yawn

Well, I thought I'd share some of my favorite works of literature with you folks.  I know a good deal of UG is in fact literate, so hopefully this list isn't completely futile.

Rites of Spring - Modris Eksteins

Fascinating book.  Eksteins takes you throughout the the second World War and illuminates the era in such a powerful manner that you'll not want to stop reading.  The abominable living conditions of militant life, the absolutely amazing event on one Christmas (or Christmas Eve?) that took place between the Allied and Axis troops, and the symbolic significance of Stravinsky's Rite of Spring ballet will all make this book an unforgettable experience.

Darkness at Noon - Arthur Koestler

A powerful novel about a political prisoner during the Russian Revolution.  The twist?  The prisoner is being imprisoned by his own party.  As a member of the "Old Party", the "New Party" feels the necessity to silence and erase the existence of their political forefathers from whom their doctrines have shifted.  Amazingly potent, and you'll feel an otherworldly sense of self at the end.

Their Eyes Were Watching God - Zora Neale Hurston

Very potent novel - almost epic in proportion - that follows through a woman's entire life, complete with several marriages and a flood of Biblical proportions at the end.  It's a story that'll definitely intertwine with you the longer you read it.

A Yellow Raft in Blue Water - Michael Dorris

A truly epic novel that documents the life of a girl, then documents the life of that girl's mother, then documents the life of that mother's mother.  With each new section, you'll learn a lot about the humane nature of narrative perspective, and with each preceding generation, an illuminating view of the generation it influenced.  Very potent use of chronology.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy/The Restaurant at the End of the Universe/So Long and Thanks for All the Fish - Douglas Adams

You've heard the fanboys.  They ain't kidding.  This trilogy is thoroughly enjoyable and sharply potent as well.  You'll be inundated with so many quotable lines that you'll eventually just find yourself immersed in a rich world of brilliant wit and admirable use of sarcasm.

Down and Out in Paris and London - George Orwell

Yeah, animal farm this and nineteen-eighty four that.  Believe it or not, this guy actually wrote some other works as well!  Aside from his brilliantly spot-on essay "Politics and the English Language" (READ IT!), another remarkably illuminating work of his is this documentary of living life in poverty in two cities - Paris and London.  The lifestyle of the poor is almost epic in nature, complete with codes and doctrines of lifestyle that make it almost unbelievable that this novel is non-fictional.  But it is, as justly likewise to Orwell's decision to live life in poverty so as to truly know the plight of the poor from a pure first-hand account.

One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich - Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

Another great Russian novel that details one day in the life of a political prisoner - this time in the context of a labor camp.  It's short, so that should attract those of you with minimal attention spans.

The Gulag Archipelago: 1918-1956 - Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

A very thorough documentary of that treacherous (and notorious) place in Russian history, known as the gulag archipelago.  Solzhenitsyn himself had his own share of this place, and a plethora of other details and narratives were obtained from first-hand interviews with fellow Russian prisoners.

The Triumph and Tragedy of Lyndon Johnson - Joseph Califano

Bet ya never knew just how fascinating this American president was.  Forget Lincoln and Kennedy - LBJ's life story is full of surprisingly human sentiment and a deep passion for the improvement of a nation who hated him because of a war started by his presidential predecessor.  If you want to know just how excruciatingly difficult it is to be the big man in office, read this first-hand account.

What the Buddha Taught - Wapola Rahula

Lots of pseudo-intellectuals these days claim to be "Buddhist", but what does that really mean?  This concise overview of the religion illuminates the most important concepts of a deeply powerful and potent lifestyle that could enhance anyone's function as both an individual and an extension of society.

The World’s Religions - Huston Smith

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.  Nothing has screwed this world over quite like religious ignorance and intolerance have, and, considering religion seems to be growing rather than declining on this planet, it's vital to have at least a basic understanding of the beliefs that dictate the lives of BILLIONS of people.  Even if you're already religious, chances are you'll still learn a ton about your own religion, never mind the complete intellectual overhauls you'll receive from learning about the core principles and mandates of all others that you've thus far only learned about from the psychotic media world.

