by Evelyn Waugh
I just wanted to give a quick response (and thanks to Joe for your pithy and thoughtful email submission) following our Wednesday evening review.
It will be quite interesting to see how BR fares next both in the 2nd annual EuroBookOVision spectacular as it garnered a resounding appreciation. 8/8.5 with a high of 9 and a low of 7 definitely makes it one of the most popular books this year.
Joe caught very well on the general recognition that the underlying theme was religion and with some specificity Roman Catholicism. Joe builds on this to ask what the lens of religious practice can expose character and human behaviour in a wider landscape.
Waugh’s writing was very well appreciated for its colour, lushness and superb ability to cast us into a lifestyle and society that makes for an engaging and thought-provoking journey. Questions about sexuality, homosexuality abounded.
Sorry to be brief on this but have to be off, but did want to capture, something anything before it faded.
The light, fluffy, Christmas/December read is Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole. About 25% through now myself and don’t know why I had stopped a decade or so why I had started to read. I think it quite fits the intended bill and hope that Mike’s suggestion is well appreciated. Thanks Mike.