Books matching: urban isolation
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- #1
Save:A whimsical, often haunting, but occasionally uneven set of short stories. Dive in if you want a strong dose of Murakami’s signature mix of the ordinary and the extraordinary, but don’t expect every story to resonate the same way. Great for fans of surreal literary fiction or anyone looking for modern fairy tales with a melancholic twist.
I’M IN THE KITCHEN cooking spaghetti when the woman calls. Another moment until the spaghetti is done; there I am, whistling the prelude to Rossini’s La Gazza Ladra along with the FM radio. Perfect sp... - #2
Save:A moody, lyrical night walk through Tokyo – mysterious, beautifully written, and perfect for readers who love atmosphere over action. Not Murakami's weirdest or deepest, but a great introduction or a quick dip into his dreamlike world.
Through the eyes of a high-flying night bird, we take in the scene from midair. In our broad sweep, the city looks like a single gigantic creature—or more like a single collective entity created by ma... - #3
Save:Intelligently written, disturbing, and thought-provoking, "Human Remains" is a unique crime novel that isn't afraid to get under your skin - just be ready for some truly dark subject matter.
Inside, I opened the back door, rattling the box of cat biscuits in the hope that it would bring her scurrying. It was a clear night, so she would most likely not make an appearance at the back door u... - #4
Save:A one-of-a-kind, haunting read: bizarre, prophetic, and deeply unsettling. If you crave moody, thought-provoking horror that lingers long after you close the book, this is worth your time.
IN A FAR-FLUNG CORNER of northwestern Italy, girdled by industrial haze, flanked by a crescent of jagged Alps, stands Turin, grandiose necropolis of a town. Baroque palaces, shaded neoclassical arcade... The Boy in the Earth is a novella that delves deep into the life of an unnamed twenty-something taxi driver in Tokyo, who recounts his tumultuous past from abandonment to his current state. Written in an existentialist tone, the narrative offers flashes of his troubled childhood marked by abuse and instability. The protagonist's monologue, with interjections from his alcoholic girlfriend, slowly reveals his self-destructive tendencies and disturbing memories, ultimately exploring themes of depression, alienation, and the search for meaning in life.
The author, Fuminori Nakamura, skillfully crafts a narrative that is both introspective and psychologically gripping. Through spare prose and in-depth character exploration, Nakamura presents a story that forces readers to confront themes of existential angst, societal alienation, and the complexities of human nature. The novella, while short in length, offers a profound examination of the protagonist's inner turmoil and the impact of his traumatic past on his present existence.
In the flood of headlights surrounding me, I saw that there was no escape. The motorcycles were just gunning their engines and watching me as I stood there, helpless to do anything. But I doubted that...- #6
Save:A hot, witty, and heartfelt mafia romance that balances dark themes with laugh-out-loud banter. Perfect for lovers of gruff antiheroes and quirky heroines; not so much if you want your mafia books straight-up ruthless and grim.
Answering machines and land lines are old-school, I know, but I don’t own a cell phone. I hate the idea of my every movement being trackable. And that Siri thing is just straight-up creepy, if you ask...
(Also, see 100 recommendations for the series Queens & Monsters ) - #7
Save:Strange, smart, and never predictable - a trip worth taking if you like your fiction weird, wordy, and just a bit off the rails.
This was in the headquarters of the Criterion Collection, on Fifty-second Street and Third Avenue, on a weekday afternoon at the end of summer. I’d gone there to record a series of voice-overs for one... - #8
Save:A smart, unique, and unsettling pandemic satire that’s more about people and society than monsters - perfect for literary fiction fans, but not for those craving fast-paced thrills or easy answers.
WOMEN HAVE STUPID DREAMS. We laud each other only to tear each other down. We are not like men; men shake hands with hate between them all the time and have public arguments that are an obvious jostli... - #9
Save:An original, contemplative crime novel - short, stylish, and bleakly atmospheric - with just enough heart to elevate the noir. Definitely worth a try if you love Japanese fiction or literary thrillers, but might not click for everyone.
In crowded shops, in other people’s houses, things I’d pick up furtively would slip from my fingers. Strangers’ possessions were like foreign objects that didn’t fit comfortably in my hands. They woul... - #10
Save:Grief by Andrew Holleran is a slim yet fully realized novel set in a tranquil, atmospheric District of Columbia, where the unnamed narrator is haunted by the specter of his mother and memories of a generation lost to AIDS. The book delves into themes of personal loss, grief, and the loss of romantic possibilities for aging homosexual men, all while exploring the urban isolation deepened by historical and contemporary ghosts.
