Not every book is meant to be read. It is very true that – “The pen is mightier than the sword.” In fact, some words are so powerful, they’d drive you a little bit towards madness and then some.
Over the years I’ve read some wonderful books, truly beautiful in so many different ways, each of them has left behind a little bit of mark upon me; some left behind laughter, some left behind tears. But the ones that haunt me the most are the ones that left me lost in thoughts. Those are ones whose words linger the longest and plots chase me beyond my dreams.
I wouldn’t recommend them though, not because they are horribly written; they are beautifully put together but because they are dipped in melancholy and darkness. The songs they sing aren’t for everyone.
So, why do I write this?
Its because even though they read differently, it doesn’t make them any less beautiful and just maybe someone else would love to hear them sing too.
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Norwegian wood (1987), Haruki Murakami
Author: Haruki Murakami
Genre: Coming of age novel, romance novel
Pages: 296 (US paperback); 400 (UK paperback)
Goodreads: 4/5
This is one of the books that kind of catapulted Murakami into his superstar status, also one of his more direct books that doesn’t leave you lost and struck in the end.
It deals with 37-year-old Toru Watanabe who has just arrived in Hamburg, Germany. When he hears an orchestral cover of the Beatles’ song “Norwegian Wood”, he is suddenly overwhelmed by feelings of loss and nostalgia. His life and his girlfriend Naoko’s life spin a story that leaves you longing.
Music and the sixties play a heavy role in setting up the background for a beautiful story, but the entire palate just consists of shades of blues.
I had picked up this book at the airport while waiting for a transfer flight; it had been a really rough couple of months, and I needed an escape.
Norwegian Wood was that escape, but the theme was so heavy it sent me into a spiral and for a moment I was speechless.
Murakami has this talent wherein with a few words he paints an entire emotion onto his page. In this book he painted love, loss, and lust all at one and tied it up with a neat little bow of raw emotion.
Read if you want…
To feel peeled open and left raw for a while. If you want to feel suspended in time and fall in love all over again. To feel despair sweetened with the bitterness of love. It’s a journey you won’t forget.
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No Longer Human by Junji Ito (Osamu Dazai)
Author: Junji Ito (Osamu Dazai)
Genre: Novel, Fiction
Pages: 616 pages
Goodreads: 4.2/5
This manga is originally inspired from the novel written by Osamu Dazai. The reason why I am mentioning the Junji Ito version is due to the absolutely unbelievable artwork done by him. The book on its own is an intense experience but combined with illustrations? It’s a class of its own.
I remember when I got this book, I was so excited as it looked so stunning and was such an easy read. I texted my friends and recommended them to get it, but then I got past the first 10 pages and was like, “No. Absolutely not.”. I immediately messaged my friends and told them not to read it under any circumstances.
Once I had finished this book, I needed a good amount of time to recover and pull myself back together. It felt as though a part of me was lost within those pages.
The story follows Yozo Oba who is plagued by anxiety and is disconnected from life. His constant need for acceptance and a downward spiral with death is what builds this book.
No Longer Human is considered as an autobiographical piece by Dazai which makes the tale so much more darker; there is no happy ending. Despair paints every page.
I couldn’t put it down, it felt like watching a train wreck. The book deals with complex issues in such a manner that there’s no doubt that we as human beings at our very core are all broken in some manner.
I would not recommend it to anyone who is going through a difficult time or is sensitive in any manner. Darkness and despair walk hand in hand within the pages of this book.
Read if you want…
To stare at a darkly distorted image of yourself. There is not a single redeeming quality in any of the characters within this book. You are not going to find any hero or anyone worth rooting for. It is one long mess of insanity.
So, if you want a book where you want to watch the main character be broken into miniscule pieces and have his madness chase you into the darkness and beyond, this is the one for you.
There are no monsters here, just the human psyche.
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The Iliad and the Odyssey by Homer
Author: Homer
Genre: Epic
Pages: 752 pages
Goodreads: 4/5
Never have I had a more tougher read. I couldn’t even complete this book. I had to stop after the Iliad.
Homers original work gave rise to so many other books that for me it was the ultimate read. I was so excited to read this book, but once I began, it felt as though I knew nothing, as though even the basic of the English language eluded me.
The characters themselves are full of deceit and flaws, so loving any one particular character is difficult. I had to buy the compiled plays of Sophocles to understand all that left me feeling lost.
Patience is something this book teaches you in spades, as once you begin you must remember this journey will take a while.
Read if you want…
To travel all the way back to where it began but remember none of the heroes are actually heroes; the are just like any other human, flawed and twisted. We spend so much time building up things in our mind into such epic proportions that when something goes wrong it catches us by surprise.
Homer does not hold back in shattering all our fantasies.
…
My friend always asks me, “Why do you read such things?”
For this the answer is, happy endings aren’t always possible. So many writers push for a happily ever after so much that at this point it feels unreal or wooden.
I find myself reaching for something with a hint of despair because it resonates with me more than anything else.
But these books even made me pause and rethink. Though they are beautiful, their words are deadly.
Thank you for reading!
If you do love my work, please do buy me a cup of coffee!💜
