Alessandro Manzoni’s writing is beautiful, deep and at times wittily modern - and in his telling of la ‘peste’ in 17th century Milano so insightful for what we witnessed with COVID…A beautiful writer but I am biased as I am from Como.
I have read The Odyssey numerous times, listened to the audio books, watched the movie versions, and even read a version that had the Greek on one page with the English translation on the opposite page.
I’m proud to say I’ve read Quijote not once, but twice. Once in English and once in Spanish. Was also in “Man of La Mancha” twice which was awkward since I knew the text well enough to know how many liberties they were taking with the source material.
I am into the second part of the Ingenious Knight Don Quixote of La Mancha, and could very well agree with Dostoevsky about It being the greatest utterance of the human mind. Nothing at all as I expected; consuming, contemporary, and a total delight. Thinking that it was published in 1605, is breathtaking.
Excellent list, thank you.!!
We are glad you like it, Alex!
Brilliant! I’ve got a few on my shelf already. Now I’ve got the impetus to dust them off and read them. Thank you!
You are welcome, Sean! Don’t forget to join our discussion on Don Quixote…
Alessandro Manzoni’s writing is beautiful, deep and at times wittily modern - and in his telling of la ‘peste’ in 17th century Milano so insightful for what we witnessed with COVID…A beautiful writer but I am biased as I am from Como.
Well said, Francesca!
I have read The Odyssey numerous times, listened to the audio books, watched the movie versions, and even read a version that had the Greek on one page with the English translation on the opposite page.
Well, I read SOME of Don Quixote, anyway. Do I get partial credit?
Some surprises here—good post!
I’m proud to say I’ve read Quijote not once, but twice. Once in English and once in Spanish. Was also in “Man of La Mancha” twice which was awkward since I knew the text well enough to know how many liberties they were taking with the source material.
I am into the second part of the Ingenious Knight Don Quixote of La Mancha, and could very well agree with Dostoevsky about It being the greatest utterance of the human mind. Nothing at all as I expected; consuming, contemporary, and a total delight. Thinking that it was published in 1605, is breathtaking.
This is very helpful! I hadn't heard of Gargantua but having just finished Gulliver's Travels I wondered if perhaps Gargantua inspired it. And it did!
@Alex & Books
Yes Beauty matters and muchly soo.
Please check out this essay on Reality Truth & The Beautiful too
http://cms-revelation-magazine/adidam.org/books/transcendental-realism/2
Related references:
http://beezone.com/baptism-of-immortal-happiness The Baptism of Immortal Happiness
http://beezone.com/current/whenbodyfulllight.html When the Body is Full of Light
http://beezone.com/current/cultureofecstasy.html The Culture of Ecstasy
http://www.integralworld.net/reynolds18.html Reality As Indivisible Conscious Light
I would not exactly call these “books you’ve never read.” Most are classics.
I’m proud to say I’ve read Don Quixote, more than once. I love it.
Immediately purchased don quixote.
Nice list!
Can we discuss Rebelais? Even with notes and slow reading, I couldn't appreciate it. Did I just not get it?