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Today, I decided to post about two previously read books, as my progress with The Invisible Man is quite slow. One eBook and the other traditional trade paperback.
Both these books are thought provoking and deep. They have great deal to say on the various nuances of life, existence, philosophy and the human condition, including our own humanity. Even though my previously chosen words may add a slight hesitation in the modern microwave minded easy readers, both these books are very good as story and easily accessible.
Lord of The Flies
An engaging story about a group of stranded children on an uninhabited utopian island. The story follows the adventures and events occurring with survival and daily activities of these plane crash survivors. Slowly progressing into more complicated themes and mature allegories. A good read for both young and adult readers. Lord of The Flies, packs in a multitude of characters and their personalities, making the book a very rich reading experience. The past and background of these characters is left unknown and very vague. The starting situation is much like a hypothesis for an experiment on human nature, psychology, civilization and society.
The allegory and in depth meaning may not leap directly for the reader. But, it becomes a great story, once we start assimilating the nature of the characters and connect them with real life people. That may not be a point of concern for the first time reader. But, this book deserves a second re-reading or at least some time to think over it. (The Wikipedia Page on this book may help you as a cheat sheet but, only after you've first read the story in its entirety.)
Hard-Boiled Wonderland and The End of The World
by Haruki Murakami (Translated from Japanese)
Read this as an e-book, now, I crave to buy it as a paperback. This book is primarily Science-Fiction, but, laden with philosophy. This book may not be for everybody. The ordinary reader may find the book verbose; And a tough book to digest especially if the reader has aversion to thinking, wondering and questioning, his or her own-self and mindset. Primarily aimed at mature readers and specifically those stuck in this modern life very similar to the dystopian life of the story's protagonist.
The book narrates two parallel stories (Hard-Boiled Wonderland and The End of The World) with indirect connection as alternating chapters. Their is a marked contrast between the setting, theme and other plot points of the two stories. This is purposefully designed to reflect our own internal conflict, with our mixed feelings and somewhat confused (not actually confused. The thoughts of the protagonist in the two stories is crisp but, they deal with different aspects of our humanity) thoughts.
Some, readers (who are in my opinion addicted and acclimated to most of the ordinary low quality reading materials) find it difficult to follow or grasp the stories; especially the alternating parallel narratives. Some of the critiques go on to complain that the two stories could've been separated into two volumes one after the another, avoiding all the alternating chapters format. They, better keep mum, for every book and story is entitled to be told in it's own unique format, sequence and style. That is the freedom a writer and a story teller has, which builds the true nature of the story. It is not a technical book, to stringently follow a format or sequence order! (Try, House of Leaves for that matter and you'd find it convoluted, eerie and hauntingly non-sequential, thereby adding the horror theme and flavor to a far greater degree than ordinary stories.)
Finally, as a work of fiction the story is pretty short and even depressing for the reader. But, as a food for thought, the questions, observations and thoughts of the protagonist is very profound. This should be a warning to those seeking an easy read or an entertaining story. For a story, pick any other book. For an experience, choose this one. It is primarily a psychological thriller, once the reader starts relating to the questions, thoughts and ideas of the protagonist or his lifestyle. It oozes of existentialism, soul-searching and self-realization.
I personally, read it in PDF format on Foxit Reader, which facilitated me with highlighting, underlining and note making tools. I have underlined, highlighted, commented and argued my own thoughts and feelings as I read the story and marked it in the book. So, paperback owners would be better off with their pencils about them when they're reading this book, if they want to get to the depth of this book.
Happy Reading!!
Books Discussed:
- Lord of The Flies by William Golding (Thriller, Adventure, Psychological Thriller, Philosophical, Tragedy?).
- Hard-Boiled Wonderland and The End of The World by Haruki Murakami. (Psychological Thriller, Philosophical, Translated, Tragedy?)
Books Mentioned:
- House of Leaves by Mark Danielewski. (Horror, Psychological Thriller, Mystery, Supernatural)
- The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells. (Science Fiction, Classic)
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