MLembo wrote:
I'm currently looking for a few fresh titles to read. Here's a brief list of the titles that I'm reading currently, and what I've read so far. If anyone can recommend anything, I would very much appreciate it.
Currently Reading:
After Many a Summer Dies the Swan - Aldous Huxley
The World Set Free - H.G. Wells
Irrational Markets - Don DeVitto
The Prince - Machiavelli (I only dabble in this one from time to time)
The Free Press - Hilaire Belloc
Previously Read:
A Clockwork Orange - Anthony Burgess
Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
Ape and Essence - Aldous Huxley
Island - Aldous Huxley
Aftershock - Robert Reich
As you can see, I'm a big Aldous Huxley fan. I'm contemplating reading more of his work, but I feel like I've all ready read his best work and I don't want to be dissappointed. I'm especially interested in reading about Economics/Politics, Philosophy, and Science-Fiction (as long as it isn't meaningless; no Star Wars, etc). I enjoy satirical authors very much.
Thanks guys. I look forward to hearing any and all suggestions.
Well, since you have read Brave New World, should we presume you have read Orwell's Animal Farm and 1984 ? What about The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Douglas Adams)? The later is a favorite of my son, although I haven't tackled it yet. Is something like the black apocalyptic The Road (Cormac McCarthy) of any interest to you?
You might give some thought to tackling James Joyce's Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man and Dubliners and then taking on his Ulysses.
In a different direction, another tome to take a look at might be Don DeLillo's Underworld. I was glad to take that on a few years ago. Part of its appeal to me was that it talked about America during a period in which I had grown from adolescence to adulthood.
A friend of Huxley's whose writing I have enjoyed is Syble Bedford. She wrote a biography of Huxley (Aldous Huxley). (It is Favorite of the Gods that I particularly remember, but she is also known for Jigsaw and Legacy.)
Huxley was part of a wide circle of intellectuals and you may find some of their work of interest, as well as that of other members of his illustrious family. One possibility would be the work of D.H. Lawrence. Check out Huxley's Wikipedia entry:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aldous_Huxley
NoveList Plus (an online EBSCO service which may be available from your library) says:
"The work of Aldous Huxley is marked by its intellectual nature and its examination of humanity within the dynamic social and technological context of the 20th century. Huxley's prose is clear and direct, though the ideas within his novels, short stories, and essays are often complex. He inserts thoughtful lectures into his narratives which help the reader to understand the thematic significance of the work. His writings focus on a wide range of topics, but prominent themes include pacifism, dehumanization and technological advancement, drug use, and spirituality. Start with: Brave New World (fiction); The Perennial Philosophy (nonfiction)."
"Genre: Black humor; Picture books for children; Political fiction; Psychological fiction; Satirical fiction; Science fiction."
"Author Read-alikes: George Orwell"
For something substantially different, give consideration to Salman Rushdie's Midnight's Children.
With interests as wide ranging as yours, there are obviously many directions you could move. At times like that, I frequently go back and take a look at Fadiman (New Lifetime Reading Plan or The Lifetime Reading Plan) or some other list of suggested books (Dirda, Pearl, ...). I may go more current or local library displays or book store features, but I can usually get re-engaged one of those directions. (Don't forget to check out the Great Books/Great Conversations sites on line once in awhile, too.)
Good luck! Have fun! Give us feedback on what ends up working for you!?
"Seize the moments of happiness, love and be loved! That is the only reality in the world, all else is folly. It is the one thing we are interested in here." -- Leo Tolstoy
