Taking a short break from listening to The uncut version of The Stand, by Stephen King. A global pandemic in which billions die and the survivors have to confront, it seems, one last stand to determine whether some form of a civilized life will resume or whether it all falls apart. Typical Stephen king elements, which never really disappoint even after 40 years of reading them.
As I’m listening to the book, I can’t help but think about many of King‘s tweets in recent months about the real life horrors of our own pandemic. I would say it’s a tossup on which pandemic is worse, hours or the one in the novel.
Now listening to The End of October, by Lawrence Wright. Talk about timing. About a global coronavirus pandemic, published in April of this year.
I think I’m about halfway through and it really is quite remarkable. I thought the “history lessons” we’re going to be boring, but he doesn’t dwell on previous pandemics but rather describes him very succinctly and drink intelligently. I’m just getting to the political part, so I don’t know how that’s gonna play out, but I’ve enjoyed it so far so I don’t think I will change my tune.
I’m reading number five in the Erlendur mysteries by Arnaldur indridason from Iceland. A mostly depressing lot, those Icelanders. And Swedes. And Norwegians. But the mysteries are irresistible.
Just started number 7 in the Tony Hill/Carol Jordan series by Val McDermid. She is a fantastic writer. The characters are very well developed and the stories just pull you in. I think I might have missed one along the way but that’s okay. I know who everyone is, And like almost every good writer of a series, she gently reminds you as you read what happened previously. She doesn’t dump it on you, she doesn’t ignore it but just incorporates the histories into the story very intelligently.
There’s others on the bedside table but I haven’t opened them yet.
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