I'm a little behind with posts, so I only now get round to posting about a piece that caught my eye in Saturday's Financial Times, in the magazine section. I don't think it's available online except to subscribers, and maybe not even then:
Pickard, Jim Otherwise engaged FT Magazine June 11 2005: 58
It discussed reading in the lavatory, a practice to which I have bee addicted since I learnt how to. The world divides in those who think that reading in the loo is the best possible use of what would otherwise be wasted time and those, like my mother, and all the partners I have ever had, who consider it unhygienic and anti-social. I am sure this gender division on the issue is purely accidental, and that there are in the world beautiful intelligent women who like nothing better than to read a few pages while at stool.
The article claims some research suggests that the practice may make varicosities of the haemorrhoidal venous plexuses more likely, though a quick Pubmed search didn't find it
If I was so minded I would start one of those meme thingies, where fellow readers in khazis like myself could declare themselves and leave a list of what's beside the cistern. I don't propose to start this hare running, but here's the titles currently in the Roper privy.
Ewart, Gavin The collected Ewart 1933-1980 London: Hutchinson, 1980/ Perfect, short poems, light without being trivial
Cornford, E M Microcosmographica academica: being a guide for the young academic politician London: Bowes & Bowes, 1908 I know this by heart, but it never fails to amuse. I quoted the section on comma hunting to a colleague only this morning.
Thurber, James The Thurber carnival Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1953 Again, fulfils the condition of brevity which is so important here.
Ross, Alan The London Magazine 1961-1985 London: Chatto & Windus, 1986. Anthologies are always good, and this includes writing by Sylvia Plath, Lawrence Durrell, Henry de Montherlant and so on
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