So, gratitude is due to
a) the gods for randomly assigning me to be born in a rich country at a time of relative peace (never mind the slow violence) and in a situation where I got a good education without succumbing (in all ways at least) to the indoctrination
b) to the genetic lottery that meant I learnt to read painlessly, have a retentive memory etc
c) live in a place where there are good books on the library shelves.
Which brings me to Pankaj Mishra’s The World After Gaza and Jenny Erpenbeck’s Kairos. Non-fiction and fiction respectively, they are linked by a focus on the really appalling criminality that went down in the middle of “civilized” Europe in the first half of the twentieth century, and the ways the survivors, traumatised in ways they dare not articulate, are bent way outa shape. As someone, I forget who, once said “Man hands on misery to man, it deepens like a coastal shelf.”
I’ve read work by both authors already, and while still – obviously – am in awe of their erudition, compassion, wisdom and flair, I am not surprised by these qualities. These are people with the “natural talent” but also the discipline, tenacity, organisation and focus to produce important works, that can help the rest of us peons figure out a bit more about the shitshows we are swirling in, as we circle the drain (if you’ve not read Edgar Allen Poe’s The Maelstrom, give it a go).
The publisher of Mishra’s book didn’t provide an index, which is a real faux pas, and I am making one as I go – will share. I will review both books in due course.
God we are so fubarred. Oh well. At least I didn’t breed. So, there’s that.
marchudson.net 
These books sound really interesting – I’ll have to give them a read. As you well know, I spend an inordinate amount of time thinking about Gaza but I’ve always been fascinated by the GDR (I don’t know if you’ve read Anna Funder’s Stasiland but it’s pretty good).
We are fucked but at least, I think, it’s as obvious as it’s ever been that our leaders are evil and/or useless and our systems don’t work.