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I'm graduating.
It doesn't seem like much, just the end of a journey used to milk family and friends for congratulations and gifts. Or maybe just one more bus stop where a brief break will be taken before I rejoin the student masses for some other form of learning. I didn't make the right choices, I have the wrong major, but somehow I still go the right job. So now what?
I finally get to read.
It seems ludicrious, I know, with all of the reading that I didn't keep up on over the last 5 years that I would say that I haven't been able to read. But it is the context that matters. I have read textbooks, articles, and silly novels that provide brain candy and a break from the more serious, scholarly reading, but I haven't really read.
I haven't read books that interest and challenge me. That have nothing to do with tax or auditing or high school opinions on the latest play. But now I can. But now I find myself so disconnected from the literary world that I do not know what to read.
Help.
Help me find the books I need to read. No accounting, no frilly novels. Something strong and challenging or soft and subtle in its sweet poetry.
Help.
P.S. If you suggest a book you must explain why it is worth reading.
posted by Andunneana @ 7:23 PM
3 Comments:
This comment has been removed by the author.
There's a few pretty basic ones that I feel you ought to work your way through first. It took me far too many years to do just that and now that I have I regret waiting so long. Here they are:
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintanence: Although it sounds either boring and/or too vocational, this is actually a book discussing ideas such as western philosophy, the origins thereof, quality and its meanings/practical uses in our everyday, mental health/insanity and what that actually is or means, and the differing views and mental constructions of differing types of people. If nothing else, and this is said of practically every other person who I know who has read this one as well, it will certainly challenge, if not affect altogether the way you think. A warning - it is slightly dated as it talks alot about hippyism and the conflict with technology - but the ideas in it are absolutely still relevant. I'd say it's a must read.
Velvet Elvis: Another odd title. This is basically a post-modern pastor's re-evaluation of the modern Christian faith. It puts the Christianity of today in context with the Christianity that Christ actually "started" (that because Christ didn't start Christianity, but it does attempt to follow his teachings). Basically, this will challenge you to question everything about your faith, and urge you to find truth everywhere and anywhere that you see it. Very post-modern. Very necessary for understanding what Christianity should try to be in and for our time.
I also loosely recommend checking into Sex God, which is Rob Bell's look at relationships - althought I haven't read it yet myself. Judging from his first book and the talk we saw him give (The Gods aren't Angry - basically a study of human history and how God fits into that and how we see God wrong because we look at history from now back instead of from then to now), I bet it has some good ideas.
Brave New World and 1984: I have put these two together because in order to get a full understanding of the distopia of our current soceity, you must read these in conjunction - or at least very near to each other. I say this because while this is not the world that Orwell saw, if put into context with Huxley's world - I think there are some very valuable lessons to be learned. If you have read one, then I strongly urge you to read the other. Basically, both authors raise the question of a rogue living in a world designed to not accept rogues. New World uses conditioning and pleasure, while 1984 uses propaganda and governmental force. Both are, in their way, applicable to now and to the world in a larger sense. If nothing else, it will get you thinking of government and human systems - and their downfalls.
Fifth Mountain: This is a Paulo Coelho book (author of Alchemist). It is a look at Elijah and his doubts/fears/lapses in fiath. It's good to read because it not only puts an interesting twist on Elijah, but I found it challenging my own questions of faith and God. It not only questions the will of God but also the revelvancy and existence/presence of God at all. You have to get past the Kings-English Bible translations, and to do that keep in mind that it was written in SPanish and the older English (I believe) is an attempt of the translator to ellicit the high language, of which English now appears to have none.
Rebekah: This is an Orson S. Card book. Fate will recommend the Ender Series to you, but I am avoiding it simply because I'm not sure it's something you would enjoy. It does have good things to say, but its pretty hard-core sci-fi and very strange. Rebekah, however, portrays the same amount of skill Card has in creating real-life characters but it puts it in a very different context. The book follows the like of Rebekah - Isaac's wife. This is another one that questions the actions of God and how much of what we think is God is really just our own fabrication or desires. I wouldn't suggest reading this back-to-back with Fifth Mountain, however. It may's Coelho's translations a little harder to swallow at first, which is unfortunate. But the themes of these two do definitely fit together so if you can get past the langugae, I would certainly encourage you to pick up both.
Cat's Cradle: Firstly, reading any Vonnegut book is worth-while if you are looking for interesting narrative style and a slap in the face of humanity. Vonnegut typically is a huge pessimist (which is why I love him), so he has a tendency to depress. That said, I recommend this one because it focuses on the relevancy of the atomic bomb. It also focuses on the humanity behind the creation thereof. It brings up questions about weapons, war, and what the people behind such things think and are about. It also brings up ideas and thoughts on a person's life-path, what is connected to that, and who/what affects changes thereof even when we don't realize the relevance of such things/people.
