August’s snapshot includes the same short story collection I was reading last month, an account of art thievery by a young aesthete, keen to differentiate himself from common crooks, and a novel about time travelling historical figures.
The short story collection I’m (still) reading is Tessa Hadley’s After the Funeral thanks to Andrew O’Hagan’s thumping great chunkster, Caledonian Road, soaking up a lot of my reading time. I’m enjoying these beautifully crafted miniature character studies too much to want to rush them.
The non-fiction book I’m reading is Michael Finkel’s The Art Thief which follows the astonishing career of Stéphane Breitwieser in the 1990s. I’m not far in but I’m fascinated as to how he managed to stuff the small bedroom he shared with his partner in crime, Anne-Catherine Kleinklaus, full to bursting with priceless treasures.
The novel I’m reading is Kaliane Bradley’s The Ministry of Time which is a step outside my usual reading with its time travelling characters minded by ‘bridges’ tasked with assessing how well they’re adjusting to their new era. Quite a challenge when two are from the seventeenth century, one from the French Revolution and one from the Great War. Our narrator’s charge is Graham Gore, a casualty of the Franklin expedition in 1847, quite a flirt and witty with it. I’m less than a quarter of the way in and very much enjoying it so far.
I loved The Ministry of Time so I’m glad you’re enjoying it. I thought it was funny, and clever but at the same time I found Gore’s story quite moving.
The Bradley isn’t my usual sort of read either but it sounds a lot of fun!
Hadley I can always be persuaded by 🙂
I’ve not read The Art Thief but I remember the story – it really is extraordinary!
I’m loving it but wondering if things may be going to take a dark turn!
It’s quite a story, isn’t it. Presumably they’re going to overstep the mark at some stage.
I loved The Ministry of Time so I’m glad you’re enjoying it. I thought it was funny, and clever but at the same time I found Gore’s story quite moving.
Thanks, Cathy. I’d not expected it to make me laugh although I suspect things will become darker.
I loved The Art Thief – fascinating stuff – hope you are enjoying it!
I’m amazed at their gumption although obviously that runs out. It’s a great story.
Time travelling doesn’t work for me sorry