Italo Calvino, writing about why one should read the classics, said "A classic does not necessarily teach us anything we did not know before. In a claItalo Calvino, writing about why one should read the classics, said "A classic does not necessarily teach us anything we did not know before. In a classic we sometimes discover something we have always known (or thought we knew), but without knowing that this author said it first, or at least is associated with it in a special way. And this, too, is a surprise that gives a lot of pleasure, such as we always gain from the discovery of an origin, a relationship, an affinity." For me, expressing my thoughts about my all-time favourite comfort classic feels like navigating through a labyrinth of personal connections and evolving perspectives.
Throughout my life, this book has been a steadfast companion, its themes shifting in resonance as I've grown. In my childhood, I was enamoured by the hero's journey, the epic quest. As a teenager, it was Gollum's struggle, torn between temptation and redemption, that drew me. Now, in my late twenties, the theme of friendship and fellowship strikes a chord.
Of course, what truly sets Tolkien and The Lord of the Rings apart is the unparalleled depth of the world he created—an intricate tapestry of history, languages, cultures, and mythology. While the series is a classic tale of heroism and villainy, it has complexity, exemplified by the journey's end as the hobbits return to a scarred homeland, confronting the harsh reality of war's aftermath in the once-idyllic Shire.
The Lord of the Rings has always held a special place in my heart, evoking a sense of wonder and awe, a rare series that speaks to both the child and the adult in me. If it holds significance for you as well, chances are we'd become fast friends....more
The Brothers Karamazov is a blend of contrasting worldviews, embodied by its characters - the cold rationality of Ivan, the altruism of Alexei, and thThe Brothers Karamazov is a blend of contrasting worldviews, embodied by its characters - the cold rationality of Ivan, the altruism of Alexei, and the passion of Dmitri; this array of perspectives prompts readers to think about their own approach to life.
As I navigated the exceptionally well-woven web of relationships and ideas in this novel, I couldn't help but reflect on parallels with my own life and those of my friends. Some of my friends resemble Alyosha, embodying gentle stoicism, innate goodness, or warm empathy. Meanwhile, like Dmitri, other friends find ourselves wrestling with our demons, troubled by imperfection and impulses. Some of my friends also resemble Ivan, rationalizing all behaviors as “everything is permitted” (and who dares to counteract like Father Zosima, with a “everyone is responsible for everyone and for everything”?) However, all of us contain multitudes inside us, and Dostoevsky's refusal to offer a definitive answer reinforces the complexity of human nature, where morality is not a fixed point but a shifting landscape shaped by individual choices and circumstances.
So the novel probes the question of life's best path, mirroring the Karamazovian brothers' dual nature, each harboring conflicting abysses within. In Crime and Punishment, Raskolnikov's turmoil stems from a relatable clash between his ideologies and conscience, echoing Dostoevsky's own inner struggle amid surroundings of moral ambiguity. Dostoevsky's personal battles, including a gambling addiction, epilepsy, torments endured such as the famous mock-execution ceremony which involved being led to believe he would be executed by firing squad before being spared at the last moment, serving as a form of psychological torture intended to break his spirits, jail time, and complex relationship with an avaricious, tyrannical father as reflected in Pavlovich's character (which the friend who cheekily recommended this to me was aware would resonate) shines through in this novel as a lifelong contemplation on the nature of good, evil, free will, and duty. Perhaps Dostoevsky believed that through such contemplation one could find redemption by embracing the truth of life's suffering....more
As I approach my third decade I appear to have found less than a dozen books that have resonated, shaped my perception of, romantic love.
Love as grieAs I approach my third decade I appear to have found less than a dozen books that have resonated, shaped my perception of, romantic love.
Love as grief in 'The Great Fires', regret in 'Remains of The Day', sickness in 'Love In The Time of Cholera,' delusion in 'From the Land of the Moon,' guilt in 'Atonement', power in 'The Song of Achilles', repression in 'Twilight', destruction in 'Wuthering Heights', meaning in 'The Unbearable Lightness of Being'. I've only recently started making sense of my confusion, but I expect to lose track of any understanding of romantic love again soon. The rest of my sentiments regarding it are best expressed by poets like Rilke or Cummings.
Can we not be forgiven if we believe books, like romantic love, can serendipitously find us at the right moment then? Alain de Botton, with his insightful and humorous philosophising, has helped me condense my thoughts on romantic love, and I anticipate chuckling for quite some time over the line, stuck in a sticky note above my desk, 'We are all more intelligent than we are capable, and awareness of the insanity of love has never saved anyone from the disease.'...more
Giovanni's Room has become a litmus test for how emotionally I am in touch with myself. A book about an inability to love, an impossible relationship;Giovanni's Room has become a litmus test for how emotionally I am in touch with myself. A book about an inability to love, an impossible relationship; for a long time I couldn't read past a few pages without my stomach in roiling knots. Last summer I could feel love, then winter came and with it as usual the clarity of grief. You can be delusional every time you go through this cycle, because romance is a shared delusion, but at one point we all have to confront the fragility and impermanence of love. Love through the lens of freedom or stability, youth or age, compatibility or incompatibility. That's what this book will give you. Every word was a gut-punch too close to home for a while. When Spring came and one could pretend the leaves were falling off their trees to greet you at exactly the right moment, I finally had the stomach to finish this heart-breaking book. Remember to tell your lover how much you love them while you still can....more
The Plum Village Monastery was established by Vietnamese monastic Thích Nhất Hạnh in 1982.
In 2022 a friend introduced me to The Way Out Is In podcast The Plum Village Monastery was established by Vietnamese monastic Thích Nhất Hạnh in 1982.
