2025 Reading List Monthly Update: May

Books read in May of 2025:

"Turning to Birds: The Power and Beauty of Noticing" (Lili Taylor) 5-5-25

"Touching from a Distance: Ian Curtis and Joy Division" (Deborah Curtis) 5-8-25

"Six Tragedies: Macbeth, Hamlet, Othello, Romeo and Juliet, King Lear, Julius Caesar" (William Shakespeare)" 5-16-25 +

"Holding Pattern" (Jenny Xie) 5-21-25 

"Art and Beauty in the Middle Ages" (Umberto Eco) 5-28-25 

"The True History of the Black Adder" (J.F. Roberts) 5-28-25 

"The Tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra" (William Shakespeare) 5-29-25 

"All's Well That Ends Well" (William Shakespeare) 5-30-25

"The Merchant of Venice" (William Shakespeare) 5-31-25 

-

2025 Reading List Total:

-

1. "The Medieval Scriptorium: Making Books in the Middle Ages" (Sara J. Charles) 1-5-25 

2. "Strange Pictures" (Uketsu) 1-10-25

3. "Jollof Rice and Other Revolutions" (Omolola Ijeoma Ogunyemi) 1-11-25

4. "The Violin with Human Strings and Other Tales of Musical Madness" (Antonio Ghislanzoni) 1-14-25

5. "Anuarí" (Teresa Wilms Montt) 1-16-25 

6. "Voices of the Fallen Heroes and Other Stories" (Yukio Mishima) 1-20-25

7. "When I Think of My Missing Head" (Adolfo Couve) 1-20-25

8. "Medieval Woodcut Illustrations: City Views and Decorations from the Nuremberg Chronicle" (Carol Belanger Grafton) 1-20-25

9. "Alright, Alright, Alright: The Oral History of Richard Linklater's Dazed & Confused" (Melissa Maerz) 1-22-25 

10. "The Song of Roland and Other Poems of Charlemagne" (Anonymous) 1-29-25 

11. "The Illustrated History of the Popes" (Charles Phillips) 2-7-25

12. "The Prince" (Niccolo Machiavelli) 2-16-25

13. "The Complete Canterbury Tales" (Geoffrey Chaucer) 2-17-25 

14. "A Perfect Day to Be Alone" (Nanae Aoyama) 2-20-25

15. "Upuaut" (Brendan Connell) 2-23-25 

16. "The Aristocracy of Nerves (and One Other)" (Justin Isis) 2-24-25 

17. "Goodbye 20th Century: A Biography of Sonic Youth" (David Browne) 2-24-25 

18. "El Cid: The Life and Afterlife of a Medieval Mercenary" (Nora Berend) 2-28-25

19. "The Big Lebowski: The Making of a Coen Brothers Film" (William Preston Robertson + Tricia Cooke) 3-4-25 

20. "Six Histories: King John, Richard II, King Henry IV Pts. 1 & 2, Henry V, Richard III" (William Shakespeare) 3-14-25

21. "Medieval Cats: Claws, Paws, and Kitties of Yore" (Catherine Nappington) 3-16-25

22. "Orbital" (Samantha Harvey) 3-19-25

23. "The Liminal Zone 2" (Junji Ito) 3-20-25

24. "Spectacular Visual Guides: A Shakespearean Theatre" (Jacqueline Morley/John James) 3-21-25

25. "Vladivostok Circus" (Elisa Shua Dusapin) 3-27-25

26. "Seinfeldia: How a Show About Nothing Changed Everything" (Jennifer Keishin Armstrong) 3-29-25

27. "En Route" (J.-K. Huysmans/Brendan King translation) 4-6-25 +

28. "10,000 Light-Years From Home" (James Tiptree Jr.) 4-15-25

29. "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" (J.R.R. Tolkien) 4-25-25 

30. "The Rainbow" (Yasunari Kawabata) 4-30-25

31. "Turning to Birds: The Power and Beauty of Noticing" (Lili Taylor) 5-5-25

32. "Touching from a Distance: Ian Curtis and Joy Division" (Deborah Curtis) 5-8-25

33. "Six Tragedies: Macbeth, Hamlet, Othello, Romeo and Juliet, King Lear, Julius Caesar" (William Shakespeare)" 5-16-25 +

