Books
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Brideshead Revisited A man’s relationships with a family of English Catholic aristocrats flows and ebbs between the two world wars. The protagonist is super smart, and Waugh is smart enough to make the intelligence believable. The writing is great across the board, and some excellent lines pop up from time to time. The first third of the novel is about the protagonist Charles becoming friends with Sebastian, who introduces him to the whole Brideshead set. Many of us remember meeting some friend in college who introduced us to an intoxicating world of art, glamor, and excitement. That part was relatable. The next two thirds become increasingly concerned with Catholicism and I found them much less relatable. There was still a lot to enjoy, but I found many decisions incomprehensible or implausibly motivated. I’m the spiritual equivalent of colorblind, but even if you disagree with catholic dogma, you might be able to parse it effectively and get more from it. Recommended for anglophiles and Catholics.
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The Scarlet Letter Adulteress shunned by her puritanical community completely owns the role and lives her best life. Some old books are flat, boring, and lifeless. Some, like this, remain as fresh, sexy, and witchy as the day they shipped. I beg you to believe that this is a fun book. Hester, the protagonist, doesn’t try to hide the big red A she’s compelled to wear. She embroiders a big elaborate one. She doesn’t try to hide her daughter, who seems to be part dryad, and doesn’t seem ashamed. She doesn’t narc on the dad. She gets good enough at her trade to support herself and her girl. Hester is an incredible character, her story is unforgettable, and the whole book is essentially a vehicle for demonstrating the superiority of strong individual spirit over lame social mores. I was blown away by this book. One of the great early American novels. Highly recommended for all.
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