In 2022 a friend introduced me to The Way Out Is In podcast from Plum Village. This podcast series aims to help us foster a more compassionate engagement with the world. It is co-hosted by Brother Phap Huu, Thích Nhất Hạnh's personal attendant for 17 years and the abbot of Plum Village’s Upper Hamlet. Episode 2, titled "Lessons in Impermanence: How to Handle Life when Everything Changes" brought peace during a very rough time in my life, and has since guided me whenever I find myself having to navigating change: embracing non-attachment, living in the present, and practicing gratitude.
Inspired by this episode I chose to read Being Peace by Thích Nhất Hạnh, experiencing his calming wisdom, and learning more about "Engaged Buddhism": a perspective now aiding hospices, prisons, and forests around the world. Until then, I hadn't considered mindfulness seriously, often turning to literature, psychology, or philosophy in times of confusion and turmoil, as each holds the promise of answers to humanity's pressing questions.
Yet, spirituality, as I discovered through this book, offers insight too. Over two years, fighting my reluctance, I've managed to introduce pockets of mindfulness in my daily life. Breathing meditations, walking and cycling at my local park, and sleep affirmations, have helped me feel more freedom and happiness.
A retreat at Plum Village has become a must-do in my mind by 2062, representing a chance to immerse myself in simple and peaceful living....more
Her writing's funny and smart and just very quotable...but most of it was preaching to the choir. I agree with her politics (as I am sure every readerHer writing's funny and smart and just very quotable...but most of it was preaching to the choir. I agree with her politics (as I am sure every reader did) but most could have used more nuanced takes and only a a few like "likability" being a con and loving student activism even if it is "occasionally overzealous and underbaked just like any other youthful pursuit" genuinely made me think. Overall this felt less like a book and more like a bunch of great essays connected only by an embarrassingly poor stab at a "witchy" theme.
You'll be bothered by each masterfully painted character's passivity in the face of suffering they cause and experience. (view spoiler)[Oki's sexual aYou'll be bothered by each masterfully painted character's passivity in the face of suffering they cause and experience. (view spoiler)[Oki's sexual assault of child mistress Otoko, wife Fumiko's jealous acceptance of his infidelity and Otoko's teenage pregnancy and suicide attempt (hide spoiler)] will leave you surprised by the near-absence of emotional wounds that such injuries have on their adult lives until you realise traumatic memories will find an outlet (in this case through Keiko); even if you have repressed it in one generation, it will find its expression in the next. This book reminds me so much of my own family dynamics, it makes me realise that the reverberations of the past will always be felt but there can be both beauty and sadness in the bell's toll....more
Characters so wholesome you come away from the book feeling comforted even though it's set against a backdrop of political corruption (view spoiler)[cCharacters so wholesome you come away from the book feeling comforted even though it's set against a backdrop of political corruption (view spoiler)[concerning abandoned children and undocumented immigrants (hide spoiler)]....more
super boring/predictable & also problematic apparently, there's a difference between feel-good and cloyingly sentimental, I wrongly hoped it would be super boring/predictable & also problematic apparently, there's a difference between feel-good and cloyingly sentimental, I wrongly hoped it would be the former...more
Stepping beyond the confines of academia, I anxiously dove into my first job, contending with excessive self-doubt and a deficit of ambition. InitiallStepping beyond the confines of academia, I anxiously dove into my first job, contending with excessive self-doubt and a deficit of ambition. Initially thrust into the role of managing HR amid rapid scaling I, then a naive and young graduate, grappled with the complexities of hiring at breakneck speed. We went from a team of 40 to a team of 100 in one and a half years, then had to navigate a storm of layoffs that left a team of less than 20 during the recession. I felt like a monkey at a typewriter, throwing bananas in the dark and praying one hits the bullseye. This experience taught me intimately the challenges faced by startups—scarce resources, time constraints, and the responsibility of nurturing a resilient team (i.e. manipulate employee loyalty) in an uncertain climate.
Halfway into this frenzied journey, my boss handed me this lifeline, and partly because I had no idea what I was doing, the solution (or rather how it’s worded) really spoke to me: create a business that exists apart from you - 1) create a clearly defined structure through documentation for your people through which they can test themselves and be tested, 2) design systems that produce consistent predictable results by people trained in your way, and 3) systematise your business in such a way that it could be replicated 5,000 times. It was the recipe to create order from chaos! I was a novice chef being asked to cook a gourmet meal without burning down the kitchen. This was the book that motivated and cheered me on as the flames danced around me....more
We're given an absurd retcon for Edward's creeptastic behaviour: he knows he's being a stalkerish incel, so surely his actions should be forgiven.
StilWe're given an absurd retcon for Edward's creeptastic behaviour: he knows he's being a stalkerish incel, so surely his actions should be forgiven.
Still, it helps - there's no escaping how toxic the "romance" is when you have to sit through 658 pages of Edward's internal monologues. Do I love Bella more or want to kill her more?: it's clear the coin could flip either way. The book casts this "love story" in an appropriately darker light.
Hot take: Midnight Sun is a better read than Twilight because we dislike apologists more than fundamentalists. The apologist's mental gymnastics to defend the indefensible ("yes, this 104 old virgin has fallen in love with me, a milquetoast teenager, but that's not downright ephebophilic because he was frozen at 17...never mind the decades of life experience between us") grates on us more than the fundamentalist's shameless championing of their doctrine. Midnight Sun is at least not as intellectually dishonest...Edward knows what he's doing is wrong, but that won't stop him....more
Stuff I've already read about succinctly put. Could be more intersectional. She gets her facts right, but not all of her opinions are necessarily basStuff I've already read about succinctly put. Could be more intersectional. She gets her facts right, but not all of her opinions are necessarily based on them....more
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