-
in which peter cameron attempts to remember the books he’s read before he forgets them
The publisher and date listed always refer to the edition of the book that I read; illustrations are chosen for the graphic appeal and may not correspond to the edition that is cited. Photographs are always of the author (unless otherwise indicated).
-
a sensible life
A Sensible Life by Mary Wesley (Viking, 1990)
Odd, because of its uncanny similarity to The Camomile Lawn in terms of tone, character, and plot. Although the world of the book spans decades and continents, it seems comprised of only a dozen people who consistently re-encounter one another by coincidence. But, like CL, charmingly readable and engaging, and the characters are vivid and sympathetic. There’s something crude about Wesley’s novels, an authorial directness and lack of subtlety that gives them a slightly cartoonish vibrancy a la Tin Tin. And the pleasures thereof.
-
the troubled midnight
The Troubled Midnight by Rodney Garland (Coward-McCann, 1954)
A postwar English thriller centered upon homosexual traitors in the Foreign Office. Narrated by an (unconvincingly) straight novelist whose interest in the homo world only goes so far. Set in London, Paris, and Marseilles, the book is rather low on suspense (they get away) but has some good specific descriptions of the three cities. Readable but unrewarding.
-
butterfly man
Butterfly Man by Lew Levenson (Castle Books, 1967)
An interesting but unpleasant and unrewarding book about a handsome and talented boy who leaves Selma, Texas to pursue a career as a dancer in vaudeville and on Broadway. The fact that our hero is thoroughly unlikeable and a chronic alcoholic makes him impossible to care about, so one reads for interesting glimpses of gay life in the theater world during the 1920s.
-
memorable days
Memorable Days by James Salter and Robert Phelps (Counterpoint, 2010)
Letters from the correspondence of these two writers from 1970 – 1980. Loving and lovely letters, and a nice glimpse into the working lives of Salter and Phelps. But something sad at the heart of it all: the disappointed literary expectations, the inevitable distance — geographical, emotional, physical — between the two men. Salter’s life apparently as wondrous and luxurious as it seems. -
the twin
The Twin by Gerbrand Bakker translated by David Colmer (Archipelago Books, 2009)
A strange, lovely novel set in Holland and narrated by a solitary man suffering the absence (death) of his beloved twin brother. Caring (or not) for his elderly father and his psuedo-nephew and the animals on his dairy farm, he slowly finds a life that is his alone.
-
the diary of a country priest
Diary of a Country Priest by Georges Bernanos (Doubleday, 1964)
An odd, difficult book that ultimately flickers into heartbreaking life. The dying priest is a very humble, engaging character who surprises himself (and the reader) with his depths of feeling and wisdom.
-
disgrace
Disgrace by J. M. Coetzee (Secker & Warburg, 1999)
Sad, broken lives in a sad, broken country. Coetzee brilliantly interweaves the dehumanizing distances between race and gender and generations. Brilliantly refractive and elegantly composed. I thought the subplot regarding the Byron opera the only false, forced note, not sufficiently tied to the character or the narrative. Also watched the movie (written by Anna Maria Monticelli and directed by Steve Jacobs) with John Malkovich which is intelligently and beautifully made. -
the house in paris
The House in Paris by Elizabeth Bowen (Knopf, 1949)
A wonderful book, whose beauty and clarity of observation is almost excruciating. Two forsaken children cross paths for a day in a house in Paris. As a character Karen Michaelis, mother of Leopold, seemed somewhat blank, under-developed. But everything else here was extraordinarily alive and beautifully wrought.
-
sons and lovers
Sons and Lovers by D. H. Lawrence (Penguin, 1981)
Paul Morrel and his mother Gertrude, both fascinating and complex characters passionately brought to life by Lawrence’s profound psychological scrutiny. Honest writing about love and sex, and some beautiful descriptions of landscape and flora.
-
holiday
Holiday by Michael Power (Cassell, 1962)
A wonderfully engaging and unique novel narrated by a 16-year-old boy (Jeremy) on a two-month beach holiday with his sister, grandmother, aunt and uncle. All the characters are complexly realized, the writing is bracing, and the peculiar world of 60s South Africa comes vividly alive. At times the anguished, angry clarity of the voice resulted in a beautiful or humorous turn of phrase that brought to mind Denton Welch. Would like to read more by this interesting author.
