Sunday, the day of rest – shops closed, streets empty, a hollow Paris. We rested for a long time and just strolled around the markets, today booming with business. We picked up fresh salmon, huge shrimp and some gorgeous strawberries, which cooked together made for some expensive, but damn right delicious eating.
Spent the rest of the day finishing two books: The Boy Detective Fails – a rather weird take on childhood fantasies and adult bereavement, but hey, to each his own. The book is a strange combination of fantasy, detective fiction and Kafka-esque storytelling. It managed to freak me out a number of times and almost made me abandon the book, but I managed to keep going and the story worked itself out in the end. As a bizarre drama, the story worked for me, although I’m still scratching my head at some parts of it. But taken with two Ativan, it can a three star ride that’s worth checking out.
Now the other one – Living Shadows – a collection of short stories by a prominent sci-fi and horror writer, noted Blue Öyster Cult songwriter. The collection is split in two – the first half is comprised of mundane drama, while the latter section is supernatural & futuristic assembly. Most of the stories are just decent, some good and a couple of great ones (Buried in the Sky; Skeeter Junkie; Isolation Point, California). It’s an ok read, but you have to appreciate the effort. Tomorrow I’m starting The Sparrow and A Scientific Romance.