34. "Holding Pattern" (Jenny Xie) 5-21-25 

35. "Art and Beauty in the Middle Ages" (Umberto Eco) 5-28-25 

36. "The True History of the Black Adder" (J.F. Roberts) 5-28-25 

37. "The Tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra" (William Shakespeare) 5-29-25 

38. "All's Well That Ends Well" (William Shakespeare) 5-30-25

39. "The Merchant of Venice" (William Shakespeare) 5-31-25 

*= book I have read at least once in the past
+= book I have read before, but not this reprint/edition/translation

Currently Reading: 

Neo-Passéism Substack Interview

I keep forgetting to mention this, but over the last few months I've been a frequent contributor to the Neo-Passéism Substack. Here's a link to the Substack's archive, where one can find a number of various articles, some (though not all) of which I contributed to (it's planned to get to 50 or so entries): 

https://neopasseism.substack.com/archive?sort=new

Contributors to the Neo-Passéism Substack are also periodically being interviewed, and I was picked as the first subject. Topics covered include virginity, books written by my brothers, my interest in Medievalism, Shakespeare as a fan fiction writer, my long out-of-print debut novel CONFUSION, my forthcoming French Decadent short novel PULP FIN-DE-SIÈCLE, and (most importantly) why Lady Gaga is more important than Rihanna. Thanks to Justin Isis for the questions and Dan Heyer for the artwork (I was happy to see he included the northern boundary line of my chest hair)

https://neopasseism.substack.com/p/james-champagne-interview

2025 Reading List Monthly Update: April

 Books read in April of 2025:

"En Route" (J.-K. Huysmans/Brendan King translation) 4-6-25 +

"10,000 Light-Years From Home" (James Tiptree Jr.) 4-15-25

"The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" (J.R.R. Tolkien) 4-25-25 

"The Rainbow" (Yasunari Kawabata) 4-30-25 

-

2025 Reading List Total:

-

1. "The Medieval Scriptorium: Making Books in the Middle Ages" (Sara J. Charles) 1-5-25 

2. "Strange Pictures" (Uketsu) 1-10-25

3. "Jollof Rice and Other Revolutions" (Omolola Ijeoma Ogunyemi) 1-11-25

4. "The Violin with Human Strings and Other Tales of Musical Madness" (Antonio Ghislanzoni) 1-14-25

5. "Anuarí" (Teresa Wilms Montt) 1-16-25 

6. "Voices of the Fallen Heroes and Other Stories" (Yukio Mishima) 1-20-25

7. "When I Think of My Missing Head" (Adolfo Couve) 1-20-25

8. "Medieval Woodcut Illustrations: City Views and Decorations from the Nuremberg Chronicle" (Carol Belanger Grafton) 1-20-25

9. "Alright, Alright, Alright: The Oral History of Richard Linklater's Dazed & Confused" (Melissa Maerz) 1-22-25 

10. "The Song of Roland and Other Poems of Charlemagne" (Anonymous) 1-29-25 

11. "The Illustrated History of the Popes" (Charles Phillips) 2-7-25

12. "The Prince" (Niccolo Machiavelli) 2-16-25

13. "The Complete Canterbury Tales" (Geoffrey Chaucer) 2-17-25 

14. "A Perfect Day to Be Alone" (Nanae Aoyama) 2-20-25

15. "Upuaut" (Brendan Connell) 2-23-25 

16. "The Aristocracy of Nerves (and One Other)" (Justin Isis) 2-24-25 

17. "Goodbye 20th Century: A Biography of Sonic Youth" (David Browne) 2-24-25 

18. "El Cid: The Life and Afterlife of a Medieval Mercenary" (Nora Berend) 2-28-25

19. "The Big Lebowski: The Making of a Coen Brothers Film" (William Preston Robertson + Tricia Cooke) 3-4-25 

20. "Six Histories: King John, Richard II, King Henry IV Pts. 1 & 2, Henry V, Richard III" (William Shakespeare) 3-14-25

21. "Medieval Cats: Claws, Paws, and Kitties of Yore" (Catherine Nappington) 3-16-25

22. "Orbital" (Samantha Harvey) 3-19-25

23. "The Liminal Zone 2" (Junji Ito) 3-20-25

24. "Spectacular Visual Guides: A Shakespearean Theatre" (Jacqueline Morley/John James) 3-21-25

25. "Vladivostok Circus" (Elisa Shua Dusapin) 3-27-25

26. "Seinfeldia: How a Show About Nothing Changed Everything" (Jennifer Keishin Armstrong) 3-29-25

