Well...I don’t think this book is the best book in the English language of the 20th Century, as some have claimed. But it was an enjoyable read. The first chapter, however, was almost enough to make me quit. It felt a bit like academic posturing.....but I persisted.
After that, from chapter 2, it improved a lot. The book is really lots of mulling over, considering and story telling about quite different subjects but all with an under tow of things fading, endings, sadness and a falling into decay of human endeavours.
It had some stories I will never forget. Particularly one about Major George Wyndham Le Strange, who was among the people who liberated Bergen Belsen at the end of WW2 and his housekeeper. I won’t spoil it but I loved that story. Also a very thought provoking story about the nature of power and how it corrupts concerning Empress Tz’u-hsi in China. I learnt a little more about the atrocities in the Congo ..which I am ashamed I didn’t know very much about.
Some of the sections were a little boring..but it was worth carrying on for the little gems hidden amongst the drifting sands.
The last chapter failed to bring any sort of conclusion really. The language was pleasant to read but i didn’t have to get my pencil out to mark out any outstanding sentences that stood out...which is rare in my reading...But despite the negatives I am pleased I read this. Some sections would have been 4 star but marked down to 3 because of the boring bits.