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A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
Read part 1 of my thoughts here. This weekend I managed to finish my second book by James Joyce. A Portrait is his semi-autobiographical work following a young man’s experiences with Catholicism, sexuality, aesthetics, and national identity, in the midst of his family’s financial decline. The novel begins with a child’s surreal perspective, develops into… Read more >>
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Top Ten Audiobook Readers
Do you listen to audiobooks? Audiobooks aren’t my go-to, but I’ll listen to them every so often. Here’s a few readers I’ve enjoyed: #1 David Barnes (LibriVox volunteer) – My favorite audiobook reader, who covered The Metamorphosis, Jekyll and Hyde, and The Club of Queer Trades (Chesterton’s parody of Sherlock Holmes). Mr Barnes has a… Read more >>
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April Showers (of Books)
It’s been a little while since I posted a proper reading check-in, so here’s what’s currently on the table(s)… Recently Finished In the past few weeks, I’ve read “In Praise of Shadows” by Jun’ichirō Tanizaki, One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, and Agamemnon by Aeschylus. Tanizaki’s essay was an interesting… Read more >>
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Fratres – Good Friday
Every year, I listen to Arvo Pärt’s Fratres on Good Friday. Pärt, an Orthodox Christian, conveys in this piece a sense of horror and beauty that seems to me so fitting for this holy day. This is the first time I’ve heard it on piano. The more familiar, frantic violin & strings arrangement leads me… Read more >>
About Me
Hi, I’m Marian—I talk about classics, history, and other books on this blog, as well as on YouTube.
Currently Reading
Recent Posts
- What I’m Reading – It’s Almost March Edition
- What I’m Reading – Morning Coffee Edition
- Oddly Specific Things I Love in Books (and a Few Movies)
- The Tenant of Wildfell Hall – A Long Overdue Review
- My Favorite Films and Music of 2025
Classics Considered 