27. "En Route" (J.-K. Huysmans/Brendan King translation) 4-6-25 +

28. "10,000 Light-Years From Home" (James Tiptree Jr.) 4-15-25

29. "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" (J.R.R. Tolkien) 4-25-25 

30. "The Rainbow" (Yasunari Kawabata) 4-30-25

*= book I have read at least once in the past
+= book I have read before, but not this reprint/edition/translation

Currently Reading: 

"Six Tragedies: Macbeth, Hamlet, Othello, Romeo and Juliet, King Lear, Julius Caesar" (William Shakespeare) 

2025 Reading List Monthly Update: March

Books read in March of 2025:

"The Big Lebowski: The Making of a Coen Brothers Film" (William Preston Robertson + Tricia Cooke) 3-4-25 

"Six Histories: King John, Richard II, King Henry IV Pts. 1 & 2, Henry V, Richard III" (William Shakespeare) 3-14-25

"Medieval Cats: Claws, Paws, and Kitties of Yore" (Catherine Nappington) 3-16-25

"Orbital" (Samantha Harvey) 3-19-25

"The Liminal Zone 2" (Junji Ito) 3-20-25

"Spectacular Visual Guides: A Shakespearean Theatre" (Jacqueline Morley/John James) 3-21-25

"Vladivostok Circus" (Elisa Shua Dusapin) 3-27-25

"Seinfeldia: How a Show About Nothing Changed Everything" (Jennifer Keishin Armstrong) 3-29-25

-

2025 Reading List Total:

-

1. "The Medieval Scriptorium: Making Books in the Middle Ages" (Sara J. Charles) 1-5-25 

2. "Strange Pictures" (Uketsu) 1-10-25

3. "Jollof Rice and Other Revolutions" (Omolola Ijeoma Ogunyemi) 1-11-25

4. "The Violin with Human Strings and Other Tales of Musical Madness" (Antonio Ghislanzoni) 1-14-25

5. "Anuarí" (Teresa Wilms Montt) 1-16-25 

6. "Voices of the Fallen Heroes and Other Stories" (Yukio Mishima) 1-20-25

7. "When I Think of My Missing Head" (Adolfo Couve) 1-20-25

8. "Medieval Woodcut Illustrations: City Views and Decorations from the Nuremberg Chronicle" (Carol Belanger Grafton) 1-20-25

9. "Alright, Alright, Alright: The Oral History of Richard Linklater's Dazed & Confused" (Melissa Maerz) 1-22-25 

10. "The Song of Roland and Other Poems of Charlemagne" (Anonymous) 1-29-25 

11. "The Illustrated History of the Popes" (Charles Phillips) 2-7-25

12. "The Prince" (Niccolo Machiavelli) 2-16-25

13. "The Complete Canterbury Tales" (Geoffrey Chaucer) 2-17-25 

14. "A Perfect Day to Be Alone" (Nanae Aoyama) 2-20-25

15. "Upuaut" (Brendan Connell) 2-23-25 

16. "The Aristocracy of Nerves (and One Other)" (Justin Isis) 2-24-25 

17. "Goodbye 20th Century: A Biography of Sonic Youth" (David Browne) 2-24-25 

18. "El Cid: The Life and Afterlife of a Medieval Mercenary" (Nora Berend) 2-28-25

19. "The Big Lebowski: The Making of a Coen Brothers Film" (William Preston Robertson + Tricia Cooke) 3-4-25 

20. "Six Histories: King John, Richard II, King Henry IV Pts. 1 & 2, Henry V, Richard III" (William Shakespeare) 3-14-25

21. "Medieval Cats: Claws, Paws, and Kitties of Yore" (Catherine Nappington) 3-16-25

22. "Orbital" (Samantha Harvey) 3-19-25

23. "The Liminal Zone 2" (Junji Ito) 3-20-25

24. "Spectacular Visual Guides: A Shakespearean Theatre" (Jacqueline Morley/John James) 3-21-25

25. "Vladivostok Circus" (Elisa Shua Dusapin) 3-27-25

26. "Seinfeldia: How a Show About Nothing Changed Everything" (Jennifer Keishin Armstrong) 3-29-25

*= book I have read at least once in the past
+= book I have read before, but not this reprint/edition/translation

Currently Reading: 

"En Route" (J.-K. Huysmans) 

"10,000 Light-Years From Home" (James Tiptree Jr.) 

