#(i have one more book About myths and then i'm gonna *try* reading the poetic edda D:)
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tyrannuspitch Ā· 8 months ago
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hmm i'm getting. possibly over-ambitious. again. we'll see how this goes.
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harusha Ā· 5 years ago
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I just saw your post about PJ and I'm wondering, do you have any book recs?
On mythology specifically or overall? Iā€™m gonna do both since Iā€™m not sure. Also sorry for the relatively late reply, I had to think about this, and I just got back from dinner.
The Count of Monte Cristo- Fantastic page turner, and a genuinely goodĀ ā€œrevengeā€ tale. Itā€™s actually one of the first of that kind (or at the very least, one of the most popular ones). Itā€™s also a book that a lot of people cite as the one that changes their mind on classics asĀ ā€œboring.ā€
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn- Somewhat of a controversial pick (both because of its subject matter and because itā€™s oftenĀ ā€œrequired high school reading,ā€ ieĀ ā€œboringā€ to a lot of people.)
Huck Finn is an exceedingly complex character, and his friendship with Jim is really good. Pay attention to what Huck Finn does and says; heā€™s an unreliable narrator due to how he was brought up, his age, and his illiteracy. Thereā€™s also a lot of symbolism and other literary devices at play in his character (ex. notice his fixation with death and how it colors how Twain writes him). Itā€™s very much a book I recommend if you want to study the unreliable narrator as a trope, theĀ  NaĆÆf version of it.
As a side note, itā€™s very poignant because of how Huck learns to condemn his racism. One of the messages you can get from this book isĀ ā€œIf this uneducated poor white boy can learn to overcome his prejudices, so too can someone who has been educated, has money, etc.ā€ It is a brutal condemnation of racism (though you do have to consider the time period, theĀ ā€œlensā€ of which you have to view through.)
Lolita- Another controversial pick, and one Iā€™ll upright say as a lot of trigger warnings attached (google the summary, and youā€™ll see what I mean).
Beautiful prose (some of my favorite in literature actually) and a monster of a protagonist. When you read this, remember how Humbert Humbert is framing it. He is telling his tale to a court; he is unreliable and will frame events to make himself appear sympathetic. One notable factor of the authorā€™s skill is how often Humbert gains the readersā€™ sympathy despite the atrocious subject matter. I personally felt viscerally uncomfortable reading his thoughts, and this is one of the few books that has ever made me feel that way. I didnā€™t fall into the sympathy trap, but look at any discussion of the book, and youā€™ll see what I mean.
I also recommend this authorā€™s (Vladimir Nabokov) other works.
Franz Kafkaā€™s literary works- Kafka is one of my favorite authors because he really showcases the isolation (both due to WWI, technological advancement, and the ā€œbeginningsā€ of modern capitalism) of the beginning of the 1900s, and heā€™s one of modernismā€™s premier authors. His works often deal with the themes of isolation, judgement, and outcasts.Ā 
In particular, Iā€™m fond of ā€œThe Metamorphosisā€ (cliche pick I know) and ā€œIn the Penal Colony.ā€ The former is a short story so quick read if you just wanna try his writing style + itā€™s very influential (See Part 1 of Tokyo Ghoul for one example).
Also know that Kafka had a very strained relationship with his father and a conflicted relationship with his religion. I recommend readingĀ ā€œLetter to his Fatherā€ first to get an understanding of Kafkaā€™s psyche to truly get pass theĀ ā€œnonsensicalā€ nature of his works. It, like the title says, is a letter he wrote to his father, but his mother never delivered it.
If you want even more info on Kafka to understand his works, I recommend Kafka: Judaism, Politics, and Literature which covers a lot more (and in more succinct words) than I can on his works and life. As a fun fact, Vladimir Nabokov also placed him as one of the greatest writers of the 20th century. On Kafka himself, he thought he was a failure of a human being and writer, and now look at him. Heā€™s up there in the Western Canon with Shakespeare.
Paradise Lost + Paradise Regained- If youā€™re interested in Lucifer (or Samael if you subscribe to that theory), this is a must-read. Beautiful, haunting, and with a very charismatic figure in Lucifer. Alongside the obvious Divine Comedy, this work has influenced the portrayal of Lucifer and Hell quite a bit imo. Namely, theĀ ā€œsympatheticā€ portrayal you find in works such as Supernatural. Itā€™s also an epic poem so itā€™s best listened to imo rather than read.
No Longer Human- Osamu Dazaiā€™s work if youā€™re into that one show. An incredibly depressing book thatā€™s often thought to be semi-autobiographical. Itā€™s a haunting book that I donā€™t recommend for prose, but for the mood it evokes. I donā€™t recommend this unless youā€™re in a decent state of mind.
