thoughts
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Nightmarish Utopia
I believe Sir Thomas More meant well when he penned Utopia (1516), but it is quite possibly the worst book I have ever read. Given the standard of living for the majority of human beings in the early 16th century, More’s dream of a perfect nation must have sounded as idyllic as it gets. Yet… Continue reading
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Character Thursday: Ned Land vs. Captain Nemo
[It’s not yet Thursday where I live, but I thought I would go ahead and post this. 🙂 ] As I near the end of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, I realize one thing: I don’t like book!Nemo. And it is (partly) Herman Melville’s fault. Ever since I read Moby-Dick, I have had a huge… Continue reading
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Imperialism and Identity in ‘Heart of Darkness’
The word “ivory” rang in the air, was whispered, was sighed. You would think they were praying to it. This has been my second reading of Joseph Conrad‘s arguably most-famous classic. The first time, I was mesmerized by it without quite knowing why. Closer, more careful reading has given me a few more hints as… Continue reading
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From Eyre to Onegin
After reading Eugene Onegin, it struck me that it shares several essential similarities with a more famous romantic classic, Jane Eyre (Charlotte Brontë). There’s the Gothic side, for example. Jane Eyre is considered to be “Gothic”, and Eugene Onegin holds elements of it as well. The letter-writing scene has a sense of gloom about it,… Continue reading
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
- Emo Classics – Bronte, Woolf, and Kierkegaard
- 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
Classics Considered 