Shakedown: Exposing the Real Jesse Jackson - Kenneth R. Timmerman

Now, there's a good chance that bias played a huge role in the development of this exposition.  Nonetheless, it's a VERY interesting read about a political figure who ruthlessly fought his way into fame and fortune, at the expense of both the people whom he fought for and the people whom he outwardly fought against.  Seriously, you can't help but admire this guy's drive for getting what he wants, despite the nausea you'll feel from realizing how undeserving he is of what he's achieved.  Well, some might say wit earns wealth.  You decide.  Either way, if you want to know how manipulation is done, read this.

Slaughterhouse-Five - Kurt Vonnegut

You've probably already read this.  If not, you've probably at least heard about it from some raving fans.  If not, you probably don't exist.  Anyway, this is an immensely satisfying read by a brilliant wordsmith who unfortunately passed away just a couple of months ago.  Chances are you'll want to check out other works by this author as well.

Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte

Some don't like this story and say it's too long.  While it does seem a little overly lengthy, it's nonetheless an enjoyable read that follows a girl's entire life from childhood to marriage.

Notes From Underground - Fyodor Dostoevsky

The first literary work of existentialism!  Wicked book that details three excruciatingly awkward life events in the life of an extremely socially maladaptive man.  Three cheers for intellectual misanthropes!

The Stranger - Albert Camus

Hells yeah.  Here's a story about a guy who feels no remorse when his mother dies and shoots an Arabian because the "sun" made him do it.  If you're an apathetic individual, this is your life story.  The ending reminds us of the danger of being too apathetic in an otherwise human society.

The Things They Carried - Tim O'Brien

This will no doubt leave a vividly lasting experience on you as a reader.  The descriptive elements on this novel are painful, but colorfully alive and almost beautiful in their excessively grotesque nature.  This is THE definitive statement of what war does to the individual.  Facts no longer matter.  The mind surrenders to the sensationalism of the ego, and the traumatic experiences of war are amplified to the post point of - well - syndrome.  The stories documented in this literary jumble of reality and fiction are all real, as the fiction itself becomes reality.

Wiseblood - Flannery O'Connor

A story unlike any you've ever read.  There is no protagonist, and there is no antagonist.  There's just a mess of pseudo-hatred and facing authentic evil that combine to paint a vividly potent portrait of the grotesque side of life.  Almost a caricature of real life, the characters of this novel will NOT leave you.  Images of a boy in a gorilla suit will be with you, always.

First Confession - Monserrat Fontes

This is a remarkable story.  Intensely dark, it follows the life-story of an anti-heroic girl and her emotionally weak friend whose actions lead to intense pain and suffering of others, including more than one occasion of death.  Completing this story, you'll feel as if your life has somewhat changed, and you'll have a grander perspective on just how powerful life itself is.  Very recommended.

The Importance of Being Earnest - Oscar Wilde

After all the heavy novels I've suggested thus far, here's a highly-likable lighthearted work of enjoyable satire that pokes fun at the excessive standards of society.  Not really life-changing, but it'll nonetheless provide a satisfying read while potently poking fun at a few archetypes of modern society.

Sula - Toni Morrison

Very vulgar story about the life of a girl, and, by extension, her hometown, that details just how cruel society can be to itself.  The protagonist is in many ways the antagonist, but it is this ambiguity that makes the story so beautiful and realistic.  This story is unquestionably ugly, but it's an ugliness that's irresistible to read about.  A very dynamic story as well.

Well, there goes about two hours of my day. o.O

Hopefully it was worth it, and some of you decided to take at least one or two of these recommendations into consideration.

If any of you have read any of these books and would like to discuss them, that'd be awesome.  Leave a comment!