Slaughterhouse 5: This one is a bit more overt than Cat's Cradle, I would say. That is mostly due to the fact that throughout the book, Vonnegut questions the benefit and possibility altogether of writing a "anit-war book". The book focuses, or rather pronounces that it focuses on the Dresden bombing, but he is very meta- in his narration of the event and characters. Basically, if you are looking for something that has something to say about war and America, this is your book. I won't tell you Vonnegut's theme however, as that is one of the central questions of the book. I will say, however, that the book is alternately titled "The Children's Crusade: A Duty-Dance with Death". I will say, though, that I particularly like this one because of its beauty - particularly in the way that it could be totally sarcastic or totally authentic. Depends on what you want to believe.
Great Gatsby: If you haven't read this one, there might be something wrong with you. If you have read this one, but read it in high school (or later) without proper analysis and determined it to be useless fluff - read it again. Fitzgerald sets this book in the Guilded Age of America - where everything was drinking and parties and money. It brings up questions of the rich and how much havoc they can wreak on others' lives. The ideas and themes of carelessness, waste, and futility are extremely relevant in our day and age when it seems that all Americans tend to do is sit around and fatten up. I also think it is very helpful in dealing with people who throw other people around without another thought. Fitzgerald also challenges the reader to question his narrator, which is a very useful literary excersie. It not only challenges the reader to look more closely at this novel, but if allowed to flourish, will actually bring out very interesting post-modern elements of other novels when viewed through this cynical perspective. If nothing else, the idea of a narrator the reader can't necessarily trust is a good concept to keep in mind for any careful reader.
If you have read Gastby and refuse to pick it back up, check out Garden of Eden, then. This is a very interesting look at gender roles and sexuality, as well as insanity. It's more of a commitment than Gastby, simply because it's longer. But it is definitely worthwhile.
Waiting for Godot: Firstly, be sure you pronounce it god-oh (equal stress), not gu-DOH. Personally, I think Beckett's plays should never be read only once, questionably only read a few times. I'm pretty certain you have gone through this one, but I would suggest cracking it open again (and if you haven't - get on it!). But only crack it open after you have worked through a few of the others I have recommended (such as Fifth Mountain or Gatsby). Obviously, Godot is about waiting in pointlessness on a control-figure that no-one is sure even actually exists. On its surface, its about a missing god. But the play also questions our own behavior and how that affects this missing god - if at all. Do they have any hope or are they blind to the hope they could have had?
A Woman in Berlin: This is the anonymous journal of a well-known woman journalist during the invasion of Berlin (1945). Now, typically I'm not a huge historical books person, but this journal is very revealing. Considering she is a journalist, it has the professional quality of shaping a narrative to give a certain feel. However, it is also a private journal - and it carries that feel very strongly with it as well. It is important to keep these two ideas in mind while reading. This is a writer writing her personal thoughts with a very crafted, professional background. In other words, at times she writes like someone is reading. Other times, she drops that premise and writes like a woman stuck in an invaded city during a war. It is a very strong look at war (going along with Vonnegut) and its affects on one of the most common people you could find. It also brings up very interesting ideas of nutrition, disease, and survival instincts. It also brings up some very interesting points about communism and freedom (as it was the Soviets invading).
That's all I can think of now. If I get more in my mind or while perusing our library, I will add them in a seperate comment.
Godspeed.
Goodness Rali those are some very topline books there. We were required to read 1984 and The Great Gatsby in high school so I don't know if she'll go for those again but the others are all quite open. I've heard of the Zen book and i'm at least familiar with the names Brave New World and Slaughterhouse 5 but i've never taken the time.
Now as for my suggestions...if its not a historical book I tend to lean towards fantasy and Scifi novels when I suggest books...and most of what i'll suggest she'll have free access to once we're married.
Enders Game - With the kind of support this book and the rest of the series gets from our group i'll be surprised if she'll be able to get away without reading this for too long.
Honor Harrington - Again the support these books get from Avi and I ensure she'll continue to hear about them...from me especially. Female lead, very detailed, wonderful fiction. If she liked Star Wars as a kid she may still find an interest in these.
Shogun - One of the best pieces of historical based fiction i've ever had the chance to read. I can not recommend this one enough. The follow up series, while not really having anything to do with Shogun, is a must read as well. (I've only read the Taipan but I want to read the rest.)
Thats all for now. I can't think of any more since I don't have my collection at hand. Its all packed away in boxes for the move and with the places we're looking at I don't know when they'll be back out again.
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