Bits and pieces

In retrospect, it's probably not a good idea to talk at length about the novel 'Zorba the Greek', as it generates a lot of internal conflict. The intention had been to do the whole post on it, but what would it ultimately have been about? The novel is essentially about how someone should live his life, manly Greek love, death, and the sadnesses of thinking too much about things. It's almost sacrilegious to take it apart and write about it at length, or even to think about the way the women are treated in that historical context. Oh, ancient peoples, you and your chauvinistic tendencies, be they wrong or be they right. It is a very good and moving novel, however upsetting it might be in the short term.

'Zorba the Greek' forms the first part of a very curious double bill of entertainment as my 'The Mentalist' sixth season catchup session drove past the demise of semi-mythical series antagonist Red John, and it was very strange. For so many seasons, that primal evil person had haunted the show, and the ultimate reveal of his identity proved to be a problem. It was always going to be a problem, as that killer of Patrick Jane's family had been built up to some kind of mystical power thanks to all his achievements, already been putatively killed at the end of the third season, and his ultimate end just seemed a letdown. They did employ the only known method for dealing with such letdowns though: If the box you're going to open is going to have a disappointing content, then stick it inside another more satisfying box and open that one very quickly! It was all worth it, though, as seeing the tortured Jane free of his demons for the first time in the next episode was a grand, grand experience. I've been a nut for this series, and have no idea why.

That double bill essentially formed the backdrop for an interview trip with an unsatisfying end. Another interview passes down the stream, and slightly more desperation builds up in the demented mind of this author. Truly, it was under-prepared for and now the next ones are going to be much harder. That's the life of an academic, although I might not be one for much longer. Odd though it may sound, academia may just be not difficult enough. Where's the challenge after all? And how to avoid the innumerable biscuits? With one more scheduled interview to go, in Loughborough, it's time to review everything that's happened - yes, including the llama incident, which no-one ever lets me forget - and come to some conclusion that makes sense.

Golly, it has been ages since anything made sense, I wonder if that means anything? Of course it would be very easy to jump far too far in the wrong direction as a reaction to a perceived failure, but on the other hand the best way to commit well-intentioned acts of folly is with complete spontaneity and good will.

To the land of folly! Let there be plenty of honey and big hats!

O.