Reading list, by Terry Freedman
My reading list is a bit like my to-do list: more a statement of intent than a set of targets. And yet the number of books on the list keeps growing, while my reading speed remains more or less stable. My reading journey feels like the kind of trek where, exhausted, you make for the brow of the hill just ahead of you, only to discover that an even higher hill lies just beyond.
The reason for this seemingly Sisyphean state of affairs is that each time I embark on a literature course I discover more books and authors I “need” to read. (It’s a nice problem to have, and I’m not moaning. It’s just that given the parlous state of things at the moment, I’m starting to feel more urgent about some things.)
Anyway, at the time of writing, tomorrow will be the last session of a course called Great Novellas, taken by Julian Birkett at the City Lit adult education institute. I realised with some horror, as I compiled a list of my favourite three works we’ve covered (as requested by the tutor), that I actually only liked three of them. I’m pleased he didn’t ask for our top four.
If that sounds like the course has been a waste of time, believe me when I say it really has not been. Discovering books and author one doesn’t take to is quite useful, although I’m willing to give them another go. (Notwithstanding Ian McEwan.)
Even works like the Kreutzer Sonata, which Tolstoy clearly polished off when he was going through a rough patch, were interesting to read. Moreover, each novella led to many fascinating discussions, and conversations with people I would not otherwise have met. Also, several of those people recommended other works I might enjoy more than the one we were analysing at the time.
One good thing I will say about novellas is that they are relatively short. Therefore it’s not too arduous to have to read a whole book in the space of a week (although, to be fair, we were given the main part of the list before the summer, but I left the reading a bit late because of other commitments. Mea culpa.). Julian also supplements the reading with review articles and other material for reading around the subject.
My only complaint is that Julian ends all his courses with a quiz, and tomorrow is no exception. Given that we have to indicate our scores, and I always come near the bottom of the class, I think there is no call for that sort of public humiliation. Considering the extreme stress we’ve all been under over these last 9 or so months, the very least Julian could do would be to tell us the questions in advance, or give some of us an extra 10 points. Apart from this, though, the course has been marvellous.
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