'The Old Capital' is a poetic and subtle meditation on the Japanese aesthetics of awareness of impermanence. The story of twin sisters is set in Kyoto'The Old Capital' is a poetic and subtle meditation on the Japanese aesthetics of awareness of impermanence. The story of twin sisters is set in Kyoto, the old capital of Japan. The story unfolds slowly like a walk through Kyoto seasonal beauty, its festivals and traditions. The key word that best describes the atmosphere, the philosophy of life and the events in the story is in the title, it is 'old'. The old capital, the traditional way of life, traditional clothes, traditional men and women's roles, traditional festivals, the life deeply attuned to the natural world - to the very last page I kept wondering what year approximately the story is set in. I was really surprised that it is set somewhere between late 1950s and early 1960s (although the characters mention American occupation). Indeed, this was a time when Japan was undergoing rapid modernization and economic growth, and the novel subtly explores the tension between the traditional and the modern. In general, the novel is beautiful and comforting, it invites reflection and quiet introspection. A proper read these days when every piece of news is bad news.
'But the beauty of the withered flower, of the fallen leaf—what is it but the beauty of sorrow?' ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 'It is sad to be separated from nature by the city, but in Kyoto nature is always near.' -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 'There are times when silence has the loudest voice.' -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 'Even a single moment has the depth of a thousand years.' ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 'The old capital, like an aged woman, hides her pain behind grace.' ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 'Spring came quietly, scattering cherry blossoms like forgotten memories.' ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 'Festivals seemed to turn back time, making the city young again, even as its people aged.' ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 'She did not know if she had lost something or found something....more
The second Hornblower novel is well-written and highly entertaining. Besides, it is a very informative read from the historical perspective. And this The second Hornblower novel is well-written and highly entertaining. Besides, it is a very informative read from the historical perspective. And this is one of the reasons why I find this saga fascinating....more
Another great story by Honoré de Balzac, this time about art and arists. The protagonists, the professional artists, discuss the eternal questions; 'WAnother great story by Honoré de Balzac, this time about art and arists. The protagonists, the professional artists, discuss the eternal questions; 'What is art?' 'What is the connection between art and reality?' 'How much is art supposed to reflect reality?' 'What is a perfect work of art?' The story is also another reminder that passions and obsessions are dangerous even if this is the obsession with your own work of art which you consider to be a masterpiece.
'Painters have no business to think, except brush in hand.' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 'A painter is a poet who writes not upon parchment or paper, but upon the soul of man.' --------------------------------------------------------------------- 'There is no such thing as talent, only long patience.' -------------------------------------------------------------------- 'The mission of art is not to copy nature, but to express it.' ------------------------------------------------------------------ 'To be a great painter, you must possess profound silence within yourself.' ------------------------------------------------------------------- 'A work of art is a corner of creation seen through a temperament.'...more
This is a detective story the Sicilian way - the inspector's daily routine (which reminds me of life on a holiday), the inspector's house on the beachThis is a detective story the Sicilian way - the inspector's daily routine (which reminds me of life on a holiday), the inspector's house on the beach, the inspector's friends and colleagues, the inspector's women, the inspector's devotion to fine food, the inspector's literary preferences. The Anti-mafia operations is a constant background for the investigation of the double murder committed fifty years ago. In general, the novel is enjoyable, mostly thanks to the unique atmosphere of the island and the protagonist's self-irony....more
Šis kūrinys nėra tobulas rašymo stiliaus prasme. Ir jame neapsieita be muilo operos ir melodramos, neįtikėtinų, nerealistiškų įvykių, LT/EN
Lithuanian
Šis kūrinys nėra tobulas rašymo stiliaus prasme. Ir jame neapsieita be muilo operos ir melodramos, neįtikėtinų, nerealistiškų įvykių, nereikalingo patoso ir nelogiškumų, ypač pagrindinių veikėjų portretuose. Nepaisant visų išvardintų trūkumų, palyginus su 'Aštuntuoju gyvenimu', čia yra kažkas tikra, kas yra vadinama 'literatūra'. Man 'Šviesos stygius' pasirodė kur kas brandesnis ir gilesnis tekstas. 90-ieji, kai žlugo Sovietų Sąjunga, buvo sunkus laikas kiekvienoje iš postsovietinių valstybių, bet Sarkatvele, draskomame anarchijos, chaoso ir pilietinio karo, buvo ypač sunku išgyventi. 'Švieso stygius' yra būtent apie tai - 90-ujų traumą ir jos aukas - kai kas iš jų išgyveno, bet turi gyventi su šios traumos pasekmėmis, o kai kam ši trauma buvo mirtina. Čia, kaip 'Aštuntame gyvenime', labai jaučiasi autorės nusivylimas savo šalimi ir bandymas vėl ir vėl apmąstyti gyvenimo ir išgyvenimo 90-aisiais laikotarpio patirtį.
