The Painted Veil and Gilead

I am most of the way through The Painted Veil. It is so accomplished. I had not read Somerset Maugham before and I had no idea he was this good. It is hard to find any faults with this book. It reads with total conviction. Rarely have I seen human motives and thought processes so mercilessly anatomised.

Before this I read Gilead by Marilynne Robinson. The style was totally different from Maugham. This was also a stunning book - with prose that seemed as inevitable as water issuing from a mountain spring. A very deeply felt work - it made think again about faith and what it means to people.

I also enjoyed Walden by Henry Thoreau - very good natural description and much eloquence on how to live your life.