What I’ve been reading
1. Gerald Martin, Mario Vargas Llosa: A Life. A good book if you wish to read about his strange sex life, starting early in his years. But if you are more interested in the history of ideas, Peruvian politics, or the development of the Latin American novel it is far less compelling. So for me […] The post What I’ve been reading appeared first on Marginal REVOLUTION .
Gerald Martin's "Gerald Martin, Mario Vargas Llosa: A Life" provides an in-depth look into the life of Peruvian author Mario Vargas Llosa, from his early years to his impact on Latin American literature. However, the book may not be as compelling for those more interested in the history of ideas or Peruvian politics. Sean Matthews' "The New Byzantines: The Rise of Greece and Return of the Near East" offers a consistently interesting exploration of Greece's history, its Ottoman roots, and its relations with Israel.
Simon Morrison's "The Love & Wars of Lina Prokofiev" provides a suspenseful and intriguing biography of the Russian composer Lina Prokofiev, revealing that she grew up in Brooklyn. Emily Wilson's "Crossing the Wine-Dark Sea: Journeys through Ancient Literature" is a superior intellectual presence, with Wilson offering two standout essays in this volume: one on Logue's War Music and another on translations of The Odyssey.
Lastly, Munir Hachemi's "The Mulai" is a somewhat loopy but intriguing science fiction story, reminiscent of Ursula LeGuin's work.
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