Not sure what to read next: There’s new Neal Stephenson, and Empress of Forever briefly touched its hat to Gene Wolfe, but I’m not sure I want either the commitment or to read another old white dude right now, but I also don’t have anything else lined up.
Empress of Forever was really good. It took a left turn at chapter 3, then fell into a structure so superficially standard that I didn’t notice the very interesting thing Gladstone was doing until about halfway through. Another book I’ll be thinking about in the next weeks.
Now starting Empress of Forever by Max Gladstone.
Ritz & Escoffier was fascinating, a little chatty and gossipy but perhaps that’s appropriate for the subject matter. I wasn’t aware how much those two shaped the modern hotel and restaurant businesses.
Now starting Ritz & Escoffier: The Hotelier, the Chef & the Rise of the Leisure Class by Luke Barr.