The Catcher in the Rye- Mildly controversial pick in that you either hate Holden or love him. Itā€™s a book where you have to be in theĀ ā€œrightā€ state of mind to appreciate Holden. For example, the period of moving away from home for collegeĀ  This work deals with societal isolation and human loneliness and features an unreliable narrator.
Itā€™s just a very particular feeling you have to be experiencing to appreciate Holden. I think anyway.
The Epic of Gilgamesh- Not super fancy or a reinterpretation of whatever. Just the oldest known written work of mankind. I like it a lot, but I like Sumerian myth so YMMV. Itā€™s still missing a few tablets last I checked, but still a good read.
Also the related Enuma Elish, you get the creation myth.
Vampire Chronicles- I recommend the first three or four so books honestly. Afterwards, Anne Rice just goes off the rails. Prose is pretty, and Lestat is a terrible person but fascinating to read about. I am partial to Armand though tbh.
Dracula- I think this is another page-turner. I certainly enjoyed it. I donā€™t think itā€™s as scary as it would be in itsā€™ published time period, but it is a classic Gothic horror. The unabridged version may look intimidating, but like Monte Cristo, youā€™ll sweep through it rather quickly.
ā€œA Rose for Emilyā€- One of William Faulknerā€™s short stories. I think itā€™s a lovely piece and showcases the Southern Gothic (crumbling house, decaying and failing tradition and the southern nobility, etc.) Thereā€™s a theme of decay and time passing throughout this work.
As a side note, I actually enjoy Faulkner a lot, but heā€™s a difficult author imo. Itā€™s not as apparent in this work, but more so in Intruder in the Dust (the first racial thriller) and especially The Sound and The Fury.
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof- A play that deals with repressed homosexuality (maybe, it depends on how you interpret Brickā€™s dialogue and actions), loss, and denial. I quite like it a lot, and Tennessee Williams actually was gay (was because heā€™s dead and all). I read it, but tbh I feel like it would be better watched if you can find a performance on Youtube.
The Picture of Dorian Gray- Oscar Wildeā€™s most well known work imo. I enjoy the prose and the themes of corruption and indulgence present throughout the novel. Thereā€™s also a lot of allusions to Faust in it if youā€™re interested in that.
Peter Darling-a more modern choice but it features a trans and gay protagonist. Part of what I enjoy is how itā€™s not browbeaten into you that the protagonist is trans. Itā€™s interwoven into the character where itā€™s an important part of him, but to where it doesnā€™t overwhelm his entire character. However, this is a novel where I feel the beginning and ending are great, but the middle is so-so. Itā€™s a retelling of Peter Pan.
The Tain- Focuses on Cu Cuchulain and his cycle.
Poetic Edda- A must read if youā€™re interested in exploring Norse myths outside of Marvel. Itā€™s basically a collection of tales.
Arabian Nights- Scheherazade is one of my favorite female figures from literature. Sheā€™s daring, clever, and particularly resourceful. Itā€™s a frame narrative sort of tale so you technically wonā€™t be seeing her as much since sheā€™s telling each story, but itā€™s a lovely piece and perfect for a bedtime read because of its collection of tales. A lot of them have been referenced in media and related as well.
The Book Thief- Classic YA novel rec. Itā€™s set in WWII and one of the novels that really showcases what YA could be. Basically a classic gem in the rough pile.
John Keats- Heā€™s a poet, but I love his poetry because of how haunting and dark it can get; he often deals with themes of mortality.. Ode to Nightingale is particularly good.
Chinaā€™s Four Great Classical Novels (Journey to the West, Dreams of the Red Chamber, Water Margin, Romance of the Three Kingdoms)- I decided to clump them here since this is already super long. Each one is incredibly well-known in Asia (and obviously China), and you can find allusions everywhere to these four novels. Each novel is rather long and expensive though (I paid like 40 USD for each set). Journey to the West follows Sun Wukong, unarguably one of the most well-known figures in literature (at least in the East; heā€™s super influential, but somewhat less so in the West; keyword somewhat). Dreams of the Red Chamber has some very pretty poems, but itā€™s often thought to be the semi autobiographical work of the author (it deals with the rise and fall of his family and the dynasty).
Daiyuā€™s flower poem is one of the most memorable for example.
The blossoms fade, the blossoms fly, Ā the blossoms fill the sky. Their crimson fades, their scent dies out, Ā and who is there to pity?Ā  Drifting threads gently twist together Ā and float past the springtime lodge; Ā Falling willow floss lightly sticks Ā and strikes the ladyā€™s window drapes.
Water Margin is a bitĀ ā€œbawdierā€ than the other ones imo, but itā€™s a good tale and has many notable figures and scenes. On Three Kingdoms, itā€™s the one Iā€™d recommend to start with if youā€™re interested in military intrigue and battles.
I also have a Goodreads where I organize everything by shelf if you prefer to look at that. I do need to update it though tbh.
https://www.goodreads.com/Mahariel
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