FIVE THINGS: Mrs Olifant's Salem Chapel

A favourite adage of mine is: so many books, so little time. Which is to say life is too short to spend on a book you are not enjoying. And yet, I persisted with this one. It was very hard work. Harder work than reading any novel should be. I cannot recall ever having rolled my eyes as I finished a book before.


Indeed, you may wonder, why did I finish the book if it was so difficult to finish. Simple answer: my reading challenge for the year. The past three years I have set myself reading challenges which consist of a long list of criteria on which I base my reading choices. This has actually been helpful as I own far too many books (see Umberto Eco's notion of the anti-library) and it has been all too often overwhelming simply to choose which book to read. So the reading challenge was the reason I exercised what felt like a lot of determination to finish this book.

I am doubly annoyed as this is the second, 'greenback' Virago as I call them, in a row which I have not enjoyed, The last one, I did not even bother to finish. The main cause then was an annoying character.

However, for what it's worth, my five things on this book, not all bad (although mostly):

1. The plot was unexpected, I must admit that. The story did not go at all as I expected. There was a twist, and some intrigue. that was surprising and initially I did enjoy the book. Alas, that did not last.

2. As I noted in another blogpost - it was rather pleasing when this novel was mentioned in another novel I happened to be reading. Clearly a classic and certainly a favourite of many (as a quick perusal of the Goodreads ratings indicated). Fair enough. I nevertheless invoke what I call the Hobsbawm Mona Lisa principle. Not everything appeals or speaks to everyone. It happens.

3. It felt as though it took quite a lot of determination on my part to finish this book. I did so to satisfy the criteria in my reading challenge to read two books published prior to the 20th century. This is the first of those two books this year. Truth is I am not particularly fond of such classics, though am at times pleasantly surprised. Result is that my list of classics read is very, very short. I have caught up with several Jane Austen books the last few years, but on Dickens, Thomas Hardy and the such I am short. I have only read a George Eliot novella. I think I will nevertheless rather stick to such better known authors going forward. Or put another way: no more of Mrs. Olifant's books for me.

4. The only character I found remotely interesting was Mrs. Hilyard/Mildmay. The rest were superficial fluff and simply uninteresting. The main character, Arthur Vincent was simply exasperating. He is one of the most self-occupied pathetic characters I have come across for a while Even the annoying Angel in Elizabeth Taylor's book with the same name had more substance to her, as unlikable as she was. Too many characters were too lost in their own preoccupations to be able to any basic social skills. All the rest were too shallow to be of any interest at all.

5. The ending, was then just to perfect, wrapped up in a bow. Yuck.

In fact, I refuse to spend another second on this book. Disappointing, and like a bad taste in one's mouth, I really need to find something good to read. If I am unlucky, I doubt I will have the determination to finish reading yet another book which is not worth the time.

Fortunately I am already (as I usually have several books I read at the same time) reading the charming Bridge of birds by Barry Hughart. Now I need to clear my palate, in a manner of speaking and pick that one up. Onwards and upwards.

FIVE THINGS: Kautsky's The dictatorship of the proletariat

I have long fancied myself an academic wannabe of sorts. Essentially if I have one regret in life it is that I waited so long to do my Masters degree, and that I missed the opportunity, possibly to have become a researcher or academic. Nevertheless, I did realise when I finally got around to my postgraduate degree a few years ago that I love theories which attempt to explain the world and can get a surprising amount of energy from the intellectual stimulation which comes from tackling such theories. As a result I am making a concerted effort to improve my education, one could say - my learning journey, as it were.

I recently finished two Norwegian books which basically gave précis of a wide range of thinkers. The first was Demokratisk beredskap which considered thinkers who stood against totalitarianism, both on the right and the left. The people included in this book ranged from Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Raymond Aron and George Orwell, as well as a few Norwegians such as Odd Nansen, son of the better known Fridtjof Nansen. This was the book that first introduced me to Karl Kautsky, student of Karl Marx, but perhaps more significantly, opponent of Lenin and Trotsky, and the Bolshevik notion of the dictatorship of the proletariat. So, I got hold of the very pamphlet with the same name and have now read it. And herewith, my "five things" on that.

