Pornografia

I really wish the author came with a less shocking title. It threw me off for years and made me not wish to read this 1960s Polish classic. Eventually I caved in. Frankly it's about as shocking as a Frank Wedekind play. During World War II two old men experiment with two teenagers, a boy and a girl. After failing to get them to fall in love, eventually murder replaces their plans. This isn't Gombrowciz's most famous book. Rather Ferdydurke is. The novel is dreamlike and you often question what is really going on. It's not for everyone but I liked it.

Peppermints in the Parlor

This is another Wallace book about an orphan but she does such a good job at it. Emily comes to live at a mansion only it doesn't have the memory she once had of it. She becomes a servant at what is now an old folks home. She and a boy Kipper begin to form friendships with the old folks and yes there is a subplot about peppermints. This wasn't my favorite Wallace book but it was all right. People compare it to A Little Princess a lot on the internet but come on so many books are.