I received several lovely books as gifts for Christmas and tucked inside one of them was a handwritten notecard with this quote by William Styron: “A great book should leave you with many experiences, and slightly exhausted at the end. You live several lives while reading.” I thought this sentiment was perfect for writing about my list of books this year that have provided me with rich and deep cerebral experiences; these are the books I have thought about on sleepless nights, these are the books that have left me figuratively and literally exhausted.
Many of the books on this list are classics, written in the 19th or 20th century. Only a couple of titles that were published this year have made the list. There is also a predominance of classic British and German literature.
Mrs. Dalloway, To the Lighthouse and The Waves, Virginia Woolf. This was the year that I finally discovered the wonder that is Virginia Woolf. Of the three titles I read I couldn’t possibility pick a favorite, they all resonated with me for different reasons. I’ve also enjoyed reading her essays along side the novels.
Pilgrimage, Vols. 1 and 2, Dorothy Richardson. I started reading Richardson towards the end of the summer and was instantly captivated by her language and her strong, daring female character. I made it about half way through Pilgrimage before taking a break. But I will finish the last two volumes in the new year.
Map Drawn by a Spy, Guillermo Cabrera Infante. This is another great title from Archipelago books and a chilling account of the author’s escape from his homeland of Cuba. A unique, eye-opening read on the mindset of those living under an oppressive, totalitarian regime.
And Our Faces, My Heart, Brief as Photos and Bento’s Sketchbook, John Berger. I initially picked up And Our Faces when Scott Esposito pointed it out on Twitter several months back. I just happened to be walking by one of my bookshelves one day and it caught my eye. I haven’t stopped reading Berger since. I also remembered that I had a copy of Bento’s Sketchbook which came recommended by someone with impeccable literary taste who said it is one of those “must read” books. He was not wrong.
The Quest for Christa T., Christa Wolf. I first discovered Wolf last year when I read her Medea and Cassandra. Surprisingly, I think of all the Wolf titles I’ve read so far, The Quest for Christa T. has been my favorite. I have also gotten about half way through her memoir One Day a Year which I am hoping to finish in the new year.
Effi Briest, Theodor FontaIne. I saw a list of Samuel Beckett’s favorite books and Effi was on the list. I immediately picked up a copy and read it. This is a title that is worthy of multiple reads, one that indeed left me exhausted yet eager to start all over from the beginning.
Other Men’s Daughters, Richard Stern. It is no surprise that my list includes at least one title from NYRB Classics. I had never heard of Stern and this book made me want to explore more of his writings. This is a tale of a marriage and divorce, but Stern’s writing is not typical of this genre in any way whatsoever.
Penthesilea, Heinrich von Kleist. Kleist’s story of Penthesilea and her brief yet powerful relationship with the hero Achilles was captivating. I oftentimes avoid retellings of Ancient myths because they veer too far from the original stories, but Kleist’s rendition of these events from the Trojan War deftly incorporate his own backstory with these ancient characters.
Poetic Fragments, Karoline von Gunderrode. This was another title that I came across on literary Twitter. For all of the negative things that can be said about social media, it has definitely served a great purpose for me through interacting with a community of liked minded readers. Thanks to flowerville, in particular, who has steered me toward many a great German classic that I would otherwise not have been made aware of.
Blameless, Claudio Magris. As with other Magris novels I have read, I was impressed with the high level of the author’s erudition mixed with poetic language and intriguing plot. Much like Compass which is also on this list, it is not an easy read, but for those who enjoy a literary challenge then I highly recommend Blameless
A Terrace in Rome, Pascal Quignard. I have been slowly making my way through all of the Quignard that is in translation. A Terrace in Rome had all of the elements that I love about a Quignard title; it was poetic, passionate, philosophical, enigmatic, and beautiful. I am especially eager to get a copy of Villa Amalia which Seagull Books will soon be publishing.
Compass, Mathias Enard. This is one of the few books actually published this year on my list. This is a book for those who really enjoy books. My TBR pile grew by leaps and bounds collecting just a fragment of the titles mentioned by Enard in his fascinating story of a musicologist who suffers from a sleepless night.
Now I’m exhausted just thinking about these books all over again…
The plot of Stern’s novel in which an older man who has a love affair with a younger woman and divorces his wife, could have easily turned into the typical, hackneyed plot that such a book often veers towards. Stern’s intelligent writing delves into the nuances and complications of marriage, middle age, physical attraction and love. The story astutely and sensitively makes us aware of the sacrifices and heartache that each party in this complicated, all-to-human situation suffer. “Love,” Stern writes, “Famous, frozen word concealing how many thousand feelings, the origin of so much story and disorder.”
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