Post-hiatus update

It wasn't an intentional hiatus, just one of those "Oh, let's post tomorrow, nothing interesting is happening anyway" things. And then, when something -- moderately -- interesting *did* happen, I didn't have enough time.
I did read the f-list but wasn't really in the mood for commenting, either, for which many apologies.
( The flood )

( Istanbul )

Speaking of stinking, dirty cities, I have a book recommendation -- possibly you've already read it, because it's not exactly new, but just in case you haven't, you might want to consider it: John Iriving's "A Son of the Circus".
It was my first Irving (in the meantime I've ordered Garp, because not having read *that* is an almost inexcusable white patch on the literary map), so I can't say whether it does or doesn't differ from his other oeuvres. It's situated in Mumbai -- back then it was still Bombay -- and basically deals with identity, belonging, and being foreign. The gravitas of these topics nowithstanding, it's hilarious in places, and it's also sort of a crime novel, although this aspect isn't overly important. At the risk of sounding a little clichéd, I'd call it bizarre, shrill, colourful, caleidoscopic... There are dwarfs, eunuch prostitutes, a giant dildo, Bollywood movies, good cops, geriatric Jesuits, a half-crazed Jesuit missionary -- what's not to love?

Also writing-related, I'm now free to confess that I wrote "Three Scoops of Vanilla" as mundungus42's exchange gift (thanks for the message, dearest mundungus42!)
I'd been relatively sure about duniazadebeing the author of my marvellous gift "Do Nifflers Dream of Leprechaun Gold", and the Big Reveal confimed my suspicions.
Not 100% decided as of yet whether to participate in the SSHG promptfest that's currently open for prompts, but I think I might. There's still time till the 16th, though.

OK, now back to tackling the backlog that has accumulated in only five days' absence.