βHe regarded life as a rather odd club of which he had accidentally become a member and from which one could be expelled without reasons having to be suppliedβ(Cees Nooteboom, translated from the Dutch by Adrienne Dixon [1980/1992]).
This novel centres on a man who drifts through life aimlessly as though in a haze, writing horoscopes and dealing in art for a living, albeit possessing money. Preoccupied with control, or rather the lack of it, Inni Wintrop lets events in his life happen to him, rather than actively trying to change something, while his guiding forces in life inexplicably become two very strange men β apathetic recluse Arnold Taads, and his son, distant and mysterious Philip Taads. Intensely philosophical, witty and sharp, the novel illuminates life as seen through our routines, mirages, actions, inactions and the influence of others.
I would like to wish all my followers a very Happy New Year! β¨ – let the year 2024 bring only joy, happiness and the fulfilment of all your wishes! Below is my list of 7 best books I read in 2023 (the best books I tend to read happen to be classics, and I am excluding non-fiction, graphic novels and short story collections).
I. My Γntonia [1918]
by Willa Cather – β β β β β
This touching coming-of-age story by Willa Cather (Death Comes for the Archbishop, A Lost Lady) centres on Jim Burden’s friendship with one immigrant girl, free-spirited Γntonia Shimerda in Nebraska. Cather’s elegant prose simply enchants, and Jim’s distinctive voice is unforgettable, with each chapter brimming with soulfulness as it tells of immigrants’ hardships and sacrifices made through the years. It is a deeply nostalgic look at a life passed, as well as a sweeping expose of rural life in the late 19th and early 20th century America.
II. Go Tell It On The Mountain [1953]
by James Baldwin – β β β β β
James Baldwin’s debut is a staggering book that focuses largely on John Grimes, step-son of the minister at the Pentecostal church in Harlem. John tries to make sense of his upbringing, environment and above all – all the expectations placed on him by others. This is a multi-dimensional and at times multi-perspective novel which also reveals issues of sexuality, racism and attempts at fitting in while remaining true to oneself. Baldwin’s prose cuts like a knife and yet remains touchingly lyrical throughout as the story recounts the accumulated heartbreak.
Prolific and versatile author Miroslav KrleΕΎa (1893 β 1981), who wrote novels, essays, poems, plays and short stories, was aptly placed to tackle the theme. His stark criticism of the ruling eliteβs egoism, greed and the perpetration of social injustice in his fiction is the reflection of his countryβs turbulent political history and his own innate desire to challenge the status quo. While being an officer in the Austro-Hungarian Army, KrleΕΎa once unsuccessfully deflected to the Serbian Army, and his embittered experience as a soldier on the frontlines during the World War I culminated in his powerful anti-war writings, including a short story collection titled Croatian God Mars (1922). After the World War I, KrleΕΎa emerged as a talented writer promoting socialism, and because of his leftist views, his books, publications and left-wing magazine Plamen had been banned in the inter-war period. In 1939, KrleΕΎa was expelled from the countryβs Communist Party as his opinions on art contrasted with the social realist principles, and this further cemented his independent, βanti-establishmentβ public image.
Thoughts on Papyrus 