Winter reading

The New Yorker magazine recently published a long, interesting article about the writer, Jennifer Egan.  She won a Pulitzer Prize for her 2011 book, "A Visit From the Goon Squad." How did I ever miss it?  Maybe the title turned me off at the time.  I found a cheap copy on Ebay and can't put it down. The central character is aging punk rocker and record executive, of all things.  You could call it either a novel, or just 13 interrelated tales.

I usually don't care for books with a big mash-up of characters, but "Goon Squad" is strange and good. At any rate, it's the kind of book that stays with you.  Her new book is called "Manhattan Beach," a meticulously researched historical novel. She is probably incapable of writing anything bad.

On the other hand, I enjoy Ann Pachett's books, in particular "The Patron Saint of Liars" and "Magician's Assistant," so was looking forward to her new novel, "Commonwealth." It's a complicated story about family that jumps around in time. I can't get into it.  But then, my concentration isn't that good right now. I have only about a 15 minute window to read in bed before I fall dead asleep.

The holidays wind down and the week between Christmas and New Year's always feels suspended in time.  The Christmas tree is dry as tinder, and everything looks a little worse for wear, including us.

2017 is rapidly drawing to a close and good riddance!

But as Buddhism teaches, "good" or "bad" do not exist: all good comes from bad, and bad follows good, round in an endless cycle. Attachment is the source of all suffering.

Bring on 2018.