Books, I've read a few

But then again, too few to mention. Dang it, I'll mention them anyway. Here's what I've been reading the last few weeks.

The Great Gatsby by Nicki Greenberg
What, not by F. Scott Fitzgerald?? No, this is a graphic adaptation of the book by an Australian comic artist. Go Aussie! I am in the minority of people who were never made to read the original in high school. I'm glad I wasn't, because I seldom enjoy books I am forced to read, and it would have ruined this fine book for me. It's such a sad, nostalgic story. Heartbreaking in the way the characters reach out for human contact yet always fall back to loneliness and isolation. How appropriate for them to be depicted as odd little frogs, seahorses, and other less identifiable creatures. I was given this book to celebrate Willie Nelson's 75th birthday. Thank very much! I really enjoyed reading it. And since it was free, it's value:price ratio is infinite! If this book was a type of cheese it would be vintage cheddar.

Flak by Michael Veitch
A book of interviews with World War II air force veterans about their wartime exploits written by a comedian. I'm sure there's more to him than that (and this book does indeed reveal a little of that) but it's an odd concept that must have raised some eyebrows in the publishing world. There are some amazing stories told here, but the book is ultimately very frustrating because you're left wanting to know more about these men and how they really felt about what happened. Too often the focus is on the equipment and hardware being used, and a blow by blow account of the action, a bit like a storyboard for a movie, then the author ends the chapter with an empty observation like, "I couldn't help wondering whether Reg had really ever left the war behind." Why didn't you ask him them? It's as if he was so in awe of their physical courage (and blind luck) that he doesn't dare to direct the conversation. I really wanted to know more about what happened to these men, and their wives, after the action was over. Again, I was given this book, so in theory its value:price ratio is infinite. But only a small infinity like aleph-null, not a large one. If this book was a watch it would be a Casio digital (with a light!).

Why I Write by George Orwell
Actually a collection of four essays, the longest of which is "The Lion and the Unicorn". Written in the throes of World War II, it presents a detailed and cogent argument for why Britain must become a socialist republic if it is to have any chance of winning the war. Detailed, cogent, and ultimately mistaken. Still, it's a fascinating read. Orwell correctly foresees the decline of the classed society in its more outlandish forms but gets the cause wrong. He believed that capitalism would never be able to compete with a directed economy because of the wasted resources being diverted to produce ladies' stockings etc to make money for the rich. As it turns out, capitalism crushed the Axis completely while Macy's in New York held record-breaking sales at the same time. In his defence, Orwell did not foresee Operation Barbarossa and the brutal war in the east that ultimately saw Western Europe effectively liberated by the Russians fighting in Ukraine and Poland. Of the other essays in the book, "Politics and the English Language" is worth reading. It's a call for clear, simple, and honest speech and writing, and I think I will re-read it many times in the future. If this book was a car it would be a Leyland P-76

Travels With My Aunt by Graham Greene
Finally finished reading this, after detouring through about 4 other books. Disappointing. And strange. It began as a very British dry comedy about the conservative bank manager out of his depth when travelling with his outrageous elderly aunt. It morphs halfway through into a melancholy Gatsby-ish meditation on life and loss. Not quite sure what was really going on in old Graham's head when he wrote this. If this book was an item of clothing it would be culottes.

The Human Factor by Graham Greene
On the other hand, this book is fantastic. It conveys perfectly the "us and them" mentality of the world of secret squirrels, where those inside the "business", including your adversaries, are more trusted than those outside, including your own family and friends. It's very dark, with several characters verging on psychopathic behaviour in their complete uncaring disregard for the consequences of their actions for other people. I found it had convincing explanations for the byzantine machinations of international espionage while at the same time emphasizing the dreary bureaucratic nature of it all. If this book was a flower it would be a protea.

I am currently reading The Spare Room by Helen Garner. I read Joe Cinque's Consolation a few years ago and thought it was interesting but not compelling, so I was a bit dubious about trying this. My fears were groundless. This is a very very good book. More to come...