Boulevards

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Take Me to Another World

I've been reading so many books lately. I put down one and pick up another. I haven't been so into literature since I was in elementary school.

1. The Picture of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde

This has become my new favorite book, and I only finished it yesterday. This is the first book by Wilde I've read, and now I'm really interested in reading more of his plays and poetry. Wilde is so witty and fantastic and easily the single most quotable person ever. Love. Love. Love.

2. The Man Who Was Thursday - GK Chesterton

I read this for a book club, and really enjoyed it. The story follows a detective who gets invited onto an anarchist council, and his ploys to stop them, though he later realizes that the anarchist council is not what it seems. The writing is witty and fun, and it was a good, fairly light read with a little more to it than meets the eye. Bye the end, I was asking myself, "What in the world just happened?" but at the same time left wanting more.

3. One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez

As I was reading this book, I was confused. It follows a family over 100 years, many generations, and too many relatives to count. My recommendation: do not read this one alone. It was only when I came together with people to discuss this that I realized how amazing it was. I needed that discussion to fully appreciate it. And it blows me away now.

4. Persepolis - Marjane Satrapi

This memoir by graphic novelist Marjane Satrapi details her life growing up as a part of the Islamic revolution in Iran. We read the book for school, and it was my favorite book that we've read all year (in class.) Though it was a graphic novel, and a very quick read, it was more thoughtful than one would think for a graphic novel and exposed me to a topic I had never learned about before.

5. Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy

The story of Anna Karenina follows a woman at the height of Russian society, and her temptations to commit infidelity against her husband. I found myself so involved in these characters it was ridiculous. The books says more about promises and trust, I think, than love, and the morals one must carry through. It was also really interesting to read a book set in Russia in the 1800's, which was certainly different.

Next up on my list, I'd like to finish reading the Complete Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. My friend also gave me a play by Tom Stoppard called The Invention of Love, which follows the life of poet A.E. Housman. If you have any book recommendations, I'd love to hear as I'm always on the lookout for something new!