Interesting. Nice notes, thanks! I liked "Leven of malice" and found myself thinking of it again recently reading "the shipping news": -the resonances of small (and not so small) town newspaper publishing in the two. And Proulx writes of similarly broken people.
"A mixture of frailties" is a great read for anyone who has uprooted themselves for serious study or work, and suffers culture shock.
My mum was an art historian and studied under Anthony Blunt at the Courtauld Institute so you can understand how "Cornish" read to me.
If you haven't read "Possession" by AS Byatt, I think having enjoyed "Cornish" you would like it. A very different book but touching many similar concepts without the magical realism perhaps. (Academic rivalries, art history)
I often think of the "putting yourself on trial" rap from "the Manticore" -my own star chamber isn't always as even handed.
