p.

Thursday - 12 Mar. I am going to waste my time tonight
by going to see an Eusa concert at the station here.
But I expect it will be quite amusing, & it does
me good to relax in such a way.
You told me in your letter that you were reading
a book by Celine - & that after 300 pages, you had
just about had enough. Now darling, I am inclined to
think that it is doubtful if such books are worth
reading at all or at any time - & I am sure
that they are bad for you with so much sorrow not
far behind you, & your present life not very happy
or satisfactory. What I mean is - compare the pleasure
which you obtained from Childhood, Boyhood, & Youth
- with being nauseated, even in a gripping way, by
a French modern, who will probably be forgotten
in a few years time. It seems to me that
you are needlessly punishing yourself. I remember you
reading The Grapes of Wrath in the nursing home
at Shipley. When I read it, I thought that it was
brilliant & absorbing, but I marvelled at how
you could go on reading it at that time. No
body, no matter how strong their minds or intelligence,
should read such books unless their minds are free
troubles & tragedies. And I do not think that is
a weak minded outlook. You are very much better
read than most people, but there must be many of
the accepted classics which you have not read, &
which would be much more comforting, & even
stimulating reading for you.
You said recently that you could not settle down to
read & understand & grasp the differences