Brian > Recent Status Updates

A re-read, and I think I’m thinking even more highly of it than the first read. The “grass is greener” through line is really well done, and surprisingly apropos in a tale incorporating myth and a little bit of magic.

“southern Spain has the highest ratio of metaphor to reality of any place I’ve ever known.” I don’t believe I’ve ever thought of Zadie Smith and Hemingway at the same time… on reflection, if I had, it would have been to reflect, “This is exactly the opposite of how Hemingway would think and write about this topic”, but that’s a pretty Hemingway-esque turn of phrase and still classic Zadie Smith.

Damn. Lots to reflect on, with reasons to lament for our future, lament for our past, and hold out hope. Plus a fairly impressive creation in the author’s own version of metaphysics. Overall, impressive and excellent, though it’s still a bit overwhelming.

When I was reading about young Holly running away at the beginning of the book, I was not expecting a concise, bleak, and accurate view on the invasion of Iraq 1/3 of a book later, but here I am, equally engrossed.

Okay, that was a pretty major shift, so I’m curious where this is going. Also, I was giving Hugo the benefit of the doubt that he was just a really mediocre guy, but it turns out he’s a terrible, terrible guy.