Booknotes 5.18

A Passionate Pilgrim, by Henry James, published 1871, fiction, 104 pages. A little weird, a little haunted. I really enjoyed the descriptions and characterizations, especially past the beginning. The America vs. England bit took on more meaning after I learned (while, um, writing this) that James spent the last half of his life in England. Looking forward to reading the rest of James’s work and some biographies (maybe Edel’s? not sure yet). Essays, by Ralph Waldo Emerson, published 1841/1844 (in two volumes), nonfiction, 502 pages. Lots of interesting ideas. I’m glad I read it, but by the end his manner of stating things very confidently became grating and I was equally glad to be done. It might have been better if I’d spaced the essays out over time instead of gulping them down all at once. Still, worth reading. Days of Shattered Faith, by Adrian Tchaikovsky, published 2025, fantasy, 659 pages. Third in the Tyrant Philosophers series. Really liked it, as always. The world continues…