Author Archives: Houyhnhnm

“The Aeneid” by Virgil

Posted on August 24, 2013 by Houyhnhnm

Strange to confess, but this is the first time I’ve read the entire poem cover to cover (in English, quickly – several decades ago I’d read it all in Latin over a number of weeks). It came out other than … Continue reading →

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“A Maggot” by John Fowles

Posted on August 24, 2013 by Houyhnhnm

I’d no idea what to expect: I knew he’d written The French Lieutenant’s Woman, but had neither read nor seen that. I (still) don’t even know if he’s British or American. But this book is long-lasting in its effects for … Continue reading →

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“Jesus” by Humphrey Carpenter

Posted on August 7, 2013 by Houyhnhnm

One of Carpenter’s most well-known biographies, part of the “Past Masters” series of short books on influential thinkers. Overall Carpenter seems to go as far as he can in sympathising and admiring Jesus, stopping short just at the point beyond … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

“A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian” by Marina Lewycka

Posted on August 6, 2013 by Houyhnhnm

Fun. It’s written in the person of a Ukrainian-British woman, telling the story of her father’s disastrous marriage in widowerhood to a more recent Ukrainian immigrant, the well-named and warhead-breasted Valentina. It’s very funny, but succeeds mostly I think because … Continue reading →

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“If on a winter’s night a traveller” by Italo Calvino

Posted on August 2, 2013 by Houyhnhnm

Unique (in my limited experience). A contorted and jerky tale which successfully breaks down the ‘fourth wall’: the protagonist is “you”, “the Reader”, who begins by beginning reading “If on a winter’s night a traveller” by Italo Calvino, and ends by … Continue reading →

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Tragedy and Comedy

Posted on July 21, 2013 by Houyhnhnm

Comedy comes from surprise, either from the breaking of a (moral) rule (e.g. a taboo) or from something unexpected (“boo!”) (or both – man-falling-on-banana-skin is unexpected and makes us laugh, naughtily, from the suffering of another). And in Tragedy the … Continue reading →

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“Hatton Garden” by Rachel Lichtenstein

Posted on April 20, 2013 by Houyhnhnm

A wonderful find: a personal and in-depth history of this part of London, ending with a breathtaking account of an official descent to and along the ancient and hidden River Fleet. An evocative and fact-filled book, making any visit to … Continue reading →

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“The Illustrated Man” by Ray Bradbury

Posted on April 12, 2013 by Houyhnhnm

My first Ray Bradbury. Fascinating. As stories go they are like others I’ve read: really intriguing ideas, strong atmospheres, but ending weakly, either flattish, or with an ending that isn’t supposed to be obvious but is, kind of. Not that … Continue reading →

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The Woman in Black

Posted on April 12, 2013 by Houyhnhnm

All good fun. I’d seen the stage play many years ago with a school group, and had, as everyone else, jumped with shock as the lights revealed the ghost woman rocking furiously on her chair. I’d always been amazed how … Continue reading →

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“Truth or Beauty” by David Orren

Posted on April 2, 2013 by Houyhnhnm

‘”Beauty is truth, truth beauty,” – that is all Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know.’ (John Keats, “Ode to a Grecian Urn”, last lines) A random website on this poem says “The exact meaning of those … Continue reading →

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