The Late Mattia Pascal, Pirandello
I love his sense of humor but there's a certain existentialist undertone that I would have enjoyed more 20 years ago. I find these things a bit of a downer at this stage in life.
Lots of words to look up, need to read more fiction in Italian.
What are you reading?
Re: What are you reading?
The Boats of the Glen Carrig, William Hope Hodgson
So I guess he's a precursor of the "cosmic horror" Lovecraft later became famous for.
Here's the thing, if you tell me a house is haunted because someone died there and they have unfinished business, okay, that sounds like a story. But if you simply put a monster somewhere, inexplicably, because the universe is a mysterious and scary place we can't understand, I might think you're being a little lazy. But yeah, that's just this type of horror. I think Lovecraft described the universe as a kind of nightmare? It does tap into that childhood dread of monsters simply being, no explanation needed.
It's not really my cup of tea but I'll probably read more of this genre before I'm done with it.
So I guess he's a precursor of the "cosmic horror" Lovecraft later became famous for.
Here's the thing, if you tell me a house is haunted because someone died there and they have unfinished business, okay, that sounds like a story. But if you simply put a monster somewhere, inexplicably, because the universe is a mysterious and scary place we can't understand, I might think you're being a little lazy. But yeah, that's just this type of horror. I think Lovecraft described the universe as a kind of nightmare? It does tap into that childhood dread of monsters simply being, no explanation needed.
It's not really my cup of tea but I'll probably read more of this genre before I'm done with it.
Re: What are you reading?
Fernando Passoa (1888-1935) Portuguese
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fernando_Pessoa
He used heteronyms (as pseudonyms)
Álvaro de Campos
Alberto Caeiro
His best known work seems to be the Book of Disquiet, published nearly 50 years (in 1982) after his death, which was left amongst 250,000 pages inside a trunk.
Some poems under the title, 'A Little Larger Than the Entire Universe'
A biography, 'Passoa' (2021) by Richard Zenith, was written about him recently, and his works are being republished again.
In some strange way I tend to think of John Kennedy Toole who had the Confederacy of Dunces published after his death, though since he was wacko, a better comparison could be made to Albert Camus and Thomas Mann, who were deeply critical about society.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fernando_Pessoa
He used heteronyms (as pseudonyms)
Álvaro de Campos
Alberto Caeiro
His best known work seems to be the Book of Disquiet, published nearly 50 years (in 1982) after his death, which was left amongst 250,000 pages inside a trunk.
Some poems under the title, 'A Little Larger Than the Entire Universe'
A biography, 'Passoa' (2021) by Richard Zenith, was written about him recently, and his works are being republished again.
In some strange way I tend to think of John Kennedy Toole who had the Confederacy of Dunces published after his death, though since he was wacko, a better comparison could be made to Albert Camus and Thomas Mann, who were deeply critical about society.
Re: What are you reading?
The Message - Ta-Nahisi Coates
I need to read more of this fellow. He makes you think (mostly social justice issues) and reminds me somewhat of reading Henry David Thoreau, who got me thinking many years ago.
Faust Part 1 & 2 - Goethe
While I was listening to it I found it entertaining and profound in places. After the fact, what was it about? Making a deal with the devil, of course. The protagonist, Faust ends up getting off, btw - which smells a bit off.
Circe - Madeline Miller
As in Circe the witch, a character in The Odyssey by Homer. The writer tells a first person story from the POV of Circe. The themes are big and the events along the way are interesting. I thought it very good.
Death Comes for the Archbishop - Willa Cather
An historical fiction closely resembling the lives to two famous Catholic priests in New Mexico from 1850 to 1865ish. The descriptions of the relationships between the three cultures that make up our state (Native, Descendants of Spanish Settlers, and the White Americans) was really interesting. This book was written in 1927, which is closer in time to the events of the book than to the present day. This makes the book feel more like a real first hand account of territorial New Mexico than a work of fiction. The pace is slow, but that's New Mexico. It's more about the scenery along the way.
I need to read more of this fellow. He makes you think (mostly social justice issues) and reminds me somewhat of reading Henry David Thoreau, who got me thinking many years ago.
Faust Part 1 & 2 - Goethe
While I was listening to it I found it entertaining and profound in places. After the fact, what was it about? Making a deal with the devil, of course. The protagonist, Faust ends up getting off, btw - which smells a bit off.
