Books matching: absurdity of life
100 result(s)
Readers also searched for:
- #1
Sergei Dovlatov's 'The Compromise' is a collection of short stories set in Brezhnev era Soviet Union, offering a humorous yet thought-provoking insight into the absurdities of everyday life under the regime. Through the eyes of a cynical newspaper journalist, the book explores the manipulation, propaganda, and cynicism prevalent in Soviet society, while also touching on themes of alcoholism, journalistic challenges, and the struggle to find truth in a world of lies.
- #2
Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. is a unique and thought-provoking novel that follows the life of Billy Pilgrim, a man who becomes unstuck in time. The story is told in a non-linear fashion, jumping between events such as the bombing of Dresden during World War II, Billy's childhood, hospitalization, and abduction by aliens. Vonnegut's writing style is a blend of dark humor, satire, and science fiction elements, creating a narrative that challenges the reader to question reality and the nature of war.
All this happened, more or less. The war parts, anyway, are pretty much true. One guy I knew really was shot in Dresden for taking a teapot that wasn’t his. Another guy I knew really did threaten to h... - #3
Bill, The Galactic Hero by Harry Harrison is a satirical science fiction novel that follows the adventures of Bill, an innocent farm boy who is fraudulently recruited into the armed forces. The story revolves around Bill's journey as he faces various disasters and absurd situations while maintaining his morale in a world filled with bureaucracy, inane characters, and dark military satire. The writing style of the book is described as purposely clumsy to highlight the stupidity of bureaucracy and filled with sly humor that pokes fun at military recruitment and operations.
Special thanks to Nat Sobel, Henry Morrison, Dainis Bisenieks, and Chris Miller First published in Great Britain 1993 by Victor Gollancz First VGSF edition published 1994 by Victor Gollancz A Cassell ... - #4
'Pyongyang: A Journey in North Korea' by Guy Delisle is a graphic novel memoir chronicling the author's experience working in an animation studio in North Korea's capital. Delisle's detailed observations of the elusive and secretive country offer glimpses into the totalitarian mundanity of life in Pyongyang. The book provides a unique perspective on the day-to-day operations and cultural aspects of North Korea, highlighting the absurdities of the regime and the challenges faced by both foreigners and locals.
Delisle's writing style combines humor with tragic modern-day observations, creating a visually engaging narrative that sheds light on the isolated and repressive society of North Korea. Through his illustrations and personal insights, the author captures the loneliness and rigidity of life in Pyongyang, offering readers a rare first-hand account of the closed-off nation.
- #5
'Hunts in Dreams' by Tom Drury revolves around a family of four over the course of four days, each member on a personal quest. Charles is searching for his lost youth and a gun from his stepfather, while Joan seeks answers about her life and marriage. Their son Micah is trying to make sense of the world, and Lyris, their teenage daughter, returns to the family trying to understand their suburban life. The story is told with Drury's deadpan humor, observing the ridiculousness of life without commentary, highlighting the strangeness of the American society in a humorous way.
The novel captures the essence of 'ordinary' people and places, exploring the deep and mysterious aspects of the world through the characters' experiences. It combines warmth, delightful sensibility, brilliant dialogue, and a quirky humor that permeates the story, making it a highly recommended read for those who appreciate Tom Drury's unique storytelling style.
'Burning in Water, Drowning in Flame' by Charles Bukowski is a collection of poetry that delves into the raw and gritty aspects of life, showcasing Bukowski's unique writing style that combines insults, astonishments, and grotesque imagery. The poems flow in a manner that stumbles and tumbles through the reader's mind, leaving a lasting impact. Through his work, Bukowski brings forth a certain level of enlightenment, allowing readers to view life objectively and combat the absurdities that plague us all.
explores themes of loneliness, struggle, self-destruction, and the harsh realities of life, all portrayed through Bukowski's jaded and insightful perspective. His writing style offers a glimpse into a world filled with drunken nights, sex, violence, writing, and the daily grind, all depicted with sharp and real imagery that captures the essence of his lived experiences.
I am watching a girl dressed in a light green sweater, blue shorts, long black stockings; there is a necklace of some sort but her breasts are small, poor thing, and she watches her nails as her dirty...- #7
St. Petersburg by Andrei Bely is a complex and dense novel set during the first socialist revolutions in Russia in 1905. The story follows Nikolai Ableukhov, an anarchist revolutionary, as he attempts to plant a bomb in his father's study. The novel covers a period of about 24 hours and is known for its modernist narrative viewpoints, psychological slants, and political themes. The book is described as a 'father and son' novel as well as a story about revolution, with a touch of horror and comic absurdity. The unique writing style of the author creates a haunting and fascinating atmosphere that delves into the depths of abstract feelings and complexities.
Apollon Apollonovich Ableukhov came of most respected stock: he had Adam as his ancestor. And this is not the main thing: incomparably more important here is the fact that one nobly-born ancestor was ... - #8
"Death and the Penguin" by Andrey Kurkov follows the story of Viktor, a struggling writer who adopts a penguin named Misha from the Kiev zoo. Viktor's life takes a turn when he is hired to write obituaries for the living, and mysterious deaths start occurring around the subjects of his obituaries. Set in post-communist Ukraine, the novel offers a black comedy full of humor and pathos, with elements of surrealism and a touch of midlife crisis. The relationship between Viktor, Misha, and a young girl named Sonya adds depth to the story, while the atmospheric setting and quirky characters create an intriguing narrative.
First, a stone landed a metre from Viktor’s foot. He glanced back. Two louts stood grinning, one of whom stooped, picked up another from a section of broken cobble, and bowled it at him skittler-fashi... - #9
"Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers" in the Red Dwarf series by Grant Naylor is a satirical space travel romp that follows the adventures of former cab driver Lister who accidentally spends three million years in suspended animation as the spaceship he is on accelerates into deep space. The plot revolves around Lister's attempts to return to Earth and the quirky characters he encounters along the way. The writing style is described as dry, satirical British humor that hits all the right notes for readers who enjoy Douglas Adams and appreciate the humor of the Red Dwarf television series.
He slipped the gear into jump, and braced himself. The hopper leapt into the air, and landed with a spine-juddering crunch two hundred yards downEastern Avenue . The hopper’s rear legs retracted into ... - #10
'Antkind' by Charlie Kaufman is a complex and surreal novel that revolves around a three-month-long film and the main character's attempts to remember and recreate it. The writing style is described as immersive and enjoyable, with moments of humor and absurdity. The plot includes false starts, tangents, and self-deprecating humor, all while exploring themes of life's meaning, validation, and the struggle to be seen and loved.
My beard is a wonder. It is the beard of Whitman, of Rasputin, of Darwin, yet it is uniquely mine. It’s a salt-and-pepper, steel-wool, cotton-candy confection, much too long, wispy, and unruly to be f...