English
This work is not perfect in terms of the writing style. And the author could not do without soap opera and melodrama, incredible, unrealistic events, unnecessary pathos and illogicalities, especially portraying the main characters. And, still, despite all the listed shortcomings, compared to 'The Eighth Life', there is something real here that is called 'literature'. To me, 'Lack of Light' seemed a much more mature and deeper text. The 90s, when the Soviet Union collapsed, were a difficult time for each of the post-Soviet states, but in Georgia, torn by anarchy, chaos and civil war, it was especially difficult to survive. 'Lack of Light' is precisely about this - the trauma of the 90s and its victims - some of them survived, but have to live with the consequences of this trauma, and for some this trauma was fatal. Here, as in 'The Eighth Life', the author's disappointment with her country and her attempt to reflect again and again on the experience of living and surviving in the 1990s are very much felt....more
To live fully is to die a little with every desire fulfilled.
I must confess - I love Balzac - reading his works is some sort of therapy to me. Love hiTo live fully is to die a little with every desire fulfilled.
I must confess - I love Balzac - reading his works is some sort of therapy to me. Love his rich, panoramic, elegant prose, his wit, his deep and timeless insights into human nature, his wisdom and his sense of humour. 'The Wild Ass's Skin' is different from other Balzac's novels and novellas that I have read so far for it is a harmonious blend of philosophy, fantasy and social critique. The novel is the author's attempt to explore the price we, people, pay for fulfilling our desires and their damaging implications on our existence. At the same time Balzac uses this opportunity to criticize the Parisian society - this glittering, cruel, soul-devouring animal and its typical representatives.
'Possessing this skin means living with the certainty of death in every moment of joy.' ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 'To wish is to lose; to live is to destroy oneself.' ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 'Between the daylight gambler and the player at night there is the same difference that lies between a careless husband and the lover swooning under his lady’s window.' ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 'For pain is perhaps but a violent pleasure? Who could determine the point where pleasure becomes pain, where pain is still a pleasure Is not the utmost brightness of the ideal world soothing to us, while the lightest shadows of the physical world annoy?' ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 'If you are to judge a man, you must know his secret thoughts, sorrows, and feelings; to know merely the outward events of a man’s life would only serve to make a chronological table � a fool’s notion of history.' ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 'Conscience is our unerring judge until we finally stifle it.' ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 'Between power and renunciation, only wisdom can survive.' ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 'In Paris, everyone wants to be someone else.' --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 'His genius had found refuge in cafés, beneath the smoke of cheap cigars and the applause of mediocre minds.' -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 'Science explains everything, yet comforts nothing.'...more
'Pan' is a story of a triple conflict; first of all, it is the inner conflict Glahn, the protagonist, suffers from. Besides, the love Glahn has for Ed'Pan' is a story of a triple conflict; first of all, it is the inner conflict Glahn, the protagonist, suffers from. Besides, the love Glahn has for Edvarda is more a conflict than anything else because it is full of misunderstanding, passion and cruelty. And, finally, there is a global conflict between the primal forces of nature and civilization. What impressed me most was not the love story but the vivid and poetic descriptions of the natural world, the raw beauty of the Norwegian wilderness mirroring the protagonist's inner turmoil. As for the portrayal of Glahn who can only be happy when he is alone in the nature, and his painful and complicated relationships with other people, I am afraid, it did not resonate with me although I admit that 'Pan' is an outstanding work.
'It was not loneliness that I felt; it was a sweet, peculiar sense of being alone with nature, at one with the trees, the birds, and the sky.' ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 'The other one he loved like a slave, like a madman and like a beggar. Why? Ask the dust on the road and the falling leaves, ask the mysterious God of life; for no one knows such things. She gave him nothing, no nothing did she give him and yet he thanked her. She said: Give me your peace and your reason! And he was only sorry she did not ask for his life.' --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 'You are right; I am not good at moving in society. Be merciful. You do not understand me; I live in the woods by choice--that is my happiness. Here, where I am all alone, it can hurt no one that I am as I am; but when I go among others, I have to use all my will power to be as I should.' ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 'A shaft of sweetness shoots through me from top to toe when the sun rises; I shoulder my gun in silent exaltation.' ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 'Gladness is intoxicating. I fire my gun and an unforgettable echo answers from crag to crag, floats out over the sea and rings in some sleepless helmsman’s ears. What am I glad about? A thought that comes to me, a memory, a sound in the forest, a human being. I think of her—I close my eyes and stand still on the road and think of her, counting the minutes.'...more
I hope other stories by Chandler are better - this one is quite average - no suspense, no twists or turns, no clever dialogue or memorable characters.I hope other stories by Chandler are better - this one is quite average - no suspense, no twists or turns, no clever dialogue or memorable characters. Overall, rather dull and predictable. ...more