Circe - Madeline Miller
As in Circe the witch, a character in The Odyssey by Homer. The writer tells a first person story from the POV of Circe. The themes are big and the events along the way are interesting. I thought it very good.
Death Comes for the Archbishop - Willa Cather
An historical fiction closely resembling the lives to two famous Catholic priests in New Mexico from 1850 to 1865ish. The descriptions of the relationships between the three cultures that make up our state (Native, Descendants of Spanish Settlers, and the White Americans) was really interesting. This book was written in 1927, which is closer in time to the events of the book than to the present day. This makes the book feel more like a real first hand account of territorial New Mexico than a work of fiction. The pace is slow, but that's New Mexico. It's more about the scenery along the way.
Re: What are you reading?
I once considered it my favorite book, I'd have to read it again to find out if that's still true. Dr. Faust is the epitome of the modern man, in a way I think he even symbolizes man's transition towards capitalist development and all the traditional values that must be sacrificed at the altar of progress. Deus ex machina at the end is fitting.
Re: What are you reading?
I remember seeing the Marlowe play of Dr Faustus at the Globe Theatre about 15 years ago, it was quite memorable. Marlowe had an atheistic, Machiavellian cynicism (see the Jew of Malta or Tamberlaine) that makes him feel far more modern than his comtemporaries.Madrigal wrote: ↑Sat May 17, 2025 3:42 amI once considered it my favorite book, I'd have to read it again to find out if that's still true. Dr. Faust is the epitome of the modern man, in a way I think he even symbolizes man's transition towards capitalist development and all the traditional values that must be sacrificed at the altar of progress. Deus ex machina at the end is fitting.
Being able to see live plays in English is probably what I miss most from that era of my life.
Ex falso, quodlibet
Re: What are you reading?
Robinson Crusoe
I mean I may as well, though it's definitely dude reading and probably full of boring as fuck sensor detail like how he built a tent or fishing rod.
Edit: I spoke too soon, it's gripping so far! Also a highly cancellable book, I wonder if it has been cancelled already. I like it for the glimpse it offers of another time and the lives of these fortune-seekers, I guess. It's not particularly good writing, just a chronicle that always seems to be in the same key, punctuated by his existentialist musings once in a while. Very English.
Would have loved to watch a play at the Globe though, I guess it's on my bucket list.
I mean I may as well, though it's definitely dude reading and probably full of boring as fuck sensor detail like how he built a tent or fishing rod.
Edit: I spoke too soon, it's gripping so far! Also a highly cancellable book, I wonder if it has been cancelled already. I like it for the glimpse it offers of another time and the lives of these fortune-seekers, I guess. It's not particularly good writing, just a chronicle that always seems to be in the same key, punctuated by his existentialist musings once in a while. Very English.
I used to go to the theater a lot in Baires but I'm not sure I really loved it. Most plays aren't very good and there's a certain cliched theater body language I just detest.
Would have loved to watch a play at the Globe though, I guess it's on my bucket list.
Re: What are you reading?
Angora Napkin Cuddle Core Collected Edition (2016)
https://archive.org/details/angora-napk ... e/mode/2up
Lone Wolf And Cub Manga (based on movie series) Collection
https://archive.org/details/lone-wolf-a ... d/mode/2up
https://archive.org/details/angora-napk ... e/mode/2up
Lone Wolf And Cub Manga (based on movie series) Collection
https://archive.org/details/lone-wolf-a ... d/mode/2up
Re: What are you reading?
The Pearl, Steinbeck.
I think I'll stick with American 20th century stuff for a while.
I kinda wanted to read Gulliver's Travels, but I don't have it yet and I suspect I might get a bit weary of the whole shipwreck theme. Robinson Crusoe was riveting, although the core and whole point of the story, which was his industriousness and spiritual awakening during his solitude on the island, is something I only tolerated. I was most entertained by the beginning and the end, definitely worth the read despite that.
I think I'll stick with American 20th century stuff for a while.
I kinda wanted to read Gulliver's Travels, but I don't have it yet and I suspect I might get a bit weary of the whole shipwreck theme. Robinson Crusoe was riveting, although the core and whole point of the story, which was his industriousness and spiritual awakening during his solitude on the island, is something I only tolerated. I was most entertained by the beginning and the end, definitely worth the read despite that.