Books matching: existential despair
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- #1
Save:Dazzling but demanding - "Oblivion" is a showcase of Wallace's immense talent and ambition, best suited for readers ready to work for their literary thrills. If you love books that challenge you, go for it; if not, approach with caution.
'Oblivion: Stories' by David Foster Wallace is a collection of short stories that showcases the author's experimental and complex writing style. The stories delve into themes of existential despair, corporate America, the complexities of consciousness, and the emptiness of affluent society. Wallace's narratives are characterized by intricate sentences, recursive stream of consciousness, and a focus on the internal lives of his characters. The stories touch on topics like suicide, childhood trauma, unusual physical deformities, and the illusions of memory.
The Focus Group was then reconvened in another of Reesemeyer Shannon Belt Advertising’s nineteenth-floor conference rooms. Each member returned his Individual Response Profile packets to the facilitat...June 2004•336 pages - #2
Save:A brilliantly strange, challenging, and darkly hilarious read - Murphy is Beckett at his most mischievous. Give it a go if you’re in the mood to wrestle with language and meaning, but maybe keep Google handy for the trickier words!
'Murphy' by Samuel Beckett is a novel that follows the wanderings of the protagonist, Murphy, a solipsist who struggles to find meaning beyond his own existence. Born and raised in Dublin and living in London, Murphy avoids employment and eventually finds work at a mental hospital, where he forms an affinity with the inmates. The novel explores themes of sanity, existential despair, and intellectualism through Murphy's unconventional journey and relationships with characters like Celia, Neary, and Miss Counihan. Beckett's lyrical prose and darkly comedic tone create a unique narrative structure that blends comedy and tragedy, showcasing his early experimentation with existential themes.
THE sun shone, having no alternative, on the nothing new. Murphy sat out of it, as though he were free, in a mew in West Brompton. Here for what might have been six months he had eaten, drunk, slept,...1938•285 pages - #3
Save:A landmark of absurdist theatre - hilarious, puzzling, sometimes maddening, and always memorable. Dive in for a strange, thought-provoking journey... but expect more questions than answers.
Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett is an existential masterpiece that delves into the themes of hope, absurdity, and the passage of time. The play follows two characters, Vladimir and Estragon, who are endlessly waiting for someone named Godot. Throughout the play, the characters engage in philosophical discussions, absurd interactions, and comedic wordplay, all while questioning the meaning of their existence and the futility of their wait. Beckett's writing style is minimalist yet profound, capturing the essence of existentialism and the human condition with simplicity and depth.
VLADIMIR: (advancing with short, stiff strides, legs wide apart). I’m beginning to come round to that opinion. All my life I’ve tried to put it from me, saying, Vladimir, be reasonable, you haven’t ye...1952•130 pages - #4
Save:A short but unforgettable read - equal parts philosophical duel and character study. Come for the conversation, stay for the questions that will haunt you long after you’re done.
'The Sunset Limited' by Cormac McCarthy is a thought-provoking piece centered around a dialogue between two characters, Black and White, with opposing beliefs about religion and life. The book delves into deep conversations about faith, the meaning of life, and the human condition. Written in a play format, the story explores themes of existentialism, nihilism, faith, and the complexities of human nature through the interactions between the two characters.
This is a room in a tenement building in a black ghetto in New York City. There is a kitchen with a stove and a large refrigerator. A door to the outer hallway and another presumably to a bedroom. The...October 2006•160 pages - #5
Save:An intriguing and somber meditation on life, death, and meaning - intellectual and haunting, but maybe not for everyone. If you like your fiction deep and contemplative, give this a try!
Simone de Beauvoir's 'All Men Are Mortal' tells the tale of an immortal man, Fosca, who embarks on a journey from being part of the nobility in Italy to seeking ultimate success in his endeavors, only to realize the futility and absurdity of eternity. The book explores themes of existentialism, immortality, the passage of time, and the human condition through the experiences of Fosca and Regina, an ambitious actress who becomes obsessed with the idea of immortality through Fosca's memory. The writing style is described as original, fast-paced, and thought-provoking, reminiscent of works by existentialist philosophers such as Camus and Sartre.
