Evil

The Exorcist 

by William Peter Blatty

“Perhaps evil is the crucible of goodness... and perhaps even Satan - Satan, in spite of himself - somehow serves to work out the will of God.”

― William Peter Blatty, The Exorcist

This book, in my opinion, is a "slow descent into hell," with a steady tempo that creates fear through scientific and clinical research before the supernatural aspects take over. One of the main strengths is the characters. Chris MacNeil is a compelling, desperate mother, and Father Karras shows a relatable struggle between faith and science. The philosophical queries raised in the book concerning the existence of God and the nature of evil are terrifying. Many readers may find the novel's graphic depictions upsetting and offensive, and it is intentionally raw and profane. Detective Kinderman offers a much-needed respite from the stress. Overall, I liked the novel's theological and philosophical elements as well as the tension that underpins the plot's development.

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Climate Change

Impasse: Climate Change and the Limits of Progress 

by Roy Scranton

This is a searing investigation of the state of the world vis a vis climate change. It details information and opinions that suggest we have reached an important moment that will determine what happens to the world in the not too distant future. The author's central argument is that our "dogmatic faith in progress" is the primary obstacle to addressing climate catastrophe. He contends that the "impasse" we face is not just political, but existential and cognitive—our brains and narratives are fundamentally unequipped to grasp the scale of the crisis.

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Human Art

 

Art of Humanism 

by Kenneth M. Clark

“Ruskin said: ‘Great nations write their autobiographies in three manuscripts, the book of their deeds, the book of their words and the book of their art. - Kenneth Clark






Kenneth Clark's 1983 book The Art of Humanism is a succinct examination of the Italian Renaissance of the fifteenth century from a humanistic perspective. Clark, who is most known for his seminal series Civilization, explores how the visual arts were transformed by a renewed sense of human greatness and potential. The book focuses on five major masters of the era: Andrea Mantegna: Classical antiquity and the heroic figure; Paolo Uccello: The compulsive, scientific study of perspective; Donatello: Human emotion and drama in sculpture; and Leon Battista Alberti: Architecture and the mathematical foundation of beauty.
Sandro Botticelli: Humanism's poetic and spiritual side.

"Belief in the greatness of man and the supremacy of human values" is how Clark characterizes humanism. He contends that these artists were philosophers who gave these new ideals shape in addition to being expert craftsmen. Clark's "patrician self-confidence" and "great man" approach to art history, which emphasizes individual brilliance over larger social movements, are frequently highlighted in reviews of his larger body of work. In keeping with that model, this book offers a close-knit, knowledgeable tour of particular masterpieces.

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Some Kind of Journey

The Folded Leaf 

by William Maxwell

“But to live in the world at all is to be committed to some kind of a journey.”

― William Maxwell, The Folded Leaf

When I first came across this book in college, I really liked the plot and the author's style. In the Midwest in the 1920s, when childhood lasted longer than it does now and even adults were more naive about what life could bring, two boys find each other in the quietly observed but profoundly moving tale The Folded Leaf. The narrative centers on Lymie and Spud, two young boys who, despite their apparent differences, have a close friendship. The majority of the book is told from the viewpoint of Lymie, a quiet, reserved, introverted, and extremely sensitive young man who adores Spud. On the other hand, Spud is a little stronger and an athlete who is able to recognize his friend's sensitivity while not really understanding. They work well together, with Spud drawing strength from his friend and Lymie taking security from Spud's strength.

When they fall in love with the same girl, Sally Forbes, their intense, almost symbiotic high school friendship turns into a tense college rivalry. A dramatic and possibly tragic climax results from the tension that follows. The book has overtly homoerotic undertones, despite Maxwell's refusal to call it "gay fiction." Readers today see the boys' frequent bed sharing and physical intimacy through a queer lens. Because of the author's poetic prose, emotional accuracy, and psychological realism, I have read this again since I was in college.

