"That's typical of you," she said. "Not a serious thought in your head, ever." (The Swell Season)

Wie geht's?

A few weeks ago I was browsing the shelves at the Little Red Book Shop in Hastings when a title leapt out at me: The Swell Season.

That's the title of a folk/rock band I like, made up of Irish musician Glen Hansard and Czech singer and pianist Markéta Irglová. You'll remember them from the wonderful movie Once.

Turns out they got their name from this novel by Czech writer Josef Skvorecky.

Cool.

I've been using some passages from the novel on The Purdzilla Show blog - it's quite lyrical in places.

The setting is 1940's occupied Czechoslovakia and the basic plot centres around teenager Danny's failed amorous attempts with the girls in his village. Just when he thinks he's making progress, unforeseen circumstances always intervene.

Here's another bit for you, as he tries to get together with Marie after she's broken up with her boyfriend:

It was wonderful talking like this with Marie. An autumn fog was rolling off the river and a leaf dropped from a chestnut tree and landed on her shoulder. She brushed it off.

"It's autumn already." she said. "That's sad"

"What's sad about autumn?" I asked.

"Everything," she said.

Oh dear! He's doomed!

Love and peace - Wozza