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Books matching: poetic narrative

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  1. #1

    Paradiso by Jose Lezama Lima
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    'Paradiso' by Jose Lezama Lima is a complex novel that delves into various themes such as politics, ethics, philosophy, homosexuality, love, and religion. The writing style is described as poetic, oneiric, and phantasmagoric, filled with rich sexual imagery. The novel is likened to a long, endless conversation with many asides, covering a wide range of topics and ideas. Lezama Lima's writing is compared to that of James Joyce, infused with animism, mysticism, and mythomania, creating a unique reading experience.

    BALDOVINA’S, hand separated the edges of the mosquito netting and felt around, squeezing softly as if a sponge were there and not a five-year-old boy. She opened the boy’s nightshirt and examined his ...

  2. #2

    The King of Elfland's Daughter by Lord Dunsany
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    In 'The King of Elfland's Daughter' by Lord Dunsany, the Parliament of Erl requests a magical lord to rule them, leading the king to send his son, Alveric, to Elfland to marry the King's daughter, Lirazel. The story follows the consequences of this union, exploring the clash between the mundane world and the fantastical Elfland. Dunsany's writing style is described as beautifully lyrical and poetic, reminiscent of Shakespearean sonnets, creating a rich and detailed world filled with magical creatures and enchanting landscapes.

    In their ruddy jackets of leather that reached to their knees the men of Erl appeared before their lord, the stately white-haired man in his long red room. He leaned in his carven chair and heard thei...

  3. #3

    White Nights by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
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    'White Nights' by Fyodor Dostoyevsky is a short story that follows a lonely dreamer who falls in love with a young woman in St. Petersburg. Despite her engagement to another man, the two characters share their deepest emotions over the course of a few nights, leading to a life-changing encounter. The writing style is described as deeply romantic, compelling, and melancholic, with beautiful prose capturing the emotions of the characters.

    The plot of 'White Nights' revolves around themes of unrequited love, loneliness, and the longing for connection. The main character's introspective narration and the poignant dialogues with the young woman create a sense of emotional depth and vulnerability. Despite the bittersweet tone of the story, readers find the book to be a heart-touching and relatable exploration of human emotions.

    It was a wonderful night, the kind of night, dear reader, which is only possible when we are young. The sky was so starry, it was such a bright sky that looking at it you could not help but ask yourse...

  4. #4

    Whereas by Layli Long Soldier
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    'Whereas' by Layli Long Soldier is a collection of poetry that delves into the Native American experience, shedding light on the struggles, oppression, and cultural heritage of the First Nations. The book is praised for its modern and refreshing style, which challenges the reader to learn new languages and explore traditional storytelling intertwined with contemporary poetics. Through deconstruction and restructuring of language, Layli Long Soldier invites readers on a journey to understand and appreciate the Native experience, offering a new perspective on historical events like the Dakota 38 Massacre.

    The poems in 'Whereas' are described as heavy, emotionally impactful, and deeply thought-provoking. The book's layout, visual vocabulary, and use of different styles and structures contribute to its absorbing nature, encouraging readers to reflect on the content long after reading. Layli Long Soldier's work in this collection is praised for its profoundness, spiritual perfection, and its ability to provide a human response to historical injustices and colonial legacies. Overall, 'Whereas' is a testament to the power of poetry in conveying complex narratives and fostering understanding across cultural divides.

    It took many trials before I learned how to knot my sinew thread on the point of my finger, as I saw her do. Then the next difficulty was in keeping my thread stiffly twisted, so that I could easily s...

  5. #5

    Art and Lies by Jeanette Winterson
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    Art and Lies by Jeanette Winterson is a dense and profoundly intertextual work of fiction that presents three intertwining narratives involving characters named Handel, Picasso, and Sappho. The book challenges traditional storytelling standards by offering an assortment of prose and points of view, exploring themes of art, philosophy, life, beauty, humor, and obscenity. Winterson's writing is described as refreshing, creative, and insightful, with a focus on reimagining worn-out words and phrases to bring new life to storytelling.

    The book delves into the power of words and art to rewrite lives shaped by trauma, pushing readers to engage actively with the text and interpret its intricate layers. While the writing is beautiful, it is acknowledged that Art and Lies is not an easy read, requiring effort and attention to unravel its complexities and appreciate its unconventional structure.

    FROM A DISTANCE only the light is visible, a speeding gleaming horizontal angel, trumpet out on a hard bend. The note bells. The note bells the beauty of the stretching train that pulls the light in a...

