Books, if not to keep us cozy
In light of the drudgery accompanying winter break, I thought it would be nice to compile a reading list. Hopefully these books, thoughtfully selected by some Felix members, provide inspiration for our dear readers.
Aditi Mehta, Books Editor
The Collector by John Fowles
After a whirlwind of a review in Issue #1860, I set my sites on reading The Collector. My plans were solidified when I was even offered the Books writer’s own copy, which should provide sufficient amusement – not just from the bizarreness of Fowles’ work, but also the annotations marking the naivity of teenage love.
Jyotsana Dasoondi, writer
Requiem For a Dream by Hubert Selby Jr. Requiem
For a Dream is about submission to addiction. It follows the life of a junkie son and his mother in New York City who fall into addiction as a means of escaping reality and trying to find their dreams. I have heard great things about the movie and want to read the book before I watch it!
Charlotte Probstel, Societies
Editor Erste Person Singular (German version of First Person Singular) by Haruki Murakami
Murakami’s memoir What I Talk About When I Talk About Running left a significant impression on me and compelled me to pick up this book at my local bookstore back home in Germany. I’ve been meaning to read more german books, and I thought this would be a good start, considering Murakami doesn’t make life difficult for the reader. Nine short stories await me this winter, and knowing Murakami’s style – personal and thought provoking – I look forward to using my free time over winter break to think of things besides academia.
Sid Diamond, writer
In Patagonia by Bruce Chatwin
A friend gifted me In Patagonia for my birthday two years ago, and then it was stolen at the UCL student union. I have finally gotten around to purchasing a replacement, but I’ll feel like a bad friend until I actually read it. I’m not entirely sure what it’s about. Perhaps an Englishman in Patagonia; perhaps cultural tourism. Definitely more fun than revising.
Mo Majlisi, Editor-in-Chief
I have too many books on my list to finish and read this year. Normally, I read around 20 books within a year, but this year I am stuck on my 11th or 12th. On the other hand, I have read much more written print and online journalism, which is a nice trade off.
The books I want to read the most over winter will probably be Joan Didion’s The White Album, which I have yet to finish: I’ve only read the titular essay, Meditations on First Philosophy by René Descartes, Epistemic Injustice by Miranda Fricker (another one I have left partially read), and maybe another fiction book. I’m edging between a Jon Fosse, who I particularly enjoy, James Joyce, or Normal People by Sally Rooney. I may return to a Hermann Hesse if I have time, and I find his quaint optimism to be welcoming with the January Blues. The Female Eunuch is languishing in the back of my mind, begging to be read, so maybe I will get back into my former reading habits as an enjoyable break from reading briefs, press releases, email chains, and other forms of evidence for stories I am working on, as well as sordid X (formerly Twitter) posts about menswear and video games.
Oscar Mitcham, Environment Editor
Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake
Entangled Life has been recommended to me by several people at this point. It’s about time I read it! One friend described it as the only book you need to read about fungi: every other book either misses out details that are too important, or includes some superfluous detail. Fungi are awesome and I’m late to the party reading this one!
Taylor Pomfret, Science and Sport Editor
The Napoleon of Notting Hill by G. K. Chesterson
I saw this book in Waterstones during a visit with my friend Nik. It was in the classics section, and having read the summary I knew I ought to get it. Set in an alternate reality of 1984 London that is governed by fools, democracy does not exist and rulers are decided by lottery. One ruler decrees that each borough of London becomes its own medieval state, designated with a coat of arms and costume. The provost of Notting Hill, however, does not take this lightly – so, sword in hand, he takes the decree a little too seriously.
David Latimer, puzzles
Moby Dick by Herman Melville
It’s Moby Dick. It’s a classic, and therefore something I feel one has to read. The story follows Ishmael on a doomed journey led by Captain Ahab, who embarks on a bloodthirsty voyage to slay a white whale after losing his leg to a whale bite years before.