Victoria Woolf’s first novel is a Victorian-era romantic drama. I chose it for a read to try to broaden my horizons and get into some turn-of-the-century English literature.
The Voyage Out
Tag: literature
The Name of the Rose
The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco is an interesting historical murder novel set in medieval Italy.
The Radetsky March
The Radetsky March was very atmospheric and probably had the most vivid description of alcohol and gambling addiction I’ve read. Joseph Roth describes the stagnant and failing Austro-Hungarian empire vividly through deep characters. A great novel. Read in June 2023.
The Arabian Nights
Finally finished The Arabian Nights after many years of intermittent reading. Evident from the footnotes that Burton loved the Middle East and its culture and language. This version from 1884 is of its time – but still amazing. Read in June 2023.
Travels with Charley
John Steinbeck’s description of the protests over school integration in New Orleans in 1960 were chilling – “The little girl did not look at the howling crowd but from the side the whites of her eyes showed like those of a frightened fawn.” Read in April 2023.
East of Eden
Good & Evil. Forgiveness and Redemption. John Steinbeck wasn’t afraid to tackle timeless themes. East of Eden is an incredible book. Read in August 2022.
Monkey
Monkey magic, dragons, deities, and a long journey into the west. 16th century literature from China. Read in July 2022.
The Trial
The Trial. Paranoia, confusion, inability to control one’s own fate. Published almost a century ago but still resonates today. Incredible Kafka. Read in June 2022.
Redhead by the Side of the Road
‘Redhead by the Side of the Road’ from Anne Tyler was only a short novel, but the characters were rich and warm. Read in April 2022.
The Jungle Book
Kipling’s jungle book was not what I expected and not just ‘Disney’. One of the stories about a family trying to survive a harsh winter was frightening. Definitely environmental themes in a book written in the late 1800s. Read in November 2021.