“To acquire the habit of reading is to construct for yourself a refuge from almost all of the miseries of life.” ~Somerset Maugham
As of late I started to break out in hives every time my phone rang. I used to welcome phone calls but this summer has brought an inordinate amount of calls concerning the funereal dates of friends and the horrific untimely death of those too young. The world is great until a friend is shot to death or a much admired child dies of leukaemia. Death is an invitation we shall all receive, but hopefully in our sleep. It is the burden of those who awake to mourn, to appreciate life and make the best of the day that we are given.
So why this macabre lead-in to a book? Because, Skin and Other Stories by Roald Dahl, gave me the ‘momentary’ thrill of revenge. For how would you get rid of a murder weapon without causing suspicion?
And where would you hide a diamond where no one else would think of looking? What if you found out that the tattoo on your back was worth over a million dollars? You will discover that just about anything is possible in a Roald Dahl story, and there are eleven of his very best.
4 comments:
Hello dear friend:
As one becomes older, [and we are not including you here] one's thoughts increasingly turn to death and the realisation that, sooner or later, we shall all shed this mortal coil. Turning 88 this year, such thoughts tend to surface rather more often than before but, conversely, one does find oneself valuing and appreciating more, rather as you say, all that life has to offer.
And one of today's joys is that you have a new post which includes one of your delightful reviews which so captures the very essence of this topic.
LIVING well is the best revenge. ~Talmud.
And, for now, banish all thoughts of dying!!
Thank you, well commented.
Here and reading, Ms. E. I'll have to check out Dahl on your recommendation. Dying makes life worth living, n'est-ce pas?
combien vrai G McE!
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