Whatcha Readin' While ILB is on the Rocks?

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.