2025 Reading List Monthly Update: February

 Books read in February of 2025:

"The Illustrated History of the Popes" (Charles Phillips) 2-7-25

"The Prince" (Niccolo Machiavelli) 2-16-25

"The Complete Canterbury Tales" (Geoffrey Chaucer) 2-17-25 

"A Perfect Day to Be Alone" (Nanae Aoyama) 2-20-25

"Upuaut" (Brendan Connell) 2-23-25 

"The Aristocracy of Nerves (and One Other)" (Justin Isis) 2-24-25 

"Goodbye 20th Century: A Biography of Sonic Youth" (David Browne) 2-24-25 

"El Cid: The Life and Afterlife of a Medieval Mercenary" (Nora Berend) 2-28-25 

-

2025 Reading List Total:

-

1. "The Medieval Scriptorium: Making Books in the Middle Ages" (Sara J. Charles) 1-5-25 

2. "Strange Pictures" (Uketsu) 1-10-25

3. "Jollof Rice and Other Revolutions" (Omolola Ijeoma Ogunyemi) 1-11-25

4. "The Violin with Human Strings and Other Tales of Musical Madness" (Antonio Ghislanzoni) 1-14-25

5. "Anuarí" (Teresa Wilms Montt) 1-16-25 

6. "Voices of the Fallen Heroes and Other Stories" (Yukio Mishima) 1-20-25

7. "When I Think of My Missing Head" (Adolfo Couve) 1-20-25

8. "Medieval Woodcut Illustrations: City Views and Decorations from the Nuremberg Chronicle" (Carol Belanger Grafton) 1-20-25

9. "Alright, Alright, Alright: The Oral History of Richard Linklater's Dazed & Confused" (Melissa Maerz) 1-22-25 

10. "The Song of Roland and Other Poems of Charlemagne" (Anonymous) 1-29-25 

11. "The Illustrated History of the Popes" (Charles Phillips) 2-7-25

12. "The Prince" (Niccolo Machiavelli) 2-16-25

13. "The Complete Canterbury Tales" (Geoffrey Chaucer) 2-17-25 

14. "A Perfect Day to Be Alone" (Nanae Aoyama) 2-20-25

15. "Upuaut" (Brendan Connell) 2-23-25 

16. "The Aristocracy of Nerves (and One Other)" (Justin Isis) 2-24-25 

17. "Goodbye 20th Century: A Biography of Sonic Youth" (David Browne) 2-24-25 

18. "El Cid: The Life and Afterlife of a Medieval Mercenary" (Nora Berend) 2-28-25

*= book I have read at least once in the past
+= book I have read before, but not this reprint/edition/translation

Currently Reading: 

"Six Histories" (William Shakespeare)

2025 Reading List Monthly Update: January

Books read in January of 2025:

"The Medieval Scriptorium: Making Books in the Middle Ages" (Sara J. Charles) 1-5-25 

"Strange Pictures" (Uketsu) 1-10-25

"Jollof Rice and Other Revolutions" (Omolola Ijeoma Ogunyemi) 1-11-25

"The Violin with Human Strings and Other Tales of Musical Madness" (Antonio Ghislanzoni) 1-14-25

"Anuarí" (Teresa Wilms Montt) 1-16-25 

"Voices of the Fallen Heroes and Other Stories" (Yukio Mishima) 1-20-25

"When I Think of My Missing Head" (Adolfo Couve) 1-20-25

"Medieval Woodcut Illustrations: City Views and Decorations from the Nuremberg Chronicle" (Carol Belanger Grafton) 1-20-25

"Alright, Alright, Alright: The Oral History of Richard Linklater's Dazed & Confused" (Melissa Maerz) 1-22-25 

"The Song of Roland and Other Poems of Charlemagne" (Anonymous) 1-29-25 

-

2025 Reading List Total:

-

1. "The Medieval Scriptorium: Making Books in the Middle Ages" (Sara J. Charles) 1-5-25 

2. "Strange Pictures" (Uketsu) 1-10-25

3. "Jollof Rice and Other Revolutions" (Omolola Ijeoma Ogunyemi) 1-11-25

4. "The Violin with Human Strings and Other Tales of Musical Madness" (Antonio Ghislanzoni) 1-14-25

