Recent Dyalogues in Books
Feb 2010
King Lear, William Shakespeare
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CompletedUpdated on Feb 06, 2010To be any sort of cultured in books, it is necessary to at least read some Shakespeare books in your lifetime. King Lear is a tragic play about an old king and his three daughters; two of which are greedy, and one of which is misunderstood. It is filled with a lot of suspense, irony, symbolism, and dramatic elements.
The Golden Gate (Vikram Seth's novel written in verse)
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CompletedUpdated on Feb 02, 2010Published in 1986 to substantial critical and commercial acclaim, The Golden Gate, written by Vikram Seth, is now, unfortunately, out of print, but can typically be found second-hand or at your local library (I found my copy there).
The novel is set in San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area in the mid-80s, but has an unusual twist: it's written entirely in verse (more on that below).
Inspired by Russian author Vladimir Pushkin's Eugene Onegin, the novel comprises 690 tetrameter sonnets. In fact, Seth found Pushkin's novel at a second-hand book sale at Stanford University, where some of the scenes in the novel take place.
Vikram Seth Biography
Vikram Seth was born in Calcutta (now Kolkata) in 1952. His father, Prem, was an executive at a shoe company, and his mother, Laila, was a judge. Vikram has a younger brother and a younger sister.
Seth left India after completing his primary education to study at Oxford University, completing his degree in philosophy, politics, and economics (PPE). Afterwards, he enrolled in graduate school at Stanford University, to pursue a PhD in Economics. Seth was also a Wallace Stegner Fellow in Creative Writing from 1977-1978 at Stanford. Explaining why he never completed his doctorate degree in economics: "never had any passion for economics, not what I felt for writing poetry".
Vikram Seth has published eight notable works - two novels, and six collections of poetry. During the period before and after Seth published his first novel, he contributed poetic works for more than a decade. Seth's books of poetry include Mappings (1980), From Heaven Lake (1983), which discusses a hitchhiking trip through Nepal into India that Seth took while studying in China in the early 1980s, The Humble Administrator's Garden (1985), All You Who Sleep Tonight (1990), Beastly Tales (1991), and Three Chinese Poets (1992).
Jun 2009
Short stories versus the traditional longer-length novel
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CompletedUpdated on Jun 11, 2009It is a bit of a thorny issue amongst readers, writers and theorists worldwide. A matter of personal taste, and time restraints. Is it more satisfying to sit down to a chunky novel with wiggles and turns, resolutions and drawn out endings? Or is it nicer to devour a short story, straight and true, domain of the notorious cliffhanger or cruel twist?
May 2009
Caucasia, by Danzy Senna
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CompletedUpdated on May 29, 2009Danzy Senna's first book, Caucasia tells the story of Birdie Lee, a biracial girl born to a black father and white mother in the 1970s. After her parents' marriage and a political plot fall apart, Birdie's father and sister, Cole, leave, while her mother and her go into hiding. The story centers around Birdie's assumed identity as a white girl on the run, and her constant struggle to reunite with her lost family members.What is best? Classic tales, or Modern fiction?
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CompletedUpdated on May 28, 2009Classic tales have been around for years, tried and tested with massive followings and strong storylines. Modern fiction is a newer phenomena, creating new writing styles, pushing the boundaries of text and narrative.
The question, course, remains - which is best?
Romance novels: Real Fiction or Mindless Drivel?
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CompletedUpdated on May 24, 2009Romance novels are often dismissed as silly and rather pathetic. But are they? Can we call romance novels - and their younger sister, chick lit - real fiction, or are they total nonsense? Do they serve a purpose?
Desert Island Series: What Five Books Would You Want If You Were Stranded on a Desert Island?
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CompletedUpdated on May 12, 2009What are the five "must-have" books that you will want with you whereever you may be in life, and especially if you were stranded alone on a desert island?
Dan Black: Hack or Evil Genius?
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CompletedUpdated on May 05, 2009Dan Black author of The DaVinci Code, Digital Fortress and Angels & Demons and resident conspiracy theorist is regarded by the bridge and tunnel set and the next best thing since Stephen King.
Boomsday: Should Baby Boomers Commit Voluntary Suicide to Absolve the Social Security Deficit?
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CompletedUpdated on May 03, 2009Boomsday, a political satire by Christopher Buckley (Thank You For Smoking) is about an outlandish proposal for solving the social security deficit. Offer tax breaks to all baby boomers who voluntarily commit suicide at age 70. An obvious farce, this book is quite hilarious and absurd in its practicality.
Apr 2009
Snuff, by Chuck Palahniuk
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CompletedUpdated on Apr 22, 2009Chuck Palahniuk, of Fight Club and Choke fame, has published his most recent novel, Snuff, about a porn star that is trying to make history by having the largest group sex event in history. Told from the perspective of 4 of the witnesses to the event, Palahniuk captures the motivations, fears, and back stories of a handful of offbeat characters, and adds his usual twist ending.
