Good lines: books and cakes, and more

    

     "With novels, like cakes, you never know."

Robertson Davies. 

You can read the interview from which that comes here, but let's take a couple more good lines from it:

"I often read, with amazement, of people who suffer from writer's block; I might enjoy a wee block, just to have time to catch my breath."

And on Trollope: "Trollope is endlessly gripping, though it's rather crunchy granola: you chomp your way resolutely through it because the story is so good."

     Robertson Davies was a wonderful discovery for me last year when the Book Group read Fifth Business and I followed that a while later with The Cunning Man; I'm glad I have many more of his books to look forward to, but if you don't already know him, I would strongly recommend making his acquaintance.

Comments

[desperate reader]

I love Davies, I'm pretty sure I started with Fifth Business too, it was an impulse buy and I've never looked back!

[Bloomsbury Bell]

I haven't heard of him but he sounds like someone I should look into!

[Juxtabook]

In a bit of blogging synchronicity I mentioned Robertson Davies on Juxtabook yesterday too. I had my paws temporarily on two of his books last week and wished I'd had time to read them.

Thank you for the postcard by the way - a very appropriate choice of card!

[Penny]

Your quotes are making me think I should find out more about this writer!

[Ed]

That is an great interview. I have actually read the books that he mentions writing at the time of the interview "The Lyre of Orpheus" and it is excellent.

[Thomas at My Porch]

I haven't read Davies since I read The Deptford Trilogy years ago. I think it is time to pick up another title.

[Tom C]

I discovered him some years ago and read everything I could find by him. What a wonderful writer he is - I totally agree

[Karen]

I am devoted to Trollope, and this convinces me that I must read Mr. Davies as well!

[Tui]

He was the editor of the newspaper in our town and I used to pass him on the way to school each morning. He was delightful. For pure humour, you can't beat his "The Papers of Samuel Marchbanks" while his serious literature can hold its head up with any in the world.

[Cornflower]

Wonderful, Tui!