Humans of New York

Growing up in the city, I always thought I had assimilated some sort of culture or appreciation for people. When I left the city, I forgot about it. I tried to make peace with it and picked up where I left off, but I just couldn't. I found a lot of city people scary, dirty, mean and unhelpful. I lost my vitality and love for things. I lost my appreciation for the arts. People were simply dull and selfish.

I am cynical. I admit that freely. What I fear is that I am approaching bitter. I do not want to be bitter. (Because I'm still young, right?)

Humans of New York (humansofnewyork.com) helps remind me from time to time that people can be interesting and colorful. People are different shades of various colors. People can be almost anything if I am willing to listen and accept. And I am trying.

We Have Always Lived in the Castle

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

I was gifted this book in an e-book format without any covers or details. I didn't know the genre or background. I didn't know anything except that it was supposed to be a quick and good read.

I always imagined a horror book to be different. I didn't even realize We Have Always lived in the Castle was a horror until I was through most of it - and I'm so glad. I think when we pick up a book and expect it to be scary, romantic, literary or thought-provoking, it changes the way the book is read. I went into this book without any preconceived notion - other than the notion not to have any preconceived notion. I like not knowing. For a good part of the introduction, I had no certainty of knowing what genre I was reading. That was half the mystery for me. I was told to go into this book with an open mind. (At some point of the first few pages, I was open to the idea of Mary and Constance being mysterious vampire girls.) We Have Always Lived in the Castle is a chilling, haunting and quick read. I wish I could say more about it, but I think it is sufficient to say that it strikes fear in a most understated way. It's not even scary - but it is chilling, as Mary would say.

The Handmaid's Tale

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

It has been years since I first read the book, but I am always entertained by Margaret Atwood's Handmaid's Tale. It isn't because I love the social or political ideologies, the characterization or plot. It isn't because I think The Handmaid's Tale is extraordinarily thought-provoking. I know a lot of people disagree, but I think Atwood's writing style in this book is beautiful. The narration manages to be dull, simple and hectic. Outside the plot, the themes and all else, I felt at home in that chaotically numb mind of Offred. I didn't understand the setting, but I felt all the confusions of being placed there. I was really sad when the book ended. While reading the book I felt like I was somewhere, feeling something, and when the book ended - I had nothing for a few minutes. (I was reading on the job.)

Atwood's novels read like poetry to me.