I should have read this book in childhood but a week ago I didn't know this author even existed. I'm glad I have discovered the author and his protagoI should have read this book in childhood but a week ago I didn't know this author even existed. I'm glad I have discovered the author and his protagonist Horatio Hornblower, a young naval officer whose growth as a personality and a leader is described through his various experiences in the Navy during the Napoleonic wars. Although all these 19 century naval terms sound like another foreign language to me, I found this a fascinating read - the author's prose is sharp and vivid, bringing to life the stressfulness of sailors's life at sea, the thrill of naval warfare and the camaraderie vital for survival for the ocean never forgives mistakes or weaknesses. The novel perfectly blends action, historical detail and character development creating a gripping and authentic narrative. ...more
Six amateur detectives are asked to present their theories on a recent murder case. The six detectives use their brains and both deductive and inductiSix amateur detectives are asked to present their theories on a recent murder case. The six detectives use their brains and both deductive and inductive approaches to offer six absolutely different but absolutely plausible solutions. Thus, this whodunit mostly consists of talking - discussing the theories, arguments and motives and all this very entertaining. Overall, it is an enjoyable read, especially thanks to the author's ironic tone. ...more
A great suspenseful story involving false identities, money theft, a false 'love triangle', a ghost and an unpredictable ending.A great suspenseful story involving false identities, money theft, a false 'love triangle', a ghost and an unpredictable ending....more
This rather ironic short story is about crime and punishment, to be more precise, about an obsession with punishment caused by the inability to acceptThis rather ironic short story is about crime and punishment, to be more precise, about an obsession with punishment caused by the inability to accept reality....more
'The Story of a Panic' is a brilliant story following a group of English tourists in Italy whose tranquil holiday is disrupted by un unexplainable/sup'The Story of a Panic' is a brilliant story following a group of English tourists in Italy whose tranquil holiday is disrupted by un unexplainable/supernatural event. The unsettling event has a tremendous impact on a young boy who immediately becomes 'unsuitable' in this company of respectable ladies and gentlemen. What happened to the boy? Is he possessed? This question is never answered. The event and its consequences are surrounded by ambiguity and are open to interpretations. In any case, there is a stark contrast between the new world of transformed boy and the repressed orderly world of the English travellers. And here the author can't help providing a satirical social commentary. It especially concerns the narrator - an extremely unpleasant, arrogant snob and rasist.
'I have often seen that peculiar smile since, both on the possessor’s face and on the photographs of him that are beginning to get into the illustrated papers.' ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 'I always make a point of behaving pleasantly to Italians, however little they may deserve it; but this habit of promiscuous intimacy was perfectly intolerable and could only lead to familiarity and mortification for all. Taking Miss Robinson aside, I asked her permission to speak seriously to Eustace on the subject of intercourse with social inferiors.' ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 'Never have I listened to such an extraordinary speech. At any other time it would have been ludicrous, for here was a boy, with no sense of beauty and a puerile command of words, attempting to tackle themes which the greatest poets have found almost beyond their power. Eustace Robinson, aged fourteen, was standing in his nightshirt saluting, praising, and blessing, the great forces and manifestations of Nature. He spoke first of night and the stars and planets above his head, of the swarms of fire-flies below him, of the invisible sea below the fire-flies, of the great rocks covered with anemones and shells that were slumbering in the invisible sea. He spoke of the rivers and water-falls, of the ripening bunches of grapes, of the smoking cone of Vesuvius and the hidden fire-channels that made the smoke, of the myriads of lizards who were lying curled up in the crannies of the sultry earth, of the showers of white rose-leaves that were tangled in his hair. And then he spoke of the rain and the wind by which all things are changed, of the air through which all things live, and of the woods in which all things can be hidden. Of course, it was all absurdly high fainting: yet I could have kicked Leyland for audibly observing that it was ‘a diabolical caricature of all that was most holy and beautiful in life.�...more
The diaries cover the period from November 2013 until 2017 describing the dramatic events of the Euromaidan protests, the annexation of Crimea by RussThe diaries cover the period from November 2013 until 2017 describing the dramatic events of the Euromaidan protests, the annexation of Crimea by Russia, and the beginning of the military conflict in the Donbas, the Anti-terrorist operation and the crash of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 shot down by the Russian-backed forces. I remember all these events clearly but it was important to read this chronicle written by someone who was inside the country, winessed all these historic events and can provide a unique personal lens to the narrative. Although the diaries do not give an extremely deep analysis of the events, they certainly help to understand Ukraine’s tumultuous political landscape at the time and the complexities of Ukraine’s struggle for democracy and independence which is still continuing on the battlefield.
The author tries to maintain an optimistic outlook (it is so natural) and, indeed, many Ukrainians believed that Ukraine had already paid a high price for the freedom in 2014-2015 and had broken away from the bloodthirsty neighbour from the East and is on the way to stability in a different system of coordinates... How much will this heroic country have to sacrifice for its right to exist and choose its own way?...more
Short. Simple. Horrifying. On having read this short horror story I cannot help wondering if this 'monstrous animal, a living, viscous ball' is a symbShort. Simple. Horrifying. On having read this short horror story I cannot help wondering if this 'monstrous animal, a living, viscous ball' is a symbol of marriage. If Alice hadn't married the man who 'gave her hot and cold shivers' and moved to 'the house in which they lived influenced her chills and shuddering to no small degree' would she have died?...more
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