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The magic of Camus is his ability to blend heady philosophical ideas with compelling storytelling. This is not to say that the dullness, and banality that plagues his peers works is not present here, but rather present with intention.
His character is morally bereft, apathetic, and unreflecting until the bitter end, yet somehow sympathizable. Meursault speaks to the little voice in all of us that wonders if life really might be meaningless, just an absurd series of events, choices, and consequences that ultimately amount to nothing.
Take your time with this one, it's short but every word counts. Great for a long flight, a week of forecasted rain, or after a full day of corporate jargon and niceties.
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very camus esque
Nov 1, 2024
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The literary equivelant to an Edward Hopper, Hemingway has enraptured readers with his terse yet evocative use of the written word. Each story is a kaleidoscope, his utilization of omission works in a hypnotizing and atmospheric effect. Hemingway moves from Saharan hunts brimming with sun-beating, murderous intensity to Spanish civil wars and cloudy French metropolitans. “The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber” is one of many stories which have stuck with me, and the book will stick with you after the last word and long after the turn of the final page.
Apr 20, 2024
Top Recs from @macklin
This surreal and existential Japanese novella packs a sensory punch that will leave you wanting more.
Oyamada crafts an eerie and frightening exploration into loneliness and the many holes it casts us into. We follow our dazed and dreaming narrator Asa who has just dutifully joined her emotionally distant husband back in his small hometown, where the cicadas drone like fighter jets and mysterious animals slink the streets at night. We join her as she tries to parse through her new reality, be it factual or a series of anomalies.
This one is for everyone who has ever felt like a stranger in their own life, and pairs amazingly with sidewalk cafes and springtime.
Mar 20, 2024
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An apple away keeps the doctor away? Not really, but a tablespoon of Carlson's Wild Norwegian Cod Liver Oil might. I am about a year into taking this daily and the benefits are astounding. My skin and hair have never looked healthier thanks to its high Vitamin A content, and the omega-3s are supposedly fighting depression and boosting my heart's health. To be honest it's hard to care about the internal stuff so much when I am walking around looking like a damn pedigree collie. The only downside is choking down a spoonful of fishy tasting oil every morning, but as a purist, I wouldn't have it any other way. I think they make a gel capsule if you have a less adventurous palette than I!
Jul 26, 2024