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Reading Slothfully
I was told in elementary school that I only could read at half the speed for success in college. Oh well, one benefit of slow reading is you get to live with the characters a longer period of time. I read in a vain attempt to better understand people. At my other homes, I'm known as a spouse, pop, guy in the choir, physical chemist, computer/web dilettante and child-care provider. In theory, I'm a published author, if you consider stuff like Quenching Cross Sections for Electronic Energy Transfer Reactions Between Metastable Argon Atoms and Noble Gases and Small Molecules to count as publications. I've strewn dozens of such fascinating things to the winds.
Currently reading
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas
The Spirit of the Border
Ramona the Brave (Ramona, #3)
The Underground Man (Vintage Crime/Black Lizard)
Delilah of the Snows
Mrs. Miniver
Betsy-Tacy Treasury (P.S.)
A Christmas Carol
The Way Some People Die
Envy of Angels
Hangover Square
We have a collection of 100, old B&W films, mystery and thriller kinds of things mostly. Well, we had such a collection. My spouse has since thrown them out. But, she waited until I'd see one last one, Gas Light, based on a play by Patrick Hamilton. After seeing the movie, which I thought was quite good, I wanted to read the original play. I couldn't find a copy in a readable form that didn't require oodles more cash from my pockets than I felt willing to dole out. So, the only thing by Patrick Hamilton, whom I was informed was once considered to be rather a shining light in literary circles, that I could find was Hangover Square, i.e. this book. I may finish the book one day, but I doubt it.
So, basically, we have the ravings of a schizophrenic alcoholic, George Bone, who is besotted by a small-time actress, Netta, who is little interested in him. In fact, her only interest in him is that he'll provide free drinks. Bone can't decide whether he wants to carry Netta off to a stone cottage in the countryside, or kill her.
Well, after dozens and dozens of pages of this crap, I cried uncle and read something else, an old western featuring Hopalong Cassidy. Then I tried some more of this book, and quickly found something else to read.
It's really quite deadly stuff. I'm sure it's well done, if you care to read about the ravings of a schizo/alky bent on murder, but I'm not sure I am.
