"they felt as if they were shut out from an Eden of ignorance. On this side there was nothing to look forward to but experience." [greene, brighton rock]

i've been here around 6 months now. a friend tells me that's the time you know whether you're going to stick or skip it.

read 'the power and the glory' and went straight on to 'brighton rock'. greene's bleak, and yet can write so beautifully; once you hit the stride you want to keep going.

And i've got some classic penguin eds. i've always loved Allen Lane (founder of Penguin)'s approach, justifying occasional publishing failures with a cry of "swings and roundabouts". for a balance sheet, and for a life.