Out of the way

Amin Maalouf, "Léon l'Africain". A book I bought ages, ago, 350 pages of small type meant that I had to have decent light to read it. An historical novel, based on a real person. A man who was in Grenada when it fell to the Spaniards, and travelled around the Mediterranean ending up at the court of the Pope in Rome (where he got his new name, that of the title), tells his story in the first person. Somewhat easy-going, Hassan describes growing up in the time of the European Renaissance, but mostly outside Europe, where a whole different world of history was unfolding. I enjoyed this book, although at times I had to put it down. (I do that when the tension mounts in various ways, rather than feel impelled to find out what comes next).

A second book in French, told in the first person, but as one side of a dialogue over several days. "La Chute" (The Fall) by Albert Camus was the ninth book finished for the year. The style somehow makes it seem more lively, less flat than other Camus books I have read (L'etranger, The Plague). Set in the Netherlands although not really needing a particular location, it shows a strange yet very believable conversation. (Or maybe I just talk to odd people too often). More of an overtly moral tale than "Léon", this nevertheless also invites me to sit back and consider, without forcing a particular judgement, how the characters behave, and also leaves me thinking of their futures.

Only one book in current progress, the stories of the whaling ship "Essex".

I also found out that my nephew apparently reads a lot more than me. So Jack, if you read this, write down something of the books that you have read, so we can compare things we've both read already, or decide to read or avoid books based on what the other one said about them...