I was naturally drawn to this topic as a book lover but also gave myself a headache just considering which I would write about with all of my well-deserving favourites swarming around my mind.
I've managed to pick out three books which I often revisit which represent probably the three main types of books I enjoy (it's worth mentioning all of these were written some time ago!)
Laughter in the dark - Vladimir Nabokov
The Sleepwalkers - Authur Koestler
Candide - Voltaire
Laughter in the Dark - Vladimir Nabokov
As anyone who's read Nabokov's most famous work "Lolita" will know, this author has a talent for taking the villains and culprits of both lawful and romantic crimes and presenting them as our protagonist with whom we sympathise.
In this novella, Nabokov once again invites us to explore the darker side of human nature within us all whilst forcing the reader to acknowledge that it is just that - human nature.
With all of our main characters playing amoral, selfish roles, we start to see Albinus as perhaps the lesser of evils, an older man who has fallen for a 17 year old girl name Margot, working in a cinema and so leaves his wife and children to pursue this romance. Margot herself uses his weakness for her to support herself financially and her old lover cropping up back on the scene and my favourite character is the deliciously evil Axel Rex who seems to care about nothing but feeding his carnal desire and making amusing games at the expense of all. We've all had an Axel Rex, amiright?
The story follows the vicious cycle of Albinus and his soft spot for Margot, Margot's weakness for Axel and Axel's sadistic habit of playing both of them.
This is a very short and fast-paced read that may leave you feeling disturbed when you realise why it's called "laughter in the dark."
The Sleepwalkers - Arthur Kostler
For those who didn't know I am obsessed with Astronomy and one of my favourite things to read about astronomy is how our ideas around it have changed so, so much.
This book actually brings me to tears as it goes as far back as is possible to explore our very first guesses about where our world fits in to the universe and how different civilisations in different places have put the pieces together over an extroadinary timeline, giving plenty of honour to the truth seekers who fought and died to defy religious bodies and share their phenomenal discoveries.
Finally, as with all books of this nature it's a fantastic read if you're needing some perspective; If you want to be reminded that you're tiny and surrounded my magic then this is the book for you.
Candide - Voltaire
This oldy-worldy classic piece of satire cracks me up.
Published in 1759 and written by a man who was fed up with mystic teachings and apathy stemming from the notion that "if it's meant to be, it will be," a bemused and witty young Voltaire conjured up this, and the twisted humour will uplift you on your darkest days.
Candide tells the story of a young man prone to disaster, his life becomes unfathomably difficult due to cruel and unrelenting circumstance but he just keeps insisting it's all fate and meant to be. It was the SHADIEST piece of lit of it's time.
So there you go, another piece of me shared with you lovely lot. I hope some of you are inspired to read some of these too!
@missy @rambo
