Monday, December 03, 2007

Shirley Hazzard

I wrote on 27th November that a short novel  - The Bay of Noon - I had read by Shirley Hazzard 'bears comparison with the sublime Marilynne'.  I have just finished The Great Fire. I say 'finished' rather too calmly - so overpowering was the book that it actually seemed possible I might not be able to read the last three pages. But I did and sobbed copiously. It left me with the absolute certainty that I am not good enough in almost every imaginable way. This is a good thing. I have advised Nige to take a couple of days off after completing it. Shirley Hazzard - the real thing.

3 comments:

  1. soft lad.

    still, sounds like something else to put in the missus' stocking this xmas. along with the Terry's Orange and the Eau de Kylie Minogue.

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  2. Rather sounds like that book finished you. After your last gushing post, I nipped into Amazon and ordered The Transit of Venus. I'll let you know what I think about it or how I feel about myself when I've read it.

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  3. Do you often blub over books, Bryan? Or is this a rare moment?

    The only book ever to reduce me tears in adult life, as far as I can remember, is Clarissa. And that wasn't just the relief at having made it through!

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