I still buy books, you know. Remember them, those papery things that usually ended up full of receipts and train tickets? Although sometimes I wish I didn’t. Buy them, I mean. Trawling the discount tables in a Bangkok branch of Kinokuniya, I come across a copy of my Noughties book, reduced to 100 baht (about two quid in old money). Slightly more expensive (but then it is a hardback, I tell myself) is Padgett Powell’s The Interrogative Mood. The title gives the twist away: it’s composed entirely of questions, a structural gimmick to which such staples of fiction as plot and character are pretty much sacrificed. The subtitle – A Novel? – suggests that this is the whole point. It doesn’t particularly work as an overall piece, but there are some passing delights among the queries. For example: “If architecture is frozen music, do we not deserve a whole cookbook of such recipes?” Which almost seals up the puncture wound in my creative ego. Almost.
Which one? Paragon or Emporium? I'll pick one up tomorrow. My Singapore Kino card gives a discount, right?
ReplyDeleteParagon. But I don't think you get a further discount on remaindered stock. What a pity.
ReplyDeleteFound a copy, luckily.... or not! 100Bht, ouch! Do I have to read it now?
ReplyDeleteI expect a full critical analysis here first thing in the morning. With footnotes.
ReplyDeleteAs you can see over there, failed miserably in this quest. I must admit the list of important, famous people - and actors - who left us in the 0's was humbling. Marilyn Chambers - dead!
ReplyDelete