24 July 2012
*Once again excuse my typos
@wolfie
I was trying to write a comment in response to @Wolfie's post regarding what books inspire us all outside of Opuss. And I realised it would be too long of a comment...So here are some of my most favoured books and a little bit about why they inspire me. I'll try to keep it short.
Ok, so let's start with, Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates.
The story is set in 1950's America and based mostly on the lives of Frank & April Wheeler and the troubled existence they both share, despite being young, hip suburbanites.
I like the book mostly because Frank Wheeler is one of my favourite fictional characters. He does not have superpowers, he does'nt fight crime...Truthfully he's a troubled, unfulfilled, vain, egotistical man.
He's not a character we are really supposed to sympathise with. But the irony of his actions is something I relate too.
I won't spoil the book, but at one point Frank, despite looking down his nose at his fathers achievments, goes for an interview and then starts working for the same company his father worked for. He rationalises the idea as an ironic joke, but he soon gets sucked in too deep into a boring office job that such an intelligent, charming and ambitious man like Frank is obviously too good for (at least in Frank's head).
I sadly can relate to some aspects of Frank's story. I mean, I've been the guy looking down my nose at the pretty blonde girl who thought brussel sprouts was a country.
I've also been the guy who has constantly been moaning "don't teach me what I already know"...Before learning that I really don't know much at all.
Back to the book, Yates once said in an interview, "the book was meant more as an indictment of American life in the 1950s. Because during the Fifties there was a general lust for conformity all over this country, by no means only in the suburbs — a kind of blind, desperate clinging to safety and security at any price" (Henry, Dewitt and Clark, Geoffrey, 1972).
That was the 1950's and not much has changed (at least not from what I've seen). ------------------------------
Secondly, and another very famous book I like is, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
I won't go too much into the story as I'm sure most of you have already read it.
The story which is set in 1920's America (yes America...Again) is essentially about a man (Gatsby) who rearranges and lives his life with the...(arguably) sole aim of reclaiming the love of the girl that got away (the infamous Daisy Buchannan). He goes from poor to rich, to corrupt and desperate and the tale eventually ends in tragedy.
The story is greatly written, I once read that references of gold and green items in the book, are a reference to money...That's clever.
I like the book because of all the above. And on a personal level, most of us have been in the same shoes as the likes of Gatsby where our situations...be it our family, character, location or financial status has stopped us being with the people we yearn to be with.
Thirdly, a more recent book that I enjoyed very much, is Mr Toppit by Charles Elton.
I don't want to spoil this one for you. But...
In short it is the story of a dysfunctional family. It's mostly set in Britain, and it's set around the story of an unsuccessful screenwriter turned childrens author who created a very successful series of books. The books include the fictional character Luke Hayseed who is losely based on the authors son "Luke Hayman". The story's told mostly from Luke's point of view in the aftermath of the success of the book, and later the death of his father.
Confused? I know I was, reading that back ^
Anywho, I like the book because I have a very...very dysfunctional family. And also, the book is incredibly witty and full of the dry, ironic British sense of humour that I always appreciate.
I guess those are 3 books that are in my top 10 that don't require much explanation.
Another thing that usually makes me reflect and write is a TV show.
I know, I know...we said books, but this show always drags me into the moody abyss of self reflection.
The show is called "Californication". It's the story of writer Hank Moody, who moves to California and goes through a long phase of writers block. Which in turn leads to his self destructive, car crash of an existence, and his immense troubles with maintaining relationships, be it with his friends, long time girlfriend, or his daughter. It's an "adult" show full of sex, drugs and Rock & Roll. It's incrediby witty and immensely funny. And the self destructive, sarcastic, self loathing of the character Hank Moody is very relatable for most city guys (or so I think).
My thumbs hurt now so I'ma stop typing.
Inspirational Books. • Opuss № I