Whatcha Readin' While ILB is on the Rocks?

"The Mark of Zorro", the original pulp serial from 1919 (in a nifty-looking Penguin Classics edition - I like the way their doing more 'classic' pulp in this series). Only 50 pages in, but it's fun. Strangely surprised that in the book, his mask is full-face, rather than just over the eyes.

Here's what I've read so far in December. Kind of heavier on mysteries than usual.

Gore Vidal- Lincoln
Janwillem van de Wetering- Maine Massacre
Gore Vidal- Empire
Minette Walters- Acid Row
PG Wodehouse- Ukridge
Stuart Woods- The Run
Gore Vidal- 1876
Gore Vidal- Hollywood
PG Wodehouse- Do Butlers Burgle Banks?
Robert Tannenbaum- Irresistible Impulse
Howard Swindle- Jitter Joint
PG Wodehouse- Right Ho, Jeeves
Anne Tyler- Back When We Were Grownups
Leo Tolstoy- The Cossacks
Gore Vidal- Smithsonian Institute

Now in the middle of Lisey's Story by Stephen King. It's weird.

A book on sex crimes, a book on the porn industry, some Elle Decor hardcover that I got for Christmas. When I'm not sick as a dog.

Is it the porn and sex crimes that made you sick?

I'm reading Vico's "New Science" in the new year.

'Les Bienveillantes' by Jonathan Littell.

Finished Twain's Roughing It. Not sure what to read next, though I've got a few ideas.

Working on:
Melville-The Confidence Man
Intimate Nights: The Golden Age of New York Cabaret
Lionel Trilling-Sincerity and Authenticity

Since the last time that I posted:

A large Norton volume of Percy Shelley's poetry, as well as a couple of cantos from Byron's Don Juan. I was not overly impressed by much of it.

A failed attempt at reading Emma -- I only managed to finish the first volume.

Wittgenstein's Philosophical Investigations, which was very compelling and full of interesting insights. Also, one of the more demanding reading experiences that I have had in some time.

Four of Christopher Marlowe's plays, of which my favorite was Dr. Faustus. That bit about the fellow riding his horse into the water and then demanding a refund was hilarious. The dramatic excess of his plays is a strongpoint for me.

In process/Coming up:

The Caxton version of Le Morte D'Arthur, which is a long-term reading project.

Plays by Shakespeare and Aeschylus.

Wittgenstein's On Certainty, when I can find it in the coming week.

Don Juan is funny enough, at least for a few books, or at least so I remember it.

Colin, do you have the updated version? I am reading the original of Intimate Nights now.

Yeah, I got the reprint. I picked it up because there are a few passages about my great-uncle, who ran a cabaret in the 70s/80s, but I'm really enjoying the whole thing so far.

I am happy to read all the good words on Powers: I have The Echo Maker in my precarious TBR pile and plan to order The Gold Bug Variations which is the book I really wanted to start with but no store had it in-stock and the library had this huge hardcover.

And I'm getting the Penguin Russian Short Stories collection tomorrow too. Right now I'm reading Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim in a final surrender to Sedaris mania and Pamuk's My Name is Red for a book club.

I am about 150pp into Against The Day (my maternity leave big read) and enjoying it muchly thus far. Mildly distracted by the fact that my cat has become totally obsessed with this book and keeps chewing the corners and nuzzling the pages while I'm trying to read (if I'm not reading it, she just sits on it).

stein, 'blood on the dining room floor'
linda williams, 'hard core'

Arethusa: Powers, Russian Short Stories, Sedaris - all excellent!

Am reading Gerard Woodward's 'August' now, which I'm loving, though I'm getting to the very bleak (but still very funny) parts. Before that I reading henning Mankell's 'Depths', which reminded me of a subzero (literally and emotionally) Tom Ripley, and the Persephone books reissue of the clever and gripping 'The Expendable Man' by Dorothy hughes.

Persephone Books is an excellent establishment, as is Serpent's Tail and Virago: three of my favourites!

I finished the Sedaris yesterday and have started John McGahern's Amongst Women. I read about his works in the TLS and thought he sounded like someone I'd want to read. I was right. His clear, authentic, piercing style makes a deep impression on me. I always feel sad that I learn about such great authors after their death.