Yes, I read 'White Swan, Black Swan'....it is a collection of stories with dance as a background. It wasn't very memorable, because I don't remember it too well

<P>The 'Far Pavillions' was made into a movie, and I enjoyed it, but not nearly - even close - as much as I enjoy the book.<P>Another author I enjoy is Edison Marshall. I own just about every book he has written. His use of the language captures me. Sometimes I stop and re-read a sentence over and over, savoring it. He was a world traveler and set his stosries in many different times and climes. He had a way of adjusting the English language to the clime/time about which he was writing.<P>For instance, when he wrote 'The Viking' which is set (where else?) in Scandinavia, he used English words derived from that family of languages. When writing of India in 'Gipsy Sixpence,' he used the many words in English derived from Hindi and Arabic. Not exclusively, of course, but enough to make the language take on the 'music' of the country and culture. Each book therefore was almost like a linguistic symphony. <P>I also very much enjoy Maugham - 'Of Human Bondage' is unforgettable. And then there's Dreiser.....also unforgetable. Patrick O'Brian for sea stories set in the late 1700's early 1800's, is excellent. Not only well written, but wonderful character development.