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Some reading suggestions have been kindly provided by staff members of the downtown bookstore McNally Robinson.
The World of Yesterday by Stefan Zweig
Written about interwar Europe, this powerful memoir by one of the greatest writers of his day is at once a profound historical document and an inspiring story of a life nobly dedicated to art. This is a life changing book, impossible to read only once.
Why I Write by George Orwell
This treatise is a beautiful depiction of Orwell’s drive and a critique of his native culture and times. Get it.
Trouble on Triton by Samuel Delany
Sex, war, avant-garde theater! This is home-town hero Delany at the height of his powers holding court on semiotics and space travel in a character driven new wave Science Fiction novel. A great introduction to a master of the field.
Tropical Fish by Doreen Baingana
Gorgeous, gorgeous writing about three sisters growing up in Idi Amin’s Uganda, and beyond. Perfect for people who love rich writing, a historical as well as family perspective, and plenty of human drama. A group of connected stories in different voices.
Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl
Yes, she’s showing off her prodigal gifts, but with heart and soul and wonderful black and white illustrations.
Pride of Baghdad written by Brian K. Vaughan, drawn by Niko Henrichon
Brian K. Vaughan is one of the smartest writers in mainstream comics. He can create a talking animal story (based on the actual lions who escaped from the Baghdad Zoo during the 2003 invasion) and turn it into a desperately moving commentary on freedom, security, family, and the mess of good intentions. And illustrator Henrichon’s broken Baghdad is beautiful. For the comic-book geek, or the newbie interested in the most literate and relevant this genre has to offer.
The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene
This story of one of the last whisky priests, who has become the quarry of an activist police officer in Communist Mexico, is quite possibly one of the best books ever written. The internal and external conflicts, the slippery definitions of good and evil, right and wrong, are examined with patience and beautiful subtlety.
Of Human Bondage by Somerset Maugham
This novel is billed as the account of a young man’s tumultuous affair with a selfish woman, but the painful romance serves mainly as a recurring reference point by which we follow the narrator’s captivating struggle to mature and find a satisfying identity amongst competing social pressures.
McNally Robinson independent bookstore is well worth a visit, they have a fantastic selection of books on their shelves. The store is located in NoLIta at 52 Prince Street between Lafayette and Mulberry.
Visit them on the Web at http://www.mcnallyrobinsonnyc.com/
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