Books matching: the absurdity of life
100 result(s)
- #1
Save:'Collected Stories' by Vladimir Nabokov is a compilation of nearly seventy short stories that showcase the masterful storytelling of the author. The stories range from beautifully written and poetic to bizarre and atmospheric, often delving into themes of memory, clearness, and surrealism. Nabokov's writing style is described as indescribably beautiful, whimsical, and gripping, with a mix of migr homesick emotions and vivid imagery that captivates the reader's imagination.
The collection includes stories originally written in Russian and French, translated into English by Nabokov himself or his son Dmitri. The narratives are often melancholic and thought-provoking, exploring themes of death, nightmares, and deep emotions. Nabokov's ability to weave intricate plots and observe the world with a keen eye for detail results in a collection that is both haunting and sublime, offering readers a glimpse into the genius of one of the finest fiction writers of the twentieth century.
- #2
Save:'Sombrero Fallout' by Richard Brautigan is a humorous and whimsical tale that explores themes of despair, unrequited love, and chaos. The narrative follows an obsessional humorist attempting to start a new story while grappling with the recent breakup of his relationship with a Japanese woman. Through poetic passages and bizarre events, such as a sombrero falling from the sky at 24 degrees below zero, the author weaves a story that delves into the mind of the writer and the dreams of the Japanese woman, creating a narrative that blurs the line between reality and imagination.
‘I AM YOUR MAYOR! SHOW ME SOME RESPECT! I ORDER YOU TO STOP CRYING! I’LL CALL THE POLICE!’ the mayor shouted at the two crying men. He was at the end of his rope. He couldn’t deal with the situation r... - #3
Save:In Memoir from Antproof Case by Mark Helprin, readers are taken on a journey through the life of an 80-year-old American man, sharing his unconventional and larger-than-life story. From being forced into adulthood early due to a tragic event related to his intense hatred of coffee to becoming an ace fighter pilot in WWII, the protagonist's adventures are filled with fantastical elements and emotional revelations. The writing style shifts between lyrical descriptions and absurd obsessions, creating a narrative that transports readers into a world of whimsy and reflection.
The book is a comprehensive satire and send-up of the American century, with the nameless narrator embodying bravado and hyperbole that characterize the country's recent history. Through non-chronological tall tales and moments of self-reflection, readers are invited to ponder the complexities of the protagonist's life and the overarching themes of duty, parental love, and the inevitability of change. Helprin's writing style astounds with its ability to seamlessly blend the absurd with the sublime, urging readers to contemplate the beauty of the world and the pursuit of self-betterment.
CALL ME OSCAR Progresso. Or, for that matter, call me anything you want, as Oscar Progresso is not my name. Nor are Baby Supine, Euclid Cherry, Franklyn Nuts, or any of the other aliases that, now and... 'Today I Wrote Nothing: The Selected Writings' by Daniil Kharms is a collection of absurd and witty writings, comprising a mixture of poetry, short prose, and miniature plays. The book features stories that are both funny and thought-provoking, with elements of absurdism and dark humor. Kharms' writing style challenges traditional storytelling norms and delves into themes of existentialism and mysticism, set against the backdrop of a soulless period in history.
- #5
Save:'Kiss Kiss' by Roald Dahl is a collection of 11 short stories that delve into the dark and macabre, often with unexpected twists. The writing style is described as crisp, surprising, and smoothly written, with a touch of British black humor. Each story starts innocently but ends with a chilling or eccentric conclusion, leaving the reader both entertained and slightly unsettled. Dahl's unique storytelling perspective shines through in these tales of the unusual, reminiscent of stories one might expect to find in 'Twilight Zone'.
Billy Weaver had travelled down from London on the slow afternoon train, with a change at Swindon on the way, and by the time he got to Bath it was about nine o’clock in the evening and the moon was c... - #6
Save:'The Castle' by Franz Kafka is a haunting depiction of trying to navigate life, filled with bureaucratic mishaps and a sense of futility. The main character, K., arrives in a village to work as a Land Surveyor, only to find himself caught in a web of nonsensical rules and customs, unable to gain access to the mysterious authorities in the castle that govern the town. The narrative flows like a crazy dream, with contradictions, strange passages of time, and a sense of impending doom. Kafka's unique writing style, characterized by long, meandering paragraphs and a dreamlike prose, adds to the unsettling atmosphere of the story.
IT was late evening when K. arrived. The village lay deep in snow. There was nothing to be seen of Castle Mount, for mist and darkness surrounded it, and not the faintest glimmer of light showed where... - #7
Save:In 'Divine Misfortune' by A. Lee Martinez, a couple decides to choose a god from an online database to improve their lives. They settle on Luka, a god of good luck, who unexpectedly moves in with them along with his friends and enemies, causing chaos and mayhem in their lives. The book humorously explores the complexities of the human-divine relationship, with quirky characters and a mix of gods from various mythologies. The writing style is described as funny, light, and imaginative, reminiscent of authors like Terry Pratchett and Christopher Moore.
“He isn’t a jackal, honey,” he said, with an edge on the term of endearment. “He just has a jackal head.” He loved his wife dearly, but she was making this difficult. If it had been up to him, he’d ju... - #8
Save:'Blow-Up and Other Stories' by Julio Cortazar is a collection of short stories that masterfully blend the fantastic with the mundane, often leaving readers with a sense of unease or disturbing dreams. From the opening tale of 'Axolotl' to the grisly fate of characters in stories like 'The Night Face Up' and 'The Bestiary', Cortazar takes readers on a journey across invisible lines between incompatible states, exploring themes of identity, perception, and reality. The writing style of Cortazar is described as unique, with sentences that are intimate, slightly illogical, and filled with lovely imagery, creating a chthonic slow turning over and over that lingers in the reader's mind.
There was a time when I thought a great deal about the axolotls. I went to see them in the aquarium at the Jardin des Plantes and stayed for hours watching them, observing their immobility, their fain... - #9
Save:Slapstick, or Lonesome No More! by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. is a satirical and absurd novel set in a dystopian future where the last President of the U.S. and his twin sister navigate the fall of American culture and civilization. The story explores themes of overconsumption, loneliness, and the absurdity of government and society. Vonnegut's writing style in this book is described as surreal, dark, and insightful, with a touch of humor and poignant observations about the human condition.
The narrative of Slapstick is a blend of post-apocalyptic fiction, social commentary, and dark humor. Vonnegut weaves together elements of genetic manipulation, political satire, and musings on family, love, and human interaction in a world where America has fragmented into warring states and characters grapple with loneliness and the search for connection. The book's writing is characterized by Vonnegut's signature style of plain language, clever observations, and thought-provoking tragedies that reflect on the state of society and the human experience.
I inhabit the first floor of the Empire State Building with my sixteen-year-old granddaughter, who is Melody Oriole-2 von Peterswald, and with her lover, Isadore Raspberry-19 Cohen. The three of us ha... - #10
Save:Cosmos by Witold Gombrowicz is a strange and unsettling novel that delves into the mind of a young narrator who slowly loses grasp of reality, finding eerie connections between seemingly insignificant details. The narrative is driven by a morbid undercurrent of sexual frustration, leading the protagonist into a series of disturbing events. The writing style is described as unhinged, with bewitching descriptions of the intense summer countryside, creating a stream of consciousness narrative that blurs the line between rationality and irrationality.
Sweat, Fuks is walking, I’m behind him, pant legs, heels, sand, we’re plodding on, plodding on, ruts, clods of dirt, glassy pebbles flashing, the glare, the heat humming, quivering, everything is blac...
