Waiting for the Mechanic
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Alongside Ushuaia I got a little bit of painting and varnishing done in the patches of sunshine in between the passing showers, finished reading Hamson’s “Hunger”, what a great book! It reminded me of something between Dostoyevsky’s “Notes from the Underground” and George Orwell’s “Down and Out in London and Paris”. In the introduction the translator, Robert Bly, compares it with Dostoyevsky’s “Crime and Punishment” (at one time my favourite book) which I do not dispute, nonetheless there is a strong spontaneous anarchic element which reminds me of the hero in NFTU. Isaac Bashevis Singer (I have heard of this guy but can’t place him, who is he?) says in his intro “The whole modern school of fiction in the twentieth century stems from Hamsun, just as Russian literature in the nineteenth century ‘came out of Gogol’s greatcoat.’ They were all Hamsun’s disciples: Thomas Mann and Arthur Schnitzler . . . and even such American writers as Fitzgerald and Hemingway.” A pretty big wrap but while I get annoyed with the hyperbolic blurbs adorning most dust jackets, in this case I will accept the judgment though am not well read enough to be able to offer my own opinion. I have a book by Gogol on board I have been wanting to read, “Dead Souls” but have not had the courage to begin it yet. Maybe soon. And now I am waiting for The Mechanic to show up, He was supposed to be here at 4 p.m., then I was told 6 p.m., it is now just after 6 so hopefully He will show soon. All is well. Bob Cat: Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. |