1. It is quite fascinating to consider socialism as an inherently democratic organisation of society. This contradicts the framing I have heard my entire life. This includes undergraduate courses in sociology. Well, perhaps not so much was said about socialism, but certainly I have the distinct impression that Marx was a communist, and communism is the dictatorship of the proletariat. Nary a word was said about Lenin though. So Kautsky's posit that democracy is a sine qua non of socialism was a fairly new idea to me. Certainly one I approve of wholeheartedly. Suddenly I may consider the whole "democratic socialism" claims of Bernie Saunders supporters in the US differently. Although, if I cling rigidly to what I understand Kautsky to be saying, that phrase is in fact a tautology.

2. Which in turn raises an interesting question as to why Leninism was so long supported in Europe by the left wing of Europe following the Russian revolution and throughout the 20th Century. Even here in Norway, one of our parties has yet to address to the satisfaction of many their Leninist-totalitarian roots. However, both Demokratisk beredskap and a subsequent book I read - Ideologienes århundre both indicate that Kautsky was largely marginalised in terms of Marxist thinking. Lenin won the framing war on the revolution and communism/socialism. (To understand what I mean by framing, read Don't think of an elephant by George Lakoff). Now there is a research topic, just there - the relationship between framing and hegemonic discourses.

3. Kautsky claims that Karl merely used the phrase "the dictatorship of the proletariat" once, and then in passing in a letter in 1875 (Kautsky, 1919: 42). This was the hook on which the entirety of the Soviet communism was hung as it were. Now this is a blog, and it is after all almost three decades since I first studied Marx, but it must surely be telling that I have such a strong association between precisely Marx and the notion of the "dictatorship of the proletariat". It leads me wonder about the academic rigour of this linkage which I at least take for granted. I am by no means an expert, but perhaps it is fair to assume that as someone who has considered herself quite left wing in my political beliefs my entire life, I may be a tad better informed than those who are to my right on the political scale. (Naturally, I have no basis to make such an assertion, but for argument's sake and should just not. Let's just leave it at the fact that I have learnt something from reading this book which I did not know before).

4. The ends justify the means? Kautsky contrasts the state of the societies in Western Europe versus precisely Russia and refers to the tradition and culture of democracy in each case. Which is possibly why I find the high level of support in Western Europe communist circles for Leninism (and even more so Stalinism) so intriguing. The only rationale reason I can come up with the idea that the ends justify the means. In this case, the final goal is the end of capitalism and the socialisation of the means of production. A very economic analysis (and for this I look forward to finishing the other book I happen to be reading at present, Karl Marx's Ecosocialism  - watch this space for more on that).

5. Kautsky was wrong about a few things, but perhaps not everything. When one consider's the state of Russia today, they are not exactly a robust democracy, it may be warranted to note that Russia has at no point in its history had the opportunity to develop a sturdy democratic culture. Which leads me to wonder whether democracy is as natural human condition as it should be. The trajectory of history in Western Europe has certainly called into question whether democracy was a natural stepping stone to socialism. Certainly, while I have the distinct impression that there is more evidence that socialism would allow for better societal welfare, Western societies have shown themselves more prone to liberal capitalism, even neo-liberal capitalism, even countries well on their way to socialism, as envisaged by Kautsky, like the Scandinavian countries. Furthermore, now in 2019, democratic principles do seem a mite more vulnerable than one would have thought possible. It is disquieting.

So an interesting read, and hopefully I will be able to continue my sojourn to finally plug those holes I have been wondering about. Better late than never after all.

My learning journey continues.

Pictures: Demokratisk beredskap cover, dreyersforlag.no and Picture of Karl Kautsky

Kautskay, Karl (1919) The dictatorship of the proletariat,
Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood publishers (1981 reprint)

Literary titbits

This is the sort of thing I love, but that no doubt is not especially interesting to any one else. As no one reads this blog however, I can in good conscience "practice" writing by mentioning it anyway.

Twice now it has happened that two totally different books I am reading have odd links with each other.

