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I’ve been putting this off because I read it slowly and sporadically so it doesn’t feel quite as cohesive as it really should be (my fault). 

Before reading this I had read “Slouching Toward Bethlehem” and “Play it as it Lays” (fiction). This is a more solidified style than “Slouching” although I almost miss some of those particularly personal and inconclusive parts. There is really a clear “Didion style” here in her use of repetition, dramatic scene changes mid-paragraph, and air of neutrality until dropping an important detail to provide a sharp clarity to the issue. 

Sections 1-3 were certainly my favorite . In particular, “The White Album, “Holy Water,” “Many Mansions,” and “Notes Toward a Dreampolitik,” “Bureaucrats,” “Doris Lessing,” and “In the Islands” are among the best short-form writing I’ve read. These are particularly masterpieces of scaling minor details (Linda Kasabian’s dress) into comprehensive anecdotes and major events (Manson murders at large) into minor parts of the cultural milieu. There are also many hints of an almost giddy wonder at how the world works (especially in “Holy Water,” “Bureaucrats”) to contrast her usual cynicism at most cultural shifts (“The Women’s Movement,” “Bureaucrats” again). 

While some pieces were better than others, Didion’s writing continues to feel fresh and exciting. Glad that I got the brick of collected works from Everyman’s (and will get the second half when it’s available). 

A 1973 Booker Prize finalist reprinted by McNally following a bookseller–Hero Kinoull–who falls in love (romaticly) with her lover’s wife and then (platonically) his mother. But really the only main plot point is that there is a seminar to be held on Rococo art and an outbreak of Typhus. 

This is really a novel following Hero’s departure from the seemingly serious masculine world of literature and preservation (she moonlights in book binding/restoration) and into the feminine worlds of volunteerism and gardening. All of these stages take place through the conduit of one of the other characters who she becomes obsessed with. Really it’s a novel about finding a sense of identity in a time that feels unmoored (written in the 70’s but set at the dawn of WWI). Hero fights from backward-looking cynicism towards some degree of hope.   

This is a witty book of English style and French character. It may no longer be as transgressive or shocking as the early reviews seem to indicate but the core is still good. While the plot description seems like this may be a fun drama, it’s really a quite serious book (although still funny) with good writing (although it feels very “film-like” through fast scene changes and sharp transitions between reflection/poetic descriptions/dialogue). 

A little departure from the usual with some oatmeal sourdough (recipe). There is cooked oatmeal inside as well as oats on top (which taste good but causes a mess). Gluten development is always challenging with oats mixed in which can lead to a flatter loaf but has a very moist crumb.

Sci-fi in premise (but really to the extent of “Never Let Me Go”) Haushofer’s “The Wall” follows two years in the life of a woman who survive an event that kills everyone outside of her wall. The wall is invisible but real and didn’t seem to exist before the event. 

She is trapped in the mountains where she had been staying with a friend. She is accompanied by a hunting dog, a cat, and a cow. With few supplies or food she must quickly learn to provide for herself and the animals. 

What comes out is a meditation on life without the imposition of modern expectations, obligations, and rushing about. What’s left is not only survival, but finding comfort and providing care. The inclusion of animals is particularly important as it shows a tendency towards the collective once human ego and social power dynamics are stripped away. The sense of freedom becomes quite skewed as does the sense of urgency and obligation. 

(This novel has become somewhat relatable in unfortunate ways as we enter a third day without power) 

This is a dense and reflective novel written as a continuous recounting of the preceding two years. In some sense the writing lacks conventional structure with only some elements of foreshadowing to provide momentum. It’s understandable given the subject but makes it less engaging. 

“The Wall” is a well written, unique novel which has not gotten its share of attention.

Warmer weather and warmer temps inside had this one getting away from me a little. A bit over-fermented and under-strengthened. This is probably the sign that sourdough season will be coming to an end soon as it gets hot out.

A man goes in search of undiscovered sand beetles and ends up captive in a dune-bound house where his only task is to help the owner shovel sand into buckets to be removed from the dune-bottom.

This is a semi-surreal existentialist novel is generally about the search for meaning in our work (both independent and collective) and how it relates to our sense of belonging. But it also provides a propulsive plot and an interesting scenario, along with some information about sand and beetles. Needless to say, a lot is packed into this fairly short and very strange novel. It presents both as utterly bizarre and unsettlingly familiar.

This novel was a breath of fresh air and has earned a spot among my favorites–next to “The Box Man.”

A bit of a low effort entry thrown together after a 5K and brunch. Feels like a good density but went a bit more outward than upward during the bake.

This is a tough little novel capturing scenes from a few points in young Stephen Dedalus’s life relating to his decision/conviction to become an artist.

In between arguments full of slang/references to events in turn-of-the-century Ireland and highly technical musings on certain details of theologians (much of which was lost on me, even with the copious footnotes) there was some of the most unique and lyrical prose I have ever come across and some of the most stunning chunks of writing generally.

This novel deals with duty, shame, and the role of the artist (both inward and outward). It is thematically rich without feeling preachy and it contains a lot of very inventive writing without seeming overdone.

Admittedly, much of the plot is quite vague and it takes a minute to really catch up with what is going on, especially between chapters. Of course, here it isn’t terribly important to the work as a whole but it adds a level of difficulty to an already challenging novel.

I’m glad I read this and enjoyed many parts of it–but this might have been a little beyond me to tackle without guidance.

A sluggish starter countered with a long banneton proof at room temperature before the overnight fridge ferment. Correct or not I was impatient and it seemed to work out alright.

This week really got ahead of me so the starter was a bit underfed and not terribly active. Long fermentation without a ton of volume. Nice crust color but a bit uneven.