Today I reached an important milestone in my life.  I finally got to the last page of Thomas Mann’s ‘Der Zauberberg’.  I purchased this book at least eighteen months ago, and have been reading it on and off for what I genuinely believe to be the best part of the last nine months.  It is without doubt, at just over a thousand pages in my edition, the longest book I have ever tackled in my life.  Reading it has truly been an ordeal and there were times over the summer, when I was too caught up with other things to get through more than a handful of pages a week, when I despaired of ever finishing it.  I have, I hasten to add, read a multitude of other books simultaneously, otherwise I might have gone stir crazy.  There were some days when the temptation to just admit defeat and fling the accursed volume, if not into a burning fire then, at least, into my paper recycling box was overwhelming.  However, I am proud to announce that I succeeded in overcoming such weak and sinful urges and the Lord gave me the strength to see the novel through right to the bitter end. (more…)