The first was an English crime I recently read, called "Gone Away" by Hazel Holt. In that book, the sleuth, Mrs. Malory, a literary critic, refers to a book called "Salem Chapel" by Mrs. Olifant. A book I also happen to be reading at present, if somewhat slowly. A book I would never have known about had it not been what I affectionately call a greenback Virago paperback (which I collect). Enough of a coincidence to be interesting I thought.

Secondly, I finished A piece of justice by Jill Paton Walsh today. Another English crime (yes, I do read quite a few of those. At least as good as yoga). In that book, a comment was made about John Maynard Keynes as Bursar for his Cambridge college. I did not understand the reference (and was not curious enough to find out).  Nevertheless, I am also reading a Norwegian book called Ideologienes århundre (Ideologies century) by Bent Hagtvet, a Norwegian academic. Just today I started reading the chapter on Keynes, and voilá, the explanation of the significance of Keynes as bursar for his Cambridge colleage, Kings, was provided at no extra charge. Which is why simply reading broadly is educational perhaps!

Small things, but nevertheless does add to the enjoyment of reading.

FIVE THINGS - Death's End by Liu Cixin

Seems like the easiest blogs for me to write are my book reivews. So herewith another.

Death's End by the Chinese writer Liu Cixin is the final book in The Three Body Problem trilogy. A trilogy which seems also to be known as the Remembrance of Earth's Past trilogy. In and of itself interest, as the latter name makes sense at the end of the third book, while the former name makes more sense at the start. Book one is The Three Body Problem, and book two is The Dark Forest. The impression one may get from the start, that it is about how the Earth fights against the Trisolaris aliens from outer space is only partially correct. In fact the "dark forest" hypothesis, as introduced in the second book turns out to be more indicative of the journey one takes over. This blog post is however not about the trilogy, but only about the final book. If for no other reason than because it is such a dense book in and of itself.

1.  I am making a concerted effort to read more among other things more non-Western authors. I suspect my expectations were a bit high for this book though, as I would have loved to gained some mystical insight into the differences between the Oriental and Occidental worlds in this book. Not particularly aware that I did. I had great hopes when a key point seems to be how not being taught Eastern style painting is key to defeating a villain. I am not aware of any particular insight in this respect. It was also somewhat disappointing that the existence of Africa was not mentioned. I could accept it not being a central part of the theme, but it was reminiscent of the erasure of an entire continent in what is otherwise a story with global implications. Not a good look.

2. The book(s) cover a lot oft time. Ultimately millions of years! The chief protagonist of the final book, Cheng Xin, is used to illustrate one key theme of this book: the fickleness and inconsistency of humans. Not sure it is however, as well implemented as it could have been.

3. One aspect I did enjoy was the consideration of deterrence as defense. [Warning: potential spoiler ahead]. While one person cannot bring themselves to "push the button" when the time comes, others do. Yes, a democratic decision as opposed to the responsibility of the globe placed on one person. My own reaction was food for thought. It is easy when it is just a book, but it made me realise that it is a very complex question.

4. Stereotypes. It was interesting that it felt as though the book did contain particular stereotypes. Between men and women. Also, I am fairly certain that virtually throughout the trilogy, all men from the US are archetypal and ruthless "hawks". The Chinese characters are much more varied and nuanced.

5. Enjoyed the first half of the book more than the latter. In the end it felt as though the writer was trying to do too much. I suppose that the anthropologist/ethnologist in me would have preferred some more depth rather than literally eons passing in the space of a few pages. So a bit disappointing in the end, but nevertheless all in all an enjoyable read. I would tend to recommend the trilogy.

Extra "thing": cosmo-engineering! Why worry about geo-engineering in that case?

Quotes from the book:

"Behind them, the blue flag of the UN took up most of the picture. The text on the poster read: Let us build a new Great Wall for the Solar System with our flesh!" (p. 296)


Death is the only lighthouse that is always lit. No matter where you sail, ultimately, you must turn toward it. Everything fades in the world, but Death endures.” (p.379)


A museum was built for visitors; a tombstone was built for the builders. (p.510)

Liu, Cixin. Death's End (The Three-Body Problem) Head of Zeus. Kindle Edition.