Kate
The Name of the Rose - Umberto Eco
It's hard being a historian in a literature lovers' world, but umberto eco eases my pain. his historical fiction is as compelling as it is true to the time period. The name of the rose is a mystery set in a monastery in italy in the early 14th century, and one of the main characters of the story is the monastery's library. With people dieing left and right, william of baskerville must find the murderer and discover the secret of the library. The book is smart without being overwhelming and educational without being boring. This is probably my favorite book, and has the rare honor of having a movie made out of it that was good as well.
Welcome to the Monkey House -
Kurt Vonnegut
Kurt Vonnegut is my favorite author, no questions asked. His novels are fantastic, but his short stories appeal to me above all else. the title story, "welcome to the monkey house", is a biting satire on the power that religion plays in politics, and consequentially in our everyday lives. Vonnegut had the rare gift of being able to write pieces that were strong indictments of modern society without coming across as bitter or mean-spirited. His short stories reflect the opinions that he had on a broad number of issues, like the triumph of mediocrity over talent ("harrison bergeron"), the dangers of glamor and fame ("go back to your precious wife and son"), or the military absorption of scientific advances for their own purposes ("report on the barnhouse effect"). If you're in the mood for some of his novels and have already read slaughterhouse 5 and mother night, I recommend bluebeard and hocus pocus, two of his last novels.
Lies My Teacher Told Me - James Loewen
I haven't always wanted to be a historian, but this is the book that started me down that path. It may be the only good thing to have ever come out of a summer reading assignment. The way the loewen addresses the most common tales from american history, then turns them on their heads, is just part of what makes this book great. Loewen is no iconoclast, out to destroy the memory of our heroes. The depths that he reveals of some of this country's greatest leaders and legends, like abraham lincoln and helen keller, leave you with even more respect for the subjects.
The Alienist - Caleb Carr
The 19th century is coming to an end, and a new method of police investigation is being born - psychological profiling. This practice, which has become so common on shows like law and order - criminal intent and criminal minds, is brand new, and when a serial killer strikes in new york city, it may be the only way to stop the murders. The book introduces a number of memorable characters, and has cameos from several real historical figures. This book was followed by The Angel of Darkness, which, while not as strong, is also a good read.
An Instance of the Fingerpost - Iain Pears
This mammoth of a historical mystery is the book that began my love affair with Iain Pears. How someone can take a murder mystery set in oxford in 1663 and make it so fresh and compelling is beyond me, but mr. pears has done so. The events are revealed by four different characters, each of whom reveal something that the last was concealing. In an interesting twist on this unique story-telling method, in his most recent book Stone's Fall , pears progresses backwards in time with each new narrator. you think you know what happened at the end of each section, but as soon as you start the next you know you were wrong.
Medea - Euripides
Greek tragedy isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I find myself unable to stay away. Whether it's the orestia or the theban plays, greek tragedies draw me in in a way that few other genres of plays can. The medea might seem an odd choice for a favorite play, but I find myself able to sympathize with her far more than with her "heroic" husband Jason. She takes honor beyond what any modern person would consider sane, but she does it spectacularly, and she wreaks her vengeance on all who have wronged her. For another woman pushed beyond her limits, read aeschylus's agamemnon, the first play of the orestia. |
