Eileen Chang‘s classic short story about an assassination attempt during the second Sino-Japanese War, accompanied by four other equally brooding and tense short stories. As always, Chang‘s work is an unsparing study of the dynamics and sexual politics between men and women.

Rampant sexual miserableism in Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia- but never mind that... trains! The author bio reads: “he fell to his death from the fifth floor of a Prague hospital, apparently trying to feed the pigeons”

Existentialism. Grubs. The beating of wings, the beating heart of the godless earth. The heavens open over and over for a crow who never learns to say LOVE before a giant vulva envelops everything. Ted Hughes‘ most bizarre and avian urges make for some of his most captivating poems, buzzing with the energy of an animal mind.

Inscribed in the front endpaper of this book: “October 1991, For my beautiful lover, in this autumn of our life. The falling leaves are the love dripping from my heart onto your breast”

For 25 years this book has been a classic novel of family, myth, history, and love- that kind of love between people who are bound together by blood and sacrifice. Equal parts playful and heartbreaking, this interwoven collection of stories is the definitive work of first generation Asian American writers coming to terms with their parents hopes for their children‘s lives to extend beyond their reach.

A great work of literary criticism which rejuvenated the genre in 1997. Proust as a guidebook to life won‘t be an unfamiliar concept to those already acquainted with his work, but to see it taken on so deftly is a joy. It‘s also very funny!

Imagine an engaging, readable, comprehensive history of the Second World War in under 200 pages. Norman Stone has written just that- a feat in and of itself, but the unsparing brevity in which this information is delivered makes it inspiring to read.

“Have you never noticed how absorbed people look at the climb from floor to floor? So many resolutions reached, so many anxious questions to which answers lie in wait behind the door that is about to open! Here on the stairs is the time in the place for making up your mind, that final moment of reflection before you take the plunge.”

A travelogue unlike any other, written by an octogenarian who loved the city he lived in.

Finishing this up on a rainy day. Orwell‘s classic satire Animal Farm gets its own playful parody written in the wake of the September 11th attacks on New York. Reed has Orwell‘s famously wry and didactic style tuned so sharply you‘re not sure if it‘s right to laugh. You have to really love something to mock it so acutely though, and Reed‘s appreciation for the original work shines through.

Moving and hilarious in a way that David Nobbs performed so well. Packaging executive James‘ wife is killed in a car accident while he‘s off having an affair with another woman. Consumed by guilt, he must pull his estranged family together for the funeral, all the while avoiding his manic lover, his mean-spirited mother, and a man he is quite sure murdered someone.

Powerful, clever poems from Nobel prize winner Seamus Heaney. 1966, Irish, dead good.

Published in 1995, the president (of the Harvard law review) wrote a book about his life up to that point. An interesting look into the personal struggles and triumphs of an important historical figure and a passionate and caring person. Well deserving of “classic” status.

Very much enjoyed reading the French alongside the English. Many poems are surprisingly concise!

Happy to find this great cover of 1984 I‘ve been searching for

Reading these out of order but enjoying collecting them all. This one is great so far!