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Continue reading →: Skeletons In The Closet by Jean-Patrick Manchette
translated from the French by Alyson Waters This is the seventh NYRB translation of a Manchette novel. To some degree, in order of translation at least, he lives off the strength of his phenomenal earlier work, Fatale, The Mad and the Bad, and Three to Kill, though the latter NYRB…
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Continue reading →: To Mani..Mani, the southernmost and middle peninsula of the Peloponnese or Morea, straddling the districts of Lakonia and Messenia in southern Greece, is a treasure trove of Byzantine architecture, Frankish castles and stunning scenery. The isolated aspect of this beautiful area, combined with the independent nature of its people meant that…
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Continue reading →: Mystras – GytheioMy plan to visit the archaeological ruins site at Mystras was thwarted. The ruin of the fortified town is situated on the foothill slopes of the Taygetos mountains just above the new town of Mystras and only four kilometres from the city of Sparta. It served as capital of this…
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Continue reading →: Russian Gothic by Aleksandr Skorobogatovtranslated from the Russian (Belarus) by Ilona Yazhbin Chavasse This little Belarussian gem, or perhaps black opal is more appropriate, has taken more than thirty years to reach English translation, though on its relase in 1991 won several awards. A cause for celebration most certainly. It is a tale told…
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Continue reading →: The Sanctuary by Gustavo Eduardo Abrevayatranslated from the Argentinian Spanish by Andrea G. Labinger The premise of the novel may be nothing new, a car breakdown in the desert miles from anywhere expect a small town whose inhabitants are up to no good.. but, Abrevaya does a solid job in relating the tale in such…
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Continue reading →: The Loisos Gorge & the Philosopher’s MonasteriesIt was back into Loisos Gorge today to continue on from where I got to two days ago, the monastery built into the cliff, along the Mainalon Trail for four kilometres to the Philosopher’s Monasteries. I’ve been cavorting with the Mainalon Trail for two weeks now, and can certainly recommend…
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Continue reading →: Gorge of Lousios and the Monastery of CatsHeavy on the pics light on the text today. Great weather to visit the Gorge of Lousios today after considerable overnight rain, which meant the river was in full flow. My hike started at the ruins of the Asklepion, a sanctuary of the Greek God of healing Asclepius at Ancient…
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Continue reading →: The Artist’s HouseThe house I’ve taken in Psárion for a few days belongs to a guy who restores old Greek paintings and mosaics. He lived here until realising that he could subsidise his income by renting it out and renovating and living in another property he had in the village. The pandemic…
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Continue reading →: Two very different film-noirs, 67 years apart..Bob Le Flambeur / Bob The Gambler I want to talk about two film noirs and show the difference 60 odd years have had. Firstly, this Jean-Pierre Melville film from 1955, a low key but typical French noir in that it highlights the divided loyalties in a gang of crooks,…
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Continue reading →: The Measure of My Dreams..This morning Stemnitsa was at its best. It had frozen overnight, down to minus 3, and the sun took its time getting above the surrounding mountains. By 10 am I had finished the book I was reading, a Muriel Spark, and Roja was restless, the sun was evident, so we…
To live more widely
supera superiora sequi
SafeReturnDoubtful is my alias.
Where is Andy?
I was so much older then…
Quote of the Week
Alice asked the Cheshire Cat, who was sitting in a tree, ‘What road do I take?’ The cat asked, ‘Where do you want to go?’ ‘I don’t know,’ Alice answered. ‘Then,’ said the cat, ‘it really doesn’t matter, does it?’
Lewis Carroll
Safe Return Doubtful 