Polar opposites

[muckefuck]

I don't know what possessed me (or was it monshu? Hmmmm...) to stow my Bruno Schulz on the Chinese philology shelf, I'm just happy that after a month or so of searching every place I could think to have put it I have it in my hand again. One paragraph of his writing--chosen at random--is enough to compensate for any amount of time spent with one of the authors on Myers' shitlist. It's full of lyricism but it's not "lyrical", it's powerful but it's not "muscular"; it's just beautiful solid writing that rewards every bit of effort you put into reading it.

Speaking of Polish master of fiction, I forgot to mention that I tackled Gombrowicz's Cosmos the other week, didn't I? Now that was some fucked-up shit. Unfortunately, I only discovered after I was some pages into it that it was a translation of a translation (or, rather, two; apparently, both the German and French translations served as sources) and that a new version done directly into English has been available for a few years now. Still, I'm more interested in ever than taking on Ferdydurke now--must remember to add it to my WishList!

Comments

[wwidsith.livejournal.com]

Gombrowicz has been on my wishlist for months, and it's great to see someone else reading him! Let me know how he goes down. By the way, I love that you have a Chinese philology shelf..

[muckefuck.livejournal.com]

Not to brag, but two, actually: One at monshu's (more geared toward history of the script, for use in deciphering scrolls) and one at my place (more geared toward grammar and historical phonology).