A Letter

I've since read the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and think the reviewer who saw a large anti-bureaucratic theme in the novel was hallucinating (although it may emerge as a theme in the subsequent novels).

I've been preoccupied with the Swedish question because I've been reading The End of History and it seems to be unanswered by Fukuyama too. As his book is an examination of direction, with only theoretical endpoints, it is understandable that the various societies examined are seen in a time context. After all, of the three really powerful nation-states in the last century (and mutually incompatible antagonistic governmental systems) two are gone and at the time all looked invincible. Who knows what's next and that goes for Sweden too. My confusion stems from the sovereign debt and its known cause, entitlement programs. All of the European nations do it, the north Americans do it and they are all in serious trouble; why is it still a good idea?

Anyway..books and summer reading. I am not sure what you like but my suggestions from recent readings are: 1. Cormac McCarthy. A lot of people hate this guy because of his violence; I think he will win the Nobel Prize. All the Pretty Horses gives a good idea of his ability without being too off-putting. 2. Zafron. Spain's biggest exported writer, bigger than Reverte with his Alatriste franchise. He wrote Shadow of the Wind, his first and best so far, and Angel's Game. Shadow got better reviews and doesn't have the Faustian overreach that Angel does. Both are Dickensian mysteries on steroids. Reverte: A very good writer, the earlier the better. My favorite is The Fencing Master. Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke will be a fantasy classic if you like that sort. She's a good writer, has a companion short story book but according to interviews may not have another book in her. I read Connelly's Poet and Lehane's A Drink Before the War and will read neither again. They are both well written, have interesting characters--especially Lehane--but savagery and child abuse wear on me. I might say the same about Dragon Tattoo but he is an interesting phenomenon and the savagery is over quickly, not a focal point to hold the reader. Nonfiction is too much work for the beach.