Where Is The Rubbish Of Yesteryear?

[liadnan]

I dunno. In an attempt to shrug off the vaguely dissatisfied state of mind I've fallen into, I picked up in Camden Public Library what should, judging from cover and blurb, have been a piece of sub-Bridget Jones flummery. Hot chocolate for the soul, or so I imagined.

Instead it turned out to be a somewhat complex, dark, and intelligent novel, with a clever and utterly unexpected twist. I dunno, can't rely on anything these days.

A discussion on email today reminded me that despite all the reviews (see in particular Fafnir on the Fafblog) I do think I want to read Tom Wolfe's I am Charlotte Simmons. Not that I think I'll actually like it, or even remotely agree with it, I'm just interested.

I mentioned in the same context Donna Tartt's Secret History. My problem with that book is that I found myself intensely disliking each and every character. Except Camilla, but then....

Joff reckons he can see why it raises a kind of nostalgia for anyone who read it while they were at university. I'm not sure I agree. Even the times Joff and I and some of the rest of youse shared on Walton Street never got to quite the levels of The Secret History. Or did they.. perhaps my memory has edited selectively? Anyway, they all work far too hard for it to be realistic. The Wolfe, judging from the reviews, seems considerably tamer, by contrast.

Tamer than our past I mean.

Yes, I know I'm rambling. I've been struggling with Capital Gains Tax all day, which is really not my strong point.

Rich has an ethical problem for you all: go argue with him, Really.

Comments

[deililly.livejournal.com]

What was this library book? If it passes muster with you I want to read it!

[liadnan]

Um. I was hoping no one would ask that. Somewhat frail I know. I took it back to the library and I've forgotten title and author.

[deililly.livejournal.com]

Oh well. If it comes to you let me know :) I was a bit puzzled and thought it was just me being fuzzy and missing it rather than you not saying!

[http://users.livejournal.com/_hypatia_/]

yes me too - I reread it thinking I was missing the reference somewhere. No googleworthy quote to track it down?

I have a thrilling appointment with my tax returns this weekend, but I'd be willing to sacrifice them if you wanted some different tax laws to work with :} Even overlaps with CGT a bit...some American taxation just to make it interesting...

[liadnan]

I'll try and dig it up tomorrow...

I really really loathe tax. Which is unfortunate as it does come into my work a fair amount. But I am Not A Tax Lawyer. Tax lawyers are weirdos.

[nicnac.livejournal.com]

Hmmm. I used to quite like CGT and IHT calcs. Luckily I saw the error of my ways.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_hypatia_/]

Is there anyone who actually likes tax??

I hate the whole tedious process and don't get me started on VAT. I have no problem with paying tax for a Fair And Just Society [tm] but at this time of year I always end up wishing desperately that tax fairies would just take the wretched money by magic and scrap all the paperwork.

[liadnan]

There are tax fairies. Unfortunately they want a percentage, nonetheless on my personal stuff I'm on the brink of ringing one up...

[http://users.livejournal.com/_hypatia_/]

I momentarily misread that as 'bringing one up'.

I've used tax fairies in the past, trouble is it still requires lots of mucking about with paperwork and current work pattern means that I can't honestly justify using one other than on the grounds of 'can't be arsed' at which point good old guilt trips in.
I have been considering going completely freelance again lately and whilst I'd be over egging it to cite tax forms as the reason the knowledge that I would then be de facto in tax fairy hands is a plus point.

bah humbug and all that.

[scribeoflight.livejournal.com]

I was going to ask.

I'm also very interested in the Wolfe, despite the bad press.

In fact, I'm so interested in reading it that I have used by position (one of the few perks) to secure a free copy - a finished copy, in fact, which is very nice indeed.

I'll let you know what it's like.

(I haven't read Secret History - am I missing out?)

[liadnan]

Yeees. Ish.
No, it is good. Much better than her second one.

really?

[nikandra.livejournal.com]

that is sad.

I didn't like The Secret History much, and when I tried to re-read it, I realised I couldn't stand it. If that was better than the Little Friend... Oh, well, that means I don't have to borrow it any time soon :)

ah!

[nikandra.livejournal.com]

I was going to ask too, but -- oh, well :)

I'm not sure if I want to read Wolfe's book. I have a feeling it will enrage me! :)

Re: ah!

[liadnan]

Nowt wrong with a bit of rage.

Re: ah!

[nikandra.livejournal.com]

yes, but I'm trying to reach Nirvana, you know? :)

There are various reasons why I feel it will enrage me. But reading a book about American rich kids in college, especially after meeting some of them here will really make me mad.

[joffstar.livejournal.com]

Everyone, including the narrator, in The Secret History, is more or less unlikeable, but that doesn't mean you don't... um... like 'em. I only read it a month or two ago, though, so maybe the nostalgia thing is just me. And I wasn't really thinking of our times at university, just generic ones, really...

Also: I tried to read the Bonfire of the Vanities and was enjoying it immensely for the first 50-100 pages. And then this massive English CAD dropped in, who'd been educated at the very posh Penge University or something, and who proceeded to enact the very worst caricature of a posh English bastard since Richard D got a dog called Muttley.

And I couldn't read the rest. I just completely and utterly lost faith in his ability to create characters, then and there. Maybe it's my fault and my loss, but still. I've never really done that with a book before.