10 favorite books

Give me something to go off of so I do not have to autistically list books, which do you love and why?

I have not, I’ll check them out thank you. How is speedboat? Ive been curious if I should read it.

It is one of my favorites, obviously. I group it and So the Wind Won't Blow it All Away together, they both exploit fractured narratives but Speed boat goes to an extreme. Adler says the only constant is that our perspective on our past will always evolve with our present, Brautigan says somethings in our pasts are constants and our relation to them will never change. Both are very interesting works dealing with how we relate to our pasts.

Given that they were listed first on a favorites list, I’d reckon he likes them a lot and would recommend them

>Van Gogh’s letters
I’m tired and about to go to sleep but I’ll make an effortpost tomorrow if the thread is still up. Probably my favorite book and I’ve taken a lot away from in it in different facets

I’d also like to add Lautreamont to my list. Forgot that one

>Van Gogh’s letters

My thoughts on them are scattered so I’m going to do my best to break down by section why I love them so much. The overarching reason though is because even though Vincent had a depressing life, and the letters are depressing, I’ve found them to be one of the most inspiring things ever written

It’s helps to know about Vincent’s life. I like the Penguin edition because it often gives background info in between letters which gives clear context. Vincent was a difficult person to get along with by all accounts. The relationship with his brother Theo is one of my favorite themes. Theo was his younger brother and the one real friend Vincent had. They had their clashes, but at a certain point it’s clear Theo believes in Vincent fully, despite Vincent having no success in almost every facet of his life. T was a patron of sorts to V and supported him financially, even when it was difficult. There was no V without T. T died shortly after V so neither of them would know the monstrous success they would achieve. It is very bittersweet

V is the poster boy for starving artist. He was uncompromising, and he struggled and suffered for his art. After a couple awkward relationships failed for V, one with his cousin, another with a prostitute, V dedicated himself solely to his art. He had his eye on the prize and even when breakdowns affected him, he told T that he must remain calm, he doesn’t have much time left ( he mentions multiple times he doesn’t think he’ll reach 40), and he must continue to paint.

V almost has a sage-like peasant wisdom at times. He often had profound insight despite the lack of education. The letters are probably the best insight into a great artist’s mind than anything we have. V wanted to see the beauty in everything, whether a potato or a peasant.

As for how I’ve gotten something from this book, I think V’s vision is inspiring and one I try to use in everyday life. He tried to see the poetry or beauty in everything, and what is life but perspective? The fact that V and T died before V’s work blew up is depressing, but it’s made me reevaluate what a successful life is, and what makes life worth living. V’s life was nothing but hardship and struggle with no rewards, but I believe he lived a life worth living and an inspiring one. Life goes on and you’ll never know who you touch and what kind of mark you’ll make so it’s best you give it your all. There is more to living than hoping for rewards. Whenever I’m going through a rough period I try to remain positive and influence others in a positive way

TLDR: I find Van Gogh inspiring, I try to view life as a poet, or a painter, finding the beauty or the positive in everything, and his letters made me reevaluate what it means to live, and what my life is in relationship to the whole, and what is worth living for. One day I need to sit down and formulate my thoughts better so I’m not as scattered

I have the two-volume boxed set from the Library of America, which I recommend. Let me quote from the dust jacket blurb to give you an idea: "The six volumes of Prejudices, published between 1919 and 1927, were both a slashing attack on what Mencken saw as American provincialism and hypocrisy and a resounding defense of the writers and thinkers he thought of as harbingers of a new frankness and maturity. Laced with savage humor and delighting in verbal play, Mencken's prose remains a one-of-a-kind roller-coaster ride through a staggering range of themes: literature and journalism, politics and religion, sex and marriage, food and drink."

I was 52 years old when I read Prejudices. My only regret about reading Mencken was that I wished I had read him when I was in my 20s. He’s an original American iconoclast. I hope this helps. Cheers.

thank you, I will!

Jerusalem by Alan Moore
the title is in reference to a Blake poem
it's fiction with alot of geographical and personal histories mixed in
really can't say if it's something you'll enjoy based on your top 10

>Dead Souls
I have a copy of this but can't find a motivation to place it in my to read pile
what can you say about it that will convince me to consider it?