you one day...
--sung to the tune of --To all the Girls I've Loved Before-- (Willie Nelson & Julio Iglesias. ) Here's Johnny Carson messing with Julio & the song.
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8 comments:
John Updike was a fine writer (although Carver is still my fav. short story writer)
Conrad was a good Polish Boy!!!Although Im not sure you can tell from his writing.He seemed to have adopted an English Imagination along with the English language (not a bad thing,although a little curious)
I liked Lord Jim. But The Secret Agent is my favorite.
My mom is sad about Updike. First thing she said - "He was so young!"
The problem with trying to fit another book on your list are the new books that are currently being written ;) Classics are good but ...
There is still not enough time,hahaha
I was just thinking today, that in some new novels, Obama will be the President mentioned. (as I scanned a novel that mentioned Reagan in passing.) Also new novels often mention a song being played the background-- and you know exactly --there's a nice comfort to that-- novels written in 1900 --the details are so different.
Had to come back and tell you I've been singing the song with your words all day! Fit in with my post as well!
I find that library résumé of Lord Jim pretty funny.
'What's your story about, Mr Conrad?"
- "Oh, it tells of a man's attempt to live with himself following an act of cowardice."
(I'm laughing.)
Now, the A & P story I hadn't read before and it's probably my favorite bit of Updike (I never finished The Witches of Eastwick, by the way, so I can't give you the library résumé on it, so sorry.)
Willie Nelson & Julio Iglesias. Singing together. My world will never be the same.
Carry on, A R. There's never a dull moment on your blog.
I was hooked on his Rabbit books at one time...Sorry to hear of his passing...
I'm currently reading Schlink's The Reader and Obama's Audacity of Hope...Schlink's is dark and complex, and I am now living Obama's, which I think will be far more interesting than fiction.
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