When the troubles of the world overwhelm, read some Dumas — and the troubles of the past are there to distract you! All the terrible things that happened in the past are there to amuse and/or horrify you as entertainment. Perspective, I guess? I recently learned that Etteilla turns up as a character in Alexandre…
Category: reading
Recent Reads
I am endeavouring to be better with keeping track of my reading; unsurprisingly, much of my reading has been non-fiction like the glorious catalogue for the tarot exhibit at Accademia Carrara, which is not only full of gorgeous plates, but there are even English translations of all the essays in the back (ah, those blue…
Reading into the New Year
I’ve been doing a lot of reading since I got here before Xmas and I wanted to try to keep track of as much as I can. A few books were waiting for me: some because shipping to the US was too much especially for contributor’s copies (why punish the publishers?). So very happily reading…
Fur Baby: Live
Premiere! Let’s celebrate Devil’s Night with a devilish little tale of uncanny fear in this season of spookiness and — let’s face it — completely mad conspiracy theories. Consider it a short refuge from the horrors of reality. Fictional horrors end. Live from 2nd Sunday at 2 in Troy: thanks as always to Nancy and…
What I’ve Been Reading
I had a bunch of things on the go; end of summer, last orgy of ‘fun’ reading before the semester starts and reading tends to focus on what lies ahead both in teaching and other work. Good thing I have cut back on conferences — just one this fall — but the semester is off…
What I’ve Been Reading
Because I have to wait on some things — always irksome — I will quickly (very quickly) mention a few things I’ve been reading so you will not think I am simply lazing around (although some of the books are meant to be exactly that). Also doubtless I will leave out all the research-oriented things…
Spook Racket: Psychic Mafia
Oddly enough in the seemingly endless line of grifters and con artists in and around the spook racket, I had not read this volume. I first ran across the BBC radio series on it — part of their ongoing fascination with grifters like Anna Delvey. Lamar tells his story (with Spraggett’s help) with relish, albeit…
Got Gothic? Turney’s The Other One (1952)
The Dell paper back edition: ‘Black magic — and a modern sorceress!’ That ghastly green: I love it. Last week’s film Back from the Dead was based on this mid-century Gothic thriller and scripted by the author, who certainly streamlined the narrative — perhaps a little too much. By coincidence (or due to us both…
Highsmith @ 100: Ripley
TOM RIPLEY: MASTER CRIMINAL? I know I have forgotten to keep up with posting the assignments for my students, but if you want to read along, here’s the intro text for this week: I’m always amazed at the back cover copy of different editions of this book. I’ve got this edition with me. It refers…
Highsmith @ 100: The Course
The fall semester begins today. My courses are still all online. I have changed the Crime Fiction course to be all Highsmith, because obviously being busy already means nothing. I’m resisting overloading them with biographical information at the start, instead planning to parcel it out as they make their own discoveries, though I gave them…