Once they reach the cast iron lamppost in the middle of the common, William turns to Martin. ‘You’re disgusted with me for leaving Gloria, aren’t you?’ ‘Not disgusted.’ Martin looks straight ahead. ‘It just seems such an unnecessary mess, William. You’re surrounded by people who love you. Surrounded.’ ‘It’s not easy being loved by people […]

How light and tall he almost felt walking along with this girl at his side and some fresh, new, unrecognisable joy in his heart. Was it possible that the best bit of him was shining forth, and surfacing? Some part of him, whatever it could be called – was there any name for it? – […]

self-portrait: at sea I’d like you to sing, he said.  We don’t sing, Mr Lloyd.  But I need something to focus on. Counting or singing.  Not in this boat.  I read in a book that you people always sing while rowing.  Not a very good book then, is it, Mr Lloyd?  I came here because […]

To be alive means full body contact with the absurd. Still, we can be happy. Even poor old Sisyphus could figure that much out. And that’s saying something. You might say that God is an absurd concept but faith in God’s goodness … I find joy in that. I find it inspiring. Oba! I’m rambling. […]

Kävimme pienellä reissulla Ranskan Rivieralla ja nyt onkin aika pikaluotsata läpi matkalukemistoni. Kotoa mukaan lähti ranskalainen klassikko, Françoise Saganin Tervetuloa, ikävä vuodelta 1954. Menomatkalla lentokentältä ostin Leïla Slimanin romaanin Adèle, joka julkaistaan suomeksi syksyllä. Tämä oli englanninkielinen käännös, koska tässä vaiheessa vielä ajattelin, etten pysty lukemaan romaania ranskaksi. Toulonin hotellissamme oli aulassa myytävänä kirjoja ja niitä […]

We were very upset, all the same, for reasons too numerous to mention. Clearly our aunt was not a stable person. At the time we did not put this thought into words. It existed between us as a sort of undifferentiated attentiveness to all the details of her appearance and behaviour. At first this took […]

She turned and walked back into the house, shedding her shoes as she crossed the grass, wishing there were dewdrops against the soles of her feet, thinking of Massud who had loved that sensation. She went into the staircase and emerged onto the roof, feeling surrounded by her river and her city, her land. This […]

They were night people, one step away from ghosts, and strangers to each other. Some had husbands, as she guessed by their wedding rings, and many had children, who, contrary to the rules, telephoned in the night to report some crisis. The mothers, knowing that phone calls were forbidden, lurked in corners, to listen. Many […]