1946•352 pages - #6
Save:A haunting, elegantly written journey through existential despair and Hollywood's underbelly - fast, impactful, and likely to linger long after you turn the last page.
'Play It As It Lays' by Joan Didion is a bleak and cold portrayal of Hollywood life through the eyes of actress Maria Wyeth as she navigates a world of unhealthy relationships, depression, and disconnection. The novel is structured in short, intense chapters that convey the emptiness and despair Maria experiences in her life, with a focus on the external rather than the internal emotions of the characters. Didion's writing style is sharp, pointy, and intense, capturing the essence of a generation lost in ennui and disillusionment.
IN THE FIRST HOT MONTH of the fall after the summer she left Carter (the summer Carter left her, the summer Carter stopped living in the house in Beverly Hills), Maria drove the freeway. She dressed e...1970•244 pages - #7
Save:A classic of modern theater that’s puzzling, poetic, and strangely funny - Endgame is best for those who like their drama deep, dark, and open to interpretation.
Endgame by Samuel Beckett is a short play set in a bleak, post-apocalyptic world where characters are trapped in a confined space that resembles a house. The main characters, Hamm and Clov, are engaged in daily rituals filled with absurdity and dark humor while they await the end of everything. Through minimalist dialogue and a sparse setting, Beckett explores themes of existential despair and the human condition, with characters reflecting on death and the futility of life.
The writing style of Endgame is marked by its rhythmic structure and deliberate pauses, akin to music. It evokes a sense of confusion and discomfort, yet offers moments of comedy within the despair. Beckett’s characters, despite their tragic circumstances, exhibit an odd camaraderie that elicits laughter. The interplay of dialogue reveals deeper meanings beneath the surface, showcasing the complexities of human interactions in an absurd world.
Endgame was originally written in French, as Fin de partie (1957), and subsequently translated into English by Beckett himself. While En attendant Godot, which brought Beckett fame in 1953, flowed as...1957•65 pages - #8
Save:A bleakly funny, deeply strange ride into the mind of a dying man - by turns poetic, puzzling, and profoundly human. Perfect for adventurous readers ready to linger in the shadows.
'Malone Dies' by Samuel Beckett is a novel that delves into the inner monologue of the protagonist, Malone, as he faces his imminent death. The book explores themes of memory, human nature, aging, and loneliness through Malone's musings and reflections. The narrative is described as bleak, hilarious, and told with a touch of dark humor, providing a vivid depiction of abject loneliness and the physical and mental degradation of the protagonist.
Samuel Beckett wrote the French-language novel Malone meurt between November 1947 and May 1948, at the height of a period of intense creative activity during which he also wrote the other novels of wh...1951•154 pages - #9
Save:The Seven Madmen by madman Roberto Arlt is a Latin American classic that follows the anti-hero Erdosain on an unhappy trip through Buenos Aires. The novel delves into themes of despair in modern society without spirituality or purpose, exploring the lives of criminals, sociopaths, and man babies who aim to take over the Argentinian government through false propaganda and establish a society based on industry and forced labor. The plot revolves around Erdosain's involvement in a bizarre criminal conspiracy orchestrated by The Astrologer, leading to a mysterious plan for a secret society and the takeover of the country.
Waiting for him were the director, a short squat man with the head of a wild boar, grey hair cropped short in the style of Umberto I of Italy, and an implacable gaze that filtered through grey fish ey...1929•285 pages - #10
Save:'In Love' by Alfred Hayes is a poignant exploration of a doomed love affair set in post-WWII New York. The novel follows a nameless middle-aged man as he recounts the details of his tumultuous relationship with a young divorcee, exploring themes of love, loss, and the complexities of human emotions. The writing style is described as atmospheric, noir-ish, and emotionally moving, with a focus on psychological nuances and precise prose that creates vivid character portraits in a concise manner.
HERE I am, the man in the hotel bar said to the pretty girl, almost forty, with a small reputation, some money in the bank, a convenient address, a telephone number easily available, this look on my f...1953•173 pages
