A master and his servant go on a short trip through a snowstorm. On the way, we learn much about the lives and characters of the two men, through their actions and dialogue, as if we were traveling together with them in the sledge. In the end, one of them unexpectedly finds exceeding joy and the meaning of his life, though not without paying a heavy price. A bittersweet story […]
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“The Death of Ivan Ilyich” by Leo Tolstoy
Ivan Ilyich lived a happy, healthy, decorous and dutiful life as a judge, until an accident made him terminally ill and brought him face to face with Death and the terrible realization that he hadn’t lived as he should. Like Morrie Swartz (“Tuesdays with Morrie”), Ivan suffered a slow death, unlike Morrie who was able to share some of his feelings with his family, friends and the public, Ivan was […]
Read more“Journey to the Center of the Earth” by Jules Verne
After reading Verne’s “Around the World in Eighty days“, I wished to follow in Phileas Fogg’s footsteps as closely as possible and tour around the world myself. After reading this book, however, I can’t say I’m ready to embark on the journey to the center of the earth, even if it were possible and the route were laid out before me by the heroes in the book, Professor Lidenbrock, Axel […]
Read more“Around the World in Eighty Days” by Jules Verne
A fun and easy read about a wealthy man’s wager to tour around the world in eighty days through Asia, America and Europe. Verne brilliantly captured the excitement, the drama, the determination and resourcefulness required to complete a tour around the world, although he painted a negative picture of Asian and native American cultures. “Truly, would you not for less than that make the tour around the world?” You bet […]
Read more“Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea” by Jules Verne
An Eye-opening, Jaw-dropping Book I remember watching a movie production (1954) of the book as a child. I loved it so much that I wished the movie would not end. Listening to the audiobook years later brings back all the wonders and much more. Imagine you can explore the width and depth of all the oceans at will, all the marine species, all the natural wonders that have never been […]
Read more“From the Earth to the Moon” by Jules Verne
Verne’s humor shines brightly all the way through this book. He makes good-humored fun of almost everybody and every nation under the sun. For a while, I thought I was reading a political satire. So funny and yet so true. But of course, it’s no laughing matter to send men to the moon. Verne again impresses me with his detailed scientific knowledge, his prophetic and poetic vision of men’s relation […]
Read more“The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Listened to an audiobook version of the novel, narrated by Alexander Scourby. A story about dashed American dreams and lost love, written in a crisp, wisecracking style. Rich imagery, but vacuous content. “Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that’s no matter—to-morrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther . . . So we […]
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