  6. #6

    The Great Silence by Ted Chiang
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    'The Great Silence' by Ted Chiang is a thought-provoking short story that delves into the theme of human arrogance and ignorance towards the non-human species living among us. The story challenges the reader to reflect on the importance of communication, empathy, and understanding with the creatures we share the planet with. Through the use of a parrot's voice, the author highlights the need for humans to pay attention to the life forms on Earth before seeking connections with extraterrestrial beings.

    The writing style of 'The Great Silence' is described as poetic, emotional, and poignant. It is praised for its ability to convey deep themes and big ideas in a short space, making readers contemplate the significance of our interactions with the world around us. The story is seen as a plea for permanence and a tragic goodbye, urging readers to reevaluate their relationship with the non-human species on Earth.


  7. #7

    The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd
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    'The Mermaid Chair' by Sue Monk Kidd is a story about Jessie, a middle-aged woman who returns to her hometown to take care of her mentally unstable mother. The narrative revolves around Jessie's journey of self-discovery as she confronts her past, her relationships, and her desires, including an unexpected romantic involvement with a monk. The plot delves into themes of marriage, family secrets, mental illness, and the consequences of one's choices, all set against the backdrop of a mysterious chair dedicated to a saint with a mythical origin. The writing style is described as beautiful, evocative, and at times difficult to read, with memorable imagery and poignant lines that capture the raw emotions and complexities of the characters' experiences.

    February 17, 1988, I opened my eyes and heard a procession of sounds: first the phone going off on the opposite side of the bed, rousing us at 5:04 A.M. to what could only be a calamity, then rain pum...

  8. 'So Long Been Dreaming: Postcolonial Science Fiction and Fantasy' is an anthology that showcases a diverse range of speculative fiction stories that push the boundaries of traditional fantasy and science fiction narratives. The stories explore themes of colonizing, colonized, and colonizers from a post-colonial perspective, offering unique and thought-provoking insights into the impact of colonization on different cultures. The writing style is described as immersive and alien, with a mix of sci-fi, speculative, and fantasy elements that make the stories feel more real and the characters more unique.

    I met and became friends with Uppinder Mehan when he was still living in Toronto. A little later, he told me that he was about to have an essay published, entitled “The Domestication of Technology in ...

  9. #9

    Eden by Stanislaw Lem
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    In 'Eden' by Stanislaw Lem, six explorers find themselves stranded on a mysterious planet where they encounter automated factories producing nothing, death lurking everywhere, and menacing locals. The story unfolds as the crew races to repair their ship amidst horror and social commentary, all delivered with a poetic sensibility. The novel offers a mesmerizing journey through an alien landscape, touching on themes of ethics, cultural assumptions, and societal control, while providing detailed visualization of the alien world.

    The book takes a serious and logical approach to exploring the struggles of the stranded earthmen on Eden, focusing on their attempts to understand the enigmas of the strange world and escape it. The writing style, characterized by detailed descriptions and a lack of character names, adds to the alienating effect and the overall mysterious atmosphere of the narrative.

    Because of a miscalculation, the craft dipped too low and hit the atmosphere with an earsplitting scream. Lying flat in their bunks, the men could hear the dampers being crushed. The front screens sho...

  10. #10

    JR by William Gaddis
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    'JR' by William Gaddis is a novel that delves into the commercialization of contemporary life, exploring the high price paid for turning everything into a commodity or an opportunity to make money. The book follows an 11-year-old sixth grader named J R Vansant who, after a school field trip to a Wall Street brokerage firm, creates a massive business empire using borrowed assets and considerable chutzpah, all while operating behind the scenes. The novel is a fierce satire of Wall Street culture, the capitalist system, modern educational systems, and the corruption of art when intertwined with commerce.

    The writing style of 'JR' is predominantly all dialogue, with no chapter breaks or clear delineation of speakers, making it a challenging read that requires readers to deduce who is speaking without any explicit cues. The lack of traditional formatting adds to the confusion, but it is purposeful, creating a noisy atmosphere that mirrors the theme of a free market economic system gone awry, highlighted by hidden radios blaring and half-heard conversations throughout the narrative.

    —Why, it’s just like that story about Father’s dying wish to have his bust sunk in Vancouver harbor, and his ashes sprinkled on the water there, about James and Thomas out in the rowboat, and both of ...

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