I've diverted in the past little bit from writing about political type things, as I've been reading books on the way to work (and home) as opposed to the newspaper. It puts me in a better mood, and I really feel better about tackling the hundreds of books that I have on my shelf that I haven't read (ok. That's a GROSS overestimation, but I really do have a ton).
I just finished 'Away' by Jane Urquhart - about a family (or a couple of generations) of migrants from Ireland to Canada. Other than the fact that I've been addicted to good Canadian books lately, she's an incredibly beautiful author… Her language is so estute and creative. She manages to combine truth, fact, history (which I have a deep love for in fiction - why my love affair with Timothy Findlay's writing began), with fantasy, and the idea of myths and ideas in religion and folklore. I also loved the portion in Canada in which the British forced Irish migration is compared to the Aboriginal's plight in Canada… it really beautifully connects two extremely wounded populations. It's heartbreaking, and transient.
It really creatively encouraged me - made me want to write.It's been listed on the 100 great books of fiction in the 20th century by women - she's an inspiring writer, and I can't describe it enough.
I just started (though not finishing yet 'brave new world revisited') 'Island' by aldous huxley. His third book (and final fiction published before his death) in his series of dystopian/utopian series, he describes his idea of the closest humans can be to perfection. 'Island' is the antonym to 'Brave New World' and his non-fictious 'Brave New World Revisited' (I strongly recommend all three of these books). He writes thoroughly about politics on this island, and interaction with a world who is still obsessed with consumerism and capitalization. He is an extremely academic writer, and I find myself re-reading most paragraphs to fully grasp his themes. Much relation to religion (which is interesting coming from Huxley), notes of Buddhism, and Huxley's twist on the perfect 'religion'. It speaks to sexuality, organization, healthcare, business, relationships, and discipline - and the process of perfection in each of these aspects. Dare I say, every time I open this book, I want to move to an island and begin my own civilization. The book centres on a people called 'The Palanese' who believe the Buddhist philosophy that suffering is universal, but one-third of it is sorrow inherent of the human condition and two-thirds is homemade as far as the universe is concerned. I just love this thought, and Huxley's ideas of integrating spirituality with agency, and the idea that human's create their own demise or fortune. Brilliant.
I just finished 'Away' by Jane Urquhart - about a family (or a couple of generations) of migrants from Ireland to Canada. Other than the fact that I've been addicted to good Canadian books lately, she's an incredibly beautiful author… Her language is so estute and creative. She manages to combine truth, fact, history (which I have a deep love for in fiction - why my love affair with Timothy Findlay's writing began), with fantasy, and the idea of myths and ideas in religion and folklore. I also loved the portion in Canada in which the British forced Irish migration is compared to the Aboriginal's plight in Canada… it really beautifully connects two extremely wounded populations. It's heartbreaking, and transient.
It really creatively encouraged me - made me want to write.It's been listed on the 100 great books of fiction in the 20th century by women - she's an inspiring writer, and I can't describe it enough.
I just started (though not finishing yet 'brave new world revisited') 'Island' by aldous huxley. His third book (and final fiction published before his death) in his series of dystopian/utopian series, he describes his idea of the closest humans can be to perfection. 'Island' is the antonym to 'Brave New World' and his non-fictious 'Brave New World Revisited' (I strongly recommend all three of these books). He writes thoroughly about politics on this island, and interaction with a world who is still obsessed with consumerism and capitalization. He is an extremely academic writer, and I find myself re-reading most paragraphs to fully grasp his themes. Much relation to religion (which is interesting coming from Huxley), notes of Buddhism, and Huxley's twist on the perfect 'religion'. It speaks to sexuality, organization, healthcare, business, relationships, and discipline - and the process of perfection in each of these aspects. Dare I say, every time I open this book, I want to move to an island and begin my own civilization. The book centres on a people called 'The Palanese' who believe the Buddhist philosophy that suffering is universal, but one-third of it is sorrow inherent of the human condition and two-thirds is homemade as far as the universe is concerned. I just love this thought, and Huxley's ideas of integrating spirituality with agency, and the idea that human's create their own demise or fortune. Brilliant.I think I love Aldous as much as Marx though - he captivates me. Anyone who takes drugs to best understand taking drugs is a winner in my books.
I'll leave with a quote from my main man, Huxley: "Liberty? Why it doesn't exist. There is no liberty in this world, just gilded cages." Antic Hay, 1923 (this quote encouraged an entire paper in my third year of university - so bluntly titled "humanity and its shackles - the falsified human experience of freedom")