Did I mention I was in poor health?
The NHS has finally remembered my existance and decided not only to give me a date for surgery, but also to give me some-one else’s cancellation, with less than a week’s notice. It could have been twenty-four hours’ notice, so I’m not complaining.
No really, I’m pleased. I’ve been longing to let a complete stranger cut holes in my abdomen. I’m not in the least freaked out. My husband is freaked out. Possibly my family will freak out [Which is why you haven't told them yet - Ed]. But me? I am as serene as the moon, serene in glory, mounting the sky. And so on.
Any recommendations for good things to read for the few days I shall be spending flat on my back, using ungodly language and ringing the bell for my pet grape-peeler?
[Reed? You haven't told them when said surgery is. Reed?
Oh, you've buggered off.
Fine. It's next Thursday.
Fine].
I wouldn’t recommend any of my recent reads to someone in pre/post surgery mode as they’re all jock-noir of the goriest type.
You could have a read through herschelian’s blog for some ideas about books to take with you.
I’ll be thinking about you on Thursday – and metaphorically peeling grapes.
*hugs
Eeh, I’ll light a candle. Not that you’ll need one, of course! I’m so glad the date has finally come through.
Ooh, do you have to do that “any liquid that the sun shines through” diet for two days beforehand?
When I was recovering from abdominal surgery (which was keyhole so it wasn’t so bad) I read The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro, Armadillo by William Boyd, Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden and Roots by Alex Haley. Just thinking about them reminds me of that time! They were all great, I was pleased with my choices, but Armadillo is the one that’s stayed with me the most.
I’m sending cyber grapes!
Have you read The Know It All (One Man’s Humble Quest to become the Smartest Person in the World) by A. J. Jacobs? It is a combination book review of the Encyclopedia Britannica ( which he read from cover to cover to cover to cover. . .) and autobiography which is quite engaging. Perhaps not completely appropriate material for someone who is recovering from abdominal surgery since it does contain some quite amusing bits. Anyway, I enjoyed it a lot, you might too.
Something large and all encompassing? A Suitable Boy
Something neat and perfect? There must be a suitable volume of absolutely perfect poetry somewhere – you’d know better than me
Something compelling? I’d say Iain Banks, but he does slide into goriness.
Good fortune my dear. At least it is this side of August 1st. Be nice to any junior doctors; they’re probably feeling as fragile as you are.
Love
B
Hope all goes well. I rather suspect that I couldn’t possibly suggest anything that you haven’t already read (or at least, something that isn’t in Mount To-Be-Read) with the exception of sundry scripts or graphic novels.
My brother lent me the Neil Gaiman Sandman series when I was in hospital for The Neck. Good, of course, but not quite what I meant by, gods, bring me a little light reading, I am going nuts stuck in here when he asked.
I just noticed Jasper Fforde’s got another Thursday Next novel out though…
Dashiell Hammett. He has recently crossed my radar with Red Harvest and The Maltese Falcon. You can get a paperback of The Four Great Novels which even you should be able to take a day over. Utterly compelling, and therefore ideal for NHS cell escapism.
Or there’s his story collection The Continental Op, which will feel amusingly relevant after your, er, op.
Teuchter – but I like jock noir. Latest purchase, The Watchman by the incomparable Rankin.
Helen – thank you for the candle and grapes. I’ve read all of those except Armadillo, so am now considering Armadillo quest.
HMH – laughing is apparantly good for the healing stomach muscles. Painful, but good. I’ll see if any of the libraries here abouts have that one.
AB – Dang it, I’ve read all of Iain Banks AND Suitable Boy. They are brilliant recommendations, I loved them, but, err, done already. I promise to be sweet to all junior doctors.
Singing Colleague – well, you are quite right. I must excavate Mt-To-Be-Read. Do you know, I found Riddley Walker half-way down it just the other day? I can’t even remember buying it.
Sol – that reminds me of my great-grandmother, in flat on her back in hospital in her eighties, demanding my father bring her light reading. She was a fierce and intellectual lady, so Dad spent AGES trying to find amusing but intelligent and worthy novels. He brought them to her. She looked at them. ‘what is this?’ she asked. ‘Light reading,’ he stammered. She glared. ‘I meant somethinglike ‘War and Peace’ in paperback.’
Anyway. Love Sandman. But am currently depressingly up-to-date on Gaiman’s published oeuvre. Will send S to fetch the new Fforde. Fforde perfect.
I think we have Hammett in the Library of Glum, so will definitely attempt him. Have watched Maltese Falcon often. Does it match the book much?
Reed, you *must* read Riddley Walker! However, due to using a language which isn’t quite English, it might not be best for post-op recuperative reading.
If laughing is good for healing, I’d suggest ‘It Came From On High’ by Andrew Harman, which had me merrily chuckling for quite some time. Or indeed anything else by Harman, particularly his 20th century Earth books. Only don’t buy them, borrow them. I don’t generally feel the urge to re-read his books. His parodic fantasy things are in the ‘not really as good as Pratchett’ vein.
Haven’t actually seen Maltese Falcon yet, it was one of those I was always putting off “until I’d read the book”. Ditto Marathon Man, now I think of it.
Book excellent but Red Harvest is the real killer. Absolutely fan-dabi-dozy.
When Gaiman withdrawal sets in – or you find him too much of a cheesy Goth – and you have £100+ lying around for 10+ volumes, Mike Carey’s spin-offs of Lucifer are awesome. In places it recaptured the original the-ground-is-moving feeling I got with the Sandman. And the dialogue is a joy throughout. Free sample:
“There’s an opinion in Heaven that you have done well, Lucifer. It’s not an opinion I share.”
“Why thank you. Grudging praise is the sincerest form of flattery.”
It turned out to be an imaginary candle because the church had no fire materials, so I had to pretend to light one, but I don’t think God minds. (I actually think this church burnt down a few years ago and now they’re funny about naked flames). It was also a little bit hard to say a prayer because of a certain small sidekick who kept pointing to a baby Jesus statue and yelling: “BOY! BOY! BABY! BABY!” But I did and I’m sure God filtered out the backing tape. I hope everything goes well. I sent you an e-mail, but maybe not to right address.
Have been keeping fingers crossed on Earth and sending thoughts heavenwards (my backing tape consists of summer school students, who are noisier than you could possibly imagine. Helen’s would probably make me giggle).
I hope I haven’t killed any desire to read Mr Hoban’s books by telling you you must read Riddley Walker…