5. "Anuarí" (Teresa Wilms Montt) 1-16-25 

6. "Voices of the Fallen Heroes and Other Stories" (Yukio Mishima) 1-20-25

7. "When I Think of My Missing Head" (Adolfo Couve) 1-20-25

8. "Medieval Woodcut Illustrations: City Views and Decorations from the Nuremberg Chronicle" (Carol Belanger Grafton) 1-20-25

9. "Alright, Alright, Alright: The Oral History of Richard Linklater's Dazed & Confused" (Melissa Maerz) 1-22-25 

10. "The Song of Roland and Other Poems of Charlemagne" (Anonymous) 1-29-25 

*= book I have read at least once in the past
+= book I have read before, but not this reprint/edition/translation

Currently Reading: 

"The Illustrated History of the Popes" (Charles Phillips) 

"The Complete Canterbury Tales" (Geoffrey Chaucer) 

Top 100 Albums of All-Time List (as of January 2025)

Recently I decided to update my Top 100 Albums of All-time list (mainly rock/pop, not counting soundtracks, Classical, and so on). Albums with an asterisk indicate new additions

1. Add N to (X): Avant Hard (1999)

2. Alice in Chains: Dirt (1992)

3. Aphex Twin: Selected Ambient Works 85-92 (1992)

4. Aphex Twin: Selected Ambient Works Volume 2 (1994)

5. Bauhaus: In the Flat Field (1980)

6. Brendan Perry: Eye of the Hunter (1999)

7. Chappell Roan: The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess (2023) *

8. Chris & Cosey: Heartbeat (1981) *

9. Chrome: Half Machine Lip Moves (1979)

10. Cibo Matto: Stereo Type A (1999)

11. Coil: Horse Rotorvator (1986)

12. The Cure: Seventeen Seconds (1980) *

13. The Cure: The Top (1984) *

14. Current 93: Dogs Blood Rising (1984)

15. Current 93: Imperium (1987)

16. Current 93: Black Ships Ate the Sky (2006)

17. Cut Hands: Festival of the Dead (2014)

18. D.A.F.: Alles Ist Gut (1981)

19. David Bowie: The Next Day (2013)

20. Dead Can Dance: Dead Can Dance (1984)

21. Depeche Mode: Black Celebration (1986)

22. Depeche Mode: Playing the Angel (2005)

23. Depeche Mode: Violator (1990) *

24. Durutti Column: The Return of the Durutti Column (1980) *

25. Einstürzende Neubauten: Halber Mensch (1985)

26. Emerson, Lake & Palmer: Brain Salad Surgery (1973)

27. Fad Gadget: Gag (1984)

28. Fleet Foxes: Fleet Foxes (2008) *

29. Fleetwood Mac: Rumours (1977)

30. Fleetwood Mac: Tusk (1979)

31. Front Line Assembly: The Initial Command (1987) *

32. Garbage: Garbage (1995) *

33. Genesis: Invisible Touch (1986)

34. Harry Styles: Fine Line (2019)

35. Joy Division: Unknown Pleasures (1979)

36. Joy Division: Closer (1980)

37. Kate Bush: Hounds of Love (1985)

38. Keane: Under the Iron Sea (2006) *

39. King Crimson: Red (1974) *

40. Lady Gaga: The Fame (2008)

41. Lady Gaga: Artpop (2013)

42. Lady Gaga: Chromatica (2020)

43. Ladytron: Ladytron (2019)

44. Lindsey Buckingham: Lindsey Buckingham (2021) *

45. Madonna: Like a Virgin (1984)

46. Manic Street Preachers: The Holy Bible (1994)

47. Manic Street Preachers: Journal for Plague Lovers (2009)

48. Meg & Dia: Here, Here and Here (2009) *

49. Ministry: The Land of Rape & Honey (1988)

50. Ministry: Filth Pig (1996)

51. Ministry: Animositisomina (2003) *

52. Ministry: Houses of the Mole (2004) *

53. Natalie Imbruglia: Left of the Middle (1998) *

54. Nico: The Marble Index (1968)

55. Nine Inch Nails: Pretty Hate Machine (1989)

56. Nine Inch Nails: The Downward Spiral (1994)

57. Nine Inch Nails: The Fragile (1999)

58. Nine Inch Nails: Hesitation Marks (2013)

59. NON: Children of the Black Sun (2002) *

60. Nurse With Wound: Merzbild Schwet (1980)

61. ohGr: Welt (2001) *

62. Pink Floyd: The Wall (1979)

63. The Pixies: Doolittle (1989) *

64. The Police: Synchronicity (1983)

65. Public Enemy: Fear of a Black Planet (1990)

66. Public Image Limited: Second Edition (1980)

