Okay, last time I read three books and was in the middle of reading the second Redwall book, Mossflower. Since then I've finished it, read the next one, Mattimeo, and then read three more books. That makes a total of 8 books (see? I can count). If anyone would like to suggest something to read, that's nice, put it in the comments and I'll add it to my list.
The Life of Pi by Yann Martel
My dad bought The Life of Pi for $2 at a garage sale. This is a book that won a very prestigious award (which means nothing to me) and other things, rave reviews, blah blah, and claims that it may make me believe in God. Doubtful of that I read it anyway hoping to be entertained for a bit. It made me lose a couple hours of sleep during the middle of the book when I absolutely couldn't put it down, but the beginning was a bit long and uneventful and I found the end disappointing. Overall it was a good story but yeah, that's it. And even though I have weird/mixed feelings towards God, it did not make me believe in him I don't know why someone would claim that.
On the Road by Jack Kerouac
This book made me feel high. Like I physically felt like I was on drugs when I read this. Some of my friends have said they only want to read On the Road when they go on a roadtrip. Obviously I didn't do that. I like the idea of re-reading it if I ever go across the country -- one of my favorite things about books is that reading it a second time is always different than the first. I'll probably be in a different place (metaphorically and physically) when I read this a second time and I can't wait to see what new meanings it will hold, because this book has a lot of meanings and secrets waiting to be found in its pages.
"I could hear an indescribable seething roar which wasn't in my ear but was everywhere and had nothing to do with sounds. I realized that I had died and been reborn numberless times but just didn't remember especially because the transitions from life to death and back to life are so ghostly easy, a magical action for naught, like falling asleep and waking up again a million times, the utter casualness and deep ignorance of it."
The Well of Loneliness by Radclyffe Hall
If you didn't gather from the title, this book is fucking depressing. It's at times long and brutally honest. It also provided comfort and made me angry, made me weep, made me shameful but also proud, it evoked a self-pity but also pity for the world which can be so horrible, and it humbled me. I can't explain it in any other way except to say that this book made me feel.
"Our love may be faithful even unto death and beyond -- yet the world will call it unclean. We may harm no living creature by our love; we may grow more perfect in understanding and in charity because of our loving; but all this will not save you from the scourge of a world that will turn its eyes from your noblest actions, finding only corruption and vileness in you.
Because there is only toleration for the so-called normal. And when you come to me for protection, I shall say: "I cannot protect you, the world has deprived me of my right to protect; I am utterly helpless, I can only love you."
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3 comments:
Have you read any Haruki Murakami? My favourite is probably Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World. It's kind of like absolutely nothing and everything are happening all at once, and there's a general feeling of unease. Quite surreal and weird. I'm bad at describing, so you should read it and see.
I sometimes feel unsure about how much I actually like some of his books, but I still want to read/re-read them. Conflict!
Okay, so I just might start reading On the Road. Like, today.
Oh, and switcharoo: your Well of Loneliness for one of my books, whichever you'd like.
Thanksbye.
Emily I didn't think you were into science fiction novels but after you mentioned that you read the Hitchhikers guide to the Galaxy I suppose I can safely say (notice the contradiction) that a literary landmark of science fiction is Isaac Asimov Foundation Series (the first book is titled Foundation I believe). The first three books were written in the 50's; the books take place in the distant future and include everything you would expect in this future universe. It's hard to believe Asimov wrote these in the 50's when computers were just in their infancy, the universe Asimov creates is so believable that the reader becomes immersed in it. The series does more than just entertain and stimulate the brain; it allows the reader, through the novels vastly detailed universe and sculptured characters, to question not, the possibility of the occurrences of the novels events, rather it allows the reader to question of the probability of the novels events (similar to what Orwell does in Nineteen-Eighty Four). If you ever do pick up Foundation always remember that they were written in the 50's; they will not disappoint.
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