I was reading a the Christopher Isherwood translation of the *Bhagavad Gita* the other week. A co-worker and I were talking about it and later she brought in her copy of the *Christopher Isherwood Diaries*, thinking I’d like it. Honestly, I wasn’t too keen on a 1500 page diary, especially since it says *part one* of the cover, but I started it and got into it. I ended up downloading a copy so I could take my time with it.
One think I’m enjoying is his descriptions of what was then the mundane things people do in life that are pretty different from today. Also, I don’t have to think about characterisation, plot, and meaning, which makes it a lazy read. And, of course, his descriptions of post-war Europe and America as a gay person are super interesting. Reading his diary I started to wonder if when a writer keeps a diary, are they actually writing assuming other people will read it or is it just for themselves? I can’t decide when reading the CIDs.
This is my first *diary*, are there other diaries that you think are worth reading?
by applesandclover