67. The Residents: The Third Reich & Roll (1976)

68. Rilo Kiley: Under the Blacklight (2007)

69. Sara Bareilles: The Blessed Unrest (2013) *

70. Scott Walker: The Drift (2006) *

71. Scraping Foetus Off The Wheel: Nail (1985)

72. The Shins: Heartworms (2017) *

73. Silicon Teens: Music for Parties (1980) *

74. Siouxsie & the Banshees: The Scream (1978)

75. Siouxsie & the Banshees: Join Hands (1979)

76. Siouxsie & the Banshees: Kaleidoscope (1980)

77. Siouxsie & the Banshees: Juju (1981) *

78. Siouxsie & the Banshees: A Kiss in the Dreamhouse (1982)

79. Skinny Puppy: Cleanse, Fold and Manipulate (1987)

80. Soft Cell: This Last Night in Sodom (1984)

81. Sonic Youth: Daydream Nation (1988)

82. Sonic Youth: Murray Street (2002)

83. Sting: The Dream of the Blue Turtles (1985)

84. Sting: The Soul Cages (1991) *

85. Sting: Ten Summoner’s Tales (1993) *

86. Suicide: A Way of Life (1988)

87. Suzanne Vega: Days of Open Hand (1990)

88. Suzanne Vega: Nine Objects of Desire (1996)

89. Swans: Children of God (1987)

90. Switchblade Symphony: Serpentine Gallery (1995)

91. Terry Riley: Shri Camel (1978)

92. Throbbing Gristle: Heathen Earth (1980)

93. Utada Hikaru: Ultra Blue (2006)

94. Vainio Väisänen Vega: Endless (1998) *

95. The Velvet Underground: The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967)

96. The Velvet Underground: White Light/White Heat (1968)

97. Whitehouse: Bird Seed (2003)

98. Wire: A Bell is a Cup… (1988)

99. Yes: Fragile (1972) *

100. Yola: Walk Through Fire (2019) *

The old list (from 2020):

https://onyxglossary.blogspot.com/2020/06/top-100-albums-of-all-time-as-of-june.html

100. Yola: Walk Through Fire (2019) *

Third Novel Complete: PULP FIN-DE-SIÈCLE

Yesterday I finished work on my third novel, PULP FIN-DE-SIÈCLE. For those keeping track of such things, it’s literally been almost nine years since I finished the first draft of my second novel HARLEM SMOKE (on Jan. 20, 2016); of course, in that span of time, I did do a few other books. This new one began life as a short story/novella that I wrote back in 2019 (back then, it was called THE POISONED CITY). Over the last five years, I kept adding bits and pieces to it on a periodic basis, and it kept expanding and getting longer and longer, eventually more than doubling its original size. Finally, last year I decided to just start thinking of it as a short novel. At over 40,000 words, it’s slightly shorter than, say, something like THE GREAT GATSBY. But I think every author should have at least one short novel in their bibliography: Camus had THE STRANGER, Orwell had ANIMAL FARM, Steinbeck had THE PEARL and OF MICE AND MEN, Conrad had HEART OF DARKNESS, and so on. But I should stress that I view it not as a novella, but as either a short novel or just a plain novel period!

The project can be (tongue-in-cheek) described as MONSIEUR DE PHOCAS meets THE CANTERBURY TALES, and is kind of a tribute to all of the 19th-century French Decadent authors I’ve been reading and enjoying over the last 20 years or so (in particular, Jean Lorrain, J.-K. Huysmans, and Leon Bloy). It’s set over a period of 24 hours on an April day in Paris in 1893, and is divided into seven 10-15 page sections, each of which revolve around a stock character from the books and stories of that era: a Priest, a Symbolist Artist, a Dandy, an Actress, a Prostitute, a Diabolist/Occultist, and a Decadent Novelist . . . but all of the characters drift in and out of each other’s sections/stories, hence why I somewhat jokingly gave the book the current title it has. Of course, even though it’s something of a mosaic novel, the true main character of the book is Paris itself, with its churches and cafés, its opera houses and artist studios, and so on and so forth.