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The Post Office Girl by Stefan Zweig
The Post Office Girl follows Christine, who lives in a dreary little town, caring for her aging mother, she doesn’t have the energy or the means to dream about a better and happier life.
She yieldingly goes from one drudgery to the next, with survival being the only goal. But when Christine’s sybarite aunt and wealthy uncle barrel her away to share in their luxurious vacation at an extravagant hotel in the Alps, her perception of life is shattered.
This story delves deep into the impact of the First World War on Austrian society and its people. I was most impressed by Zweig’s ability to convey deep human emotion and struggles in an honest way. I simply cannot recommend this book enough.
1984 by George Orwell
1984 is a magnificent story which falls under the genres of social/ political sci-fi and Dystopian Fiction. The story which was published in 1949, follows the life of Winston Smith a low ranking member of ‘the Party’, who is frustrated by the omnipresent eyes of the party, and its ominous ruler Big Brother.
“Doublethink means the power of holding two contradictory beliefs in one’s mind simultaneously, and accepting both of them.”
Thematically, the story centres on the devastating consequences of totalitarianism, mass surveillance, and repressive regimentation of people and behaviours in society.
Chess by Stefan Zweig
This is an exceptional read, that invoked all kinds of emotions from me. At first glance, it seems that this story is about Chess itself. But, the deeper you get into it, you discover that it is more about the human mind, obsession, and much more.
This was Zweig last and most famous story, ‘written in exile in Brazil and explores its author’s anxieties about the situation in Europe following the rise of the Nazi regime.
I cannot recommend this short novella enough, which can easily be read in one sitting.
Against Empathy by Paul Bloom
Paul Bloom in his book, argues that empathy, our tendency to feel the emotions of others, can lead to irrational and ineffective decision making. Instead, he advocates for a more rational and compassionate approach to moral decision making, often, described as ‘cognitive empathy.
This is an intriguing take on empathy, and you simply have to read it to understand. I think it’s a good book club choice, as it will invoke all kinds of discussion.
Metamorphosis by Franz kafka
Metamorphosis is my first encounter with Kafka’s work. The story follows Gregor Samsa, a traveling salesman who wakes up one day to find that he has transformed into a giant insect. His family is disgusted with him, especially when he is no longer able to earn income.
I’m not entirely sure what my thoughts on this novella are. But, I have every intention of reading more of Kafka’s work.
Babel by R.F Kuang
Babel is a historical fantasy novel that follows a Chinese boy, Robin Swift, who’s taken from the slums of Canton in 1828 by Oxford professor Richard Lovell to prepare for eventual study at the fictional Royal Institute of Translation at Oxford University, otherwise known as Babel.
If you love dark academia this is the book for you to read this fall. My favourite aspect of this book was the in-depth knowledge of different languages. Kuang clearly did her research, as seen through the historical details littered in the story.
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
The Picture of Dorian Gray a young, beautiful man who trades his soul for eternal youth, then descends further and further into a moral abyss — until he discovers there is, after all, a price to pay for his actions.
One of my first classics, which left me in awe due to the brilliance of Oscar Wilde’s writing. A must read classic
O’L final Thoughts
Happy winter reading ❄️ 📚
