-
Sadness with a trace of hope
Jonathan Franzen: How to Be Alone
Each essay in Franzen’s anthology is its own, distinct topic (though with some overlap, as one may expect), from his father’s Alzheimer’s and death, to the United States Postal Service, to federal prisons. The “being alone” aspect is an interesting idea because his essays seem to center around his role in our social fabric. His mental health comes up in some of the essays, which I enjoyed.
-
Is social nonconformity just social isolation?
Albert Camus: The Stranger
Albert Camus’s novella hit me harder than I was ready for. It was brutal, depressing, but great. I admired the simple, dry writing style that conveys only what’s necessary in the story and keeps the pace moving. Even more so, I loved the absurdism, the direct confrontation with death, and I always love deep exploration of someone else’s mind, even if that someone is fictional. The book confronts not only life and death but many other social expectations that I didn’t include in this already-far-too-long piece of writing.
-
The American Dictionary’s fascinating life and uncertain prognosis
Stefan Fatsis: Unabridged
Stefan Fatsis’s book opened my door to the world of dictionaries and lexicography I didn’t know existed. From the first English dictionary to the future of the industry within the changing world of media.