Author: Pooja Kashyap

“Nostromo: A Tale of the Seaboard” is a novel penned by Joseph Conrad in 1904. Many consider it one of Conrad’s finest works of extended fiction. The book explores how money and economics influence what people believe and how they live. The sad part is that both good and bad things are bound to happen because of these big changes.

Published in Germany in 1926, Franz Kafka’s “The Castle” (Das Schloss) faced challenges after the author’s death in 1924. Despite Kafka’s wish that his books not be published, his friend Max Brod disregarded this. Initially, “The Castle” struggled with poor sales, and Nazi efforts to ban works by German Jews, including Kafka, limited its availability. Schocken Verlag, a Jewish publisher, was allowed to continue publishing Jewish works under the condition that they were exclusively sold to Jews. Today, Kafka is esteemed as one of the prominent figures in 20th-century literature,…

Fyodor Dostoevsky released “Notes from the Underground” in 1864. It stands out as a significant piece of existentialist literature. The work delves into the complexities of human nature and societal constraints, offering a reflection on the necessity of individual freedom for a meaningful and authentic existence.

“Childhood’s End” by Arthur C. Clarke is rich in imaginative concepts and in exploration of profound philosophical and existential questions. Highly recommended by a friend, I couldn’t resist picking up this book last week. Interestingly, I initially contemplated making “2001: A Space Odyssey” my first venture into Clarke’s literary repertoire. Having completed “Childhood’s End,” I am convinced that my decision to start with this novel was a wise one.

This was my third Vonnegut novel after Timequake and 2BR02B. The book has the similar approach at satirical jab at the tough parts of life that often get overlooked. However, I feel it has a touch of sci-fi also with elements such as time travel and aliens. Slaughterhouse-Five, is also called, The Children’s Crusade: A Duty-Dance with Death was first published in 1969. In the book, Kurt Vonnegut takes a real close look at the whole anti-war scene. He’s picking up on Nietzsche’s anti-morality vibes. For instance, Vonnegut explores the…

I eventually decided to read this book that I’d been avoiding for quite some time, and believe me, it turned out to be really enjoyable. The book was first published in 1945 in England. George Orwell, under the real name Eric Blair, faced publisher reluctance to release “Animal Farm” due to its daring satire of the Russian Revolution and the rise of communism. While not explicitly mentioned, political connections are evident as we read the book.