Honor Tracy (1913–1989)

Subtitled "Forays in the Irish Republic", this is sort of a collection of travel essays, but not the sort that would be helpful to an actual traveler, even back in 1953, when it was first published. The observations of a British journalist about transportation, lodging, meals, weather and most of all people in the Republic not too long after partition are almost Shavian, though never mean-spirited, and often laugh-out-loud and splutter-your-tea funny. We are given to understand that nothing happens on schedule in Ireland; that trains and buses never connect; that no one ever actually gets where they set out to go; that a decent meal may possibly be had, but you've always just arrived as the kitchen is closing, so who's to say; that no matter how careful you are with your guest list for a party, some people will be offended by being left off and others will be shocked to think you'd ever expect them to accept an invitation; that should you be unfortunate enough to get entangled with the system of civil litigation your goose will be cooked if you hire Catholic counsel, and if you hire a Protestant solicitor you're doomed. You didn't hear all this from me, mind. I've said nothing.
Review written Feb. 2019… (plus d'informations)

102/2020. I've read 102 books so far this year and while this isn't the worst written it is the most vapid and the one I most regret wasting time on.

Plot

Wealthy older man has tiresome mid-life crisis.

Quote

This only sounds interesting out of context as it's merely the set-up to a stock joke: "There they went, Billy and all the others, mouthing their empty Sunday phrases, smug, odious, prepared to kill neighbour or friend. Revolted by their hypocrisy, Ninian thanked God that he was an atheist."… (plus d'informations)

97/2020. A heavy-handed farce set amongst English emigrants living in Malaga in Spain in the late 1960s. This isn't a well-written novel and the humour has no subtlety, although the satire is scattershot enough to have passages that will amuse/offend a wide variety of readers.

Warning for passing mention of the presumed rape, resulting pregnancy, and gonorrhoea, of a 12 year old girl.
Warning for the passing mention twice of a 14 year old boy employed as a companion by an adult man.
I don't usually bother to warn for the following in novels of this date but in both English and Spanish there's also copious swearing, slurs on women, slurs on homosexuals, racial slurs, and non-prescription drug use.

Quotes

Libertarians never change: "He was a member of the eccentric race of fiscophobes, Englishmen who would do anything and live anywhere, no matter how bored and miserable they might be, rather than stay at home and pay English taxes. Sweeting, however, carried fiscophobia - as he carried all else - to extremes and, to avoid even the modest local rates on house or land, spent his life in a boat, cruising round and round the Mediterranean. He was a poor sailor and loathed the sea: he was of a violent disposition and detested authority; and, between his navigational disasters and his assaults on marine officials and coastguards, he paid out in fines and compensation what would have amply maintained a house in Grosvenor Square. But Mr Sweeting did not view the matter in this light. Monies in respect of a douanier's broken jaw or a harbour master's shattered window, as he saw it, were well and usefully laid out, whereas, handed over to bureaucrats and spent on social welfare, they were simply frittered away."

Dangerously political social satire in Franco's Spain: "Her day had been so crowded that she had momentarily forgotten this all-important fixture. It was to be held by the Provincial Governor's wife in honour of the Generalissimo's wife, who had graciously consented to open a lunatic asylum, larger than any other in Spain; and everyone who mattered was bound to be there."… (plus d'informations)

Amusing series of essays involving observations of Ireland as it was in the 1950s; quite a bit of it involves how powerful the Roman Catholic Church was -- well, those days are long gone. One of the running gags is the title of the book; there are many characters (and I DO mean characters) in the book that drop hints to Tracy, but don't want to be quoted. I suppose the fact that this is the Ireland of my parents probably prejudices me in favour of the book. But it is recommended, even without that.… (plus d'informations)