It is a classic book written by one of our most esteemed authors, who has written such well-known books as So Long, See You Tomorrow and All the Days and Nights. These novels demonstrate why William Maxwell is among the greatest authors I have ever come across.

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Desire to be Real

Great Expectations 

by Vinson Cunningham

“...I wanted to be more than a Rorschach, more legible than a symbol, more vivid and musical, at least to the kid, than even the most laureled statue could ever be. I wanted to be real in a way that history wasn't...”

― Vinson Cunningham, Great Expectations

Vinson Cunningham’s debut novel, Great Expectations, is a coming-of-age story that follows David Hammond, a young Black man working as a fundraiser for a charismatic junior senator's 2008 presidential campaign. While some critics praised the book for its intellectual depth and elegant prose, others noted its unconventional, ambivalent narrative voice. As for me, this book let me down for a number of reasons. Many passages are merely a springboard for cultural criticism and have nothing novel or even intriguing to say. The narrator, David, has a biographical background, but the combination of personal memories and political campaigning insight is occasionally weak and uninteresting. I continually found I was forcing myself to continue due to my lack of interest in the narrative.

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Illustrated Memories

The Mysterious Flame of Queen Loana 

by Umberto Eco

“Memory is a stopgap for humans, for whom time flies and what is passed is passed.”
― Umberto Eco, The Mysterious Flame of Queen Loana

Giambattista "Yambo" Bodoni, a 60-year-old rare book dealer from Milan, has "paper memory" after suffering a stroke. He has no autobiographical memory—he cannot identify his wife, daughters, or his own past—but he can remember every book, poem, and song he has ever come across. Yambo withdraws to his Solara childhood home at his wife Paola's suggestion. He searches his grandfather's large attic, which is stocked with diaries, comic books, old newspapers, and records.
Yambo recreates his generation's experiences with Catholic guilt, wartime propaganda, and American pop culture icons like Flash Gordon and Fred Astaire by using these artifacts to recreate the world of his childhood in Mussolini's fascist Italy. After a second "incident," Yambo experiences a coma during which his real memories resurface.

The book is renowned for its nearly 200 illustrations, which show how culture shapes individual identity and include comic strips, posters, and ads from Eco's own collection. Yambo is used by Eco as a metaphor for a "truly postmodern figure"—someone whose identity is derived more from literature and media than from personal experience.
The title "Mysterious Flame" alludes to a particular Tim Tyler's Luck comic.

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Fanny's Heart

Mansfield Park 

by Jane Austen

“This would be the way to Fanny's heart. She was not to be won by all that gallantry and wit and good-nature together could do; or, at least, she would not be won by them nearly so soon, without the assistance of sentiment and feeling, and seriousness on serious subjects.”

― Jane Austen, Mansfield Park

Out of all Jane Austen's novels, Mansfield Park has the dubious distinction of being disliked by more of her fans. Sense and Sensibility is about striking a balance between feelings and thoughts, Pride and Prejudice is about passing judgment on people too quickly, Emma is about maturing into adulthood, and Persuasion is about second chances. These themes are very different from those of her other books, which can usually be summed up in one sentence or even one phrase. In contrast, it is difficult to characterize Mansfield Park's theme. Does it have to do with ordination? Is it a parable about Regency England? Does it have to do with slavery? Is it related to children's education? Is it about how appearances and reality differ from one another? Is it about the consequences of defying social norms? Mansfield Park can be applied to any or all of those themes.
The main character, Fanny Price, presents the biggest challenge because she is timid, shy, insecure, physically frail, and, to some, irritatingly, always correct. She is definitely not like Pride and Prejudice's vivacious and clever Elizabeth Bennett. However, Mansfield Park also has a large following, whose respect and allegiance can be ascribed to the novel's rich and nuanced themes as well as to the protagonist, a young lady who stands out from most literary heroines. In the end, most readers only care that it is a well-written book that is enjoyable to read.

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