Just A Quick Literary Post, Girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                    After seven years of waiting, going rhapsodic over Anthony Doerr's previous novel, "All The Light We Cannot See," which I cried upon finishing, because I wanted it to go on forever, out he comes with his newest, "Cloud Cuckoo Land."  I went to Three Lives--where else?--and bought it today.  However, much as I look forward to sinking my teeth into it,  I cannot, because I am current halfway through--

                                                    

                                        "I, The King," by Frances Parkinson Keyes--Oh, my God, Frances Parkinson Keyes!  If ever an author needs to be rediscovered, it is she.  She haunted my childhood, as we had,  in the house I grew up in, a copy of her book, "Dinner At Antoine's," which I wish I had kept.  Its colored illustration of the interior of Antoine's Restaurant, in New Orleans, started me on my fascination with the city.  I have actually dined at Antoine's twice, and I am telling you, their Cafe Diable will knock you to the floor!!!!!!!!!!! Mmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   I  found this volume in one of our neighborhood book bird houses,  and I just had to grab it.  I want to start a Frances Parkinson Keyes and Taylor Caldwell collection.  Wish me luck, girls, because I need space.  They may have been trash in their day, but let me tell you, they write  better than any of today's trashers out  there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                            However,  you really MUST read--

                                                                      

                                      "The Magician," by Colm Toibin--The most satisfying piece of fiction  I have read so far,  this year.  I loved "The Master," but, darlings, this is even better--gorgeously written,  mixing history and literature, the Holocaust, Venice, wrapped in a package that will have you glued to your seat, enraptured, as I was.  I had been so disappointed up to now, having not found even one contender for Book Of The Year; only now to be hit with a whole galaxy of them.  This may not make  it, but let me  tell you,  it is a GREAT start!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                          Back to Frances, girls!!!!!!!!!!!  We'll talk soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!