What is really annoying is that although I am working flat out and have been for the last three or so months, I am really impecunious. Its the peril of self-employment as I can never quite tell when the money is going to come, although from the silence following my last set of cost updates (which are usually greeted with a resounding chorus of 'send us your invoice'), it won't be soon.
My only solace is reading and its when that stops I am really in trouble. I've had days recently when I thought my head might explode, so I've been limiting myself to reading old favourites and undemanding prose. Stuff meditation, yoga etc., 30 minutes with a good, fun undemanding read is all that I need to prevent my brain overheating.
One book I would really to recommend everyone interested in detective fiction (as I am) is The Suspicions of Mr Whicher or The Murder at Road Hill House
by Kate Summerscale. This is an examination of the Road Hill House Murder in 1860 and how this murder and its investigator, Jonathan Whicher, captured the popular imagination and inspired Dickens (Inspector Bucket in Bleak House) and Wilkie Collins (Sergeant Cuff in The Moonstone). The Afterword is particularly salutory and stunning.
3 comments:
I am so glad you're back. I've missed you. I've seen a number of very interesting reviews of the Summerscale and heard her talk about it on the radio. Now I know someone who's actually read it and enjoyed it it's going on the list. Oh, and I sympathise about the money issue. the local University for which I have been working as a visiting lecturer since January finally decided to pay me a first instalment in April. They don't have the bills to pay - at least not yours and mine.
sounds like a very interesting book!
you have been credited on my blog for your brilliant 'antisocial disservices' phrase.
It's incredible how institutions think that people can survive on fresh air like that. I do hope things come right for you soon!
Your latest reading sounds v. interesting indeed :)
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