μεγά βιβλίον μεγά κακόν

Mega biblion, mega kakon.

Big book, big evil.

This blog's title comes from the Greek poet Callimachus, who rallied against the old, long-winded poetry and advocated a terser verse. Though novellas are not poetry, they do run short. I've been a fan of the novella for a while, but I haven't really read many recently.

Earlier this weekend, I ran across The Novella Challenge and thought I'd join in reading the six novellas -- even though I'm a late entry! It ends Sept 30, so I've got to buckle down and get reading.




Just read Saul Bellow's The Actual (1997) over the weekend. The remaining five will be, in no particular order ...

• Lila Says (1996) Chimo
• Emily L. (1987) Marguerite Dumas
• Old Herbaceous (1950) Reginald Arkell
• The Cuttlefish (1998) Maryline Desbiolles
• Borges and the Eternal Orangutans (2000) Luis Fernando Verissimo

This list is subject to change. I may try to post reviews or just blog something about these novellas as I go, but my main goal will be to read.