Saturday, October 24, 2015

Deliver us from the stormy sea (Alun Davies)


All hail Unity Books!!

One of my recent purchases there was Boris Vian's Red Grass.

I had mentioned to the guy that I was a fan of Haruki Murakami and wondered if he could recommend anything similar.

He came back with an armful of contenders. One of which was Red Grass.

Written in 1948-1949  Red Grass is similar to Murakami's work in that it's written in another language and translated (French in this case). 

It's also phantasmagorical and wonderful!!

Here's a paragraph of Vian's style for ya:
Beyond sinuous swaths of shade gleamed shiny, coloured stones, vague reflections, spots of clarity that faded away in response to the unpredictable movements of the earth. Like the light of an opal, or one of the mountain crystals that emit a golden dust when someone tries to grasp them. Like octopi. Like a sudden and savage flash of emerald. Like the tender traces of a colony of degrading beryllium. Lil walked in short little steps, thinking about the questions she would ask. Her dress obligingly, or rather flatteringly, took its cue from her legs.
So, so cool!!

Must dash - have a great book to read!

Love and peace - Wozza

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