Asymptote Journal Book Recommendations & Book Mentions

Asymptote Journal

“I thought, let the dead speak because the living don't have a clue. That was my starting point.” Shehan Karunatilaka discusses his Booker Prize winning novel, The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida, and the Sri Lankan civil war that serves as its setting. https://t.co/7c9Lm4nfB1 https://t.co/A7oOcRfwge

Add to Cart

Asymptote Journal

#OTD in 1854, the great Oscar Wilde was born in Dublin, Ireland! He was well known for both his plays, like "The Importance of Being Earnest," and his novels, like "The Picture of Dorian Gray." His works dealt with philosophical ideals and norms surrounding the Victorian era. https://t.co/s3sxZXCUTK

Add to Cart

Asymptote Journal

Virginia Woolf, a pioneer of modernist literature and feminist thought, was born #OTD in 1882. "Mrs Dalloway" and her later essay "A Room of One's Own" laid the groundwork for her beliefs in social justice and women's rights. She helped define English modernism in 20th century. https://t.co/1V9vtMoPgd

Add to Cart

Asymptote Journal

In his review of Elias Khoury's MY NAME IS ADAM (translated by Humphrey Davies), @joshua_craze explores Khoury's willingness to embrace openendedness, asserting that a lack of resolution is often integral to the telling of a story. Read it here: https://t.co/uERcX5fGM7 https://t.co/u2QoyMVIgX

Add to Cart

Asymptote Journal

#OTD in 1821, the Russian master of literature, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, was born in Moscow. One of the most translated authors of all time—his works have been translated into over 170 languages—he is best known for his epic, insightful novels like "Crime and Punishment". https://t.co/Ps19aDeZ3G

Add to Cart

Asymptote Journal

Have you read the original The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi? Having inspired many adaptations—and with a new English translation released just last year—find out the tumultuous history behind this children’s classic: https://t.co/ZbHrFzAo4Y

Add to Cart

Asymptote Journal

Born #OTD in 1885 Lawrence is known for novels like “Lady Chatterley's Lover”, he was also a prolific poet, vivid and sensual in his imagery. His prose and verse offer a great deal of insight into the social shifts of his time, and continue to intrigue readers to this day. https://t.co/qoq2hSVwHN

Add to Cart

Asymptote Journal

#OTD in 1845, a man moves into a small cabin by a kettle hole pond and lives there for the next two years. The pond is Walden and the man is Henry David Thoreau, author of “On Civil Disobedience” and of course “Walden”, a foundational text of American environmental literature. https://t.co/SAJ9u9lBba

Add to Cart

Asymptote Journal

Today we honor the life of Sylvia Plath, renowned author, who died too soon. Born #OTD in 1932 in Boston, Plath was a legend for her work in the development of confessional poetry. Her final work and only novel, "The Bell Jar," remains a mainstay of American literature. https://t.co/1I3JSev9B1

Add to Cart

Asymptote Journal

George Orwell's astute perceptions of politics foreshadowed a clash of ideologies during the 20th century. His experience of the Spanish Civil War inspired some of the century's greatest literature, from 1984 to Animal Farm. He died young at 46, but #OTD we celebrate his birth. https://t.co/c9Uq1Ddlvj

Add to Cart