Welcome to the third installment of an exciting series that recaps the books I read during the summer! (Yes, "exciting" is a relative term.)
If you're new here, my goal is to read something "classic," at least one nonfiction work, and "something quick." There's no sense or logic to this, which is how I like to live life, when possible. Anyway, here's what I read during the summers of 2022 and 2023, if you're interested in the previous entries.
And away we go!
"Audition"
Ryu Murakami
Translated by Ralph McCarthy
My great appreciation for the film adaptation, which I ranked on my 31 Movies for Halloween list, drew me to this novel. If you aren't familiar with the story, Aoyama is a widower in his 40s living in Japan with a teenage son in the mid-1990s. One day, Aoyama decides he'd like to be a married man again. But dating? Ugh, what a hassle. Why not use his connections in the movie industry to conduct a casting for a fake film instead? That way, Aoyama can learn everything there is to know about these women without the inconvenience of taking them out.
The ruse bears fruit, producing the lovely Yamasaki Asami, a soft-spoken former ballerina in her 20s with a troubled past. Aoyama falls head over heels and ignores the warning signs that others, including his friend Yoshikawa, detect with uncanny clarity. But what do they know? She makes him happy, and isn't that what matters? Besides, what's the worst that could happen? It's not like she's some twisted, sadistic maniac with abandonment issues. Right?
While I found the movie more unnerving and visceral, the book does a fantastic job of ratcheting up the tension while exploring themes of loneliness, growing older, and relationships. Murakami's straightforward and effortless writing style kept me engaged as the story built toward its pulse-pounding climax. While "Audition" is a compelling read and made me eager to pick up more of Murakami's work, I should stress that it may not be the best choice for middle-aged men looking to jump back into the dating scene.
I'll mark this off as "something quick."
"The Storm Before the Storm: The Beginning of the End of the Roman Republic"
Mike Duncan
Worried that politics has descended into self-interest and corruption? Think society is hanging on by a thread? Pining for a simpler time when opponents could express their dissenting views in a calm and constructive manner?
You may want to reconsider those sentiments because this type of behavior has been going on for thousands of years.
"The Storm Before the Storm" focuses on 146 to 78 B.C., a time when Rome ruled the Mediterranean. But it wasn't all peaches and cream. For example, in 102 B.C., the Roman Senate was unhappy with how praetor Lucius Licinius Lucullus was handling a slave uprising in Sicily, so it sent a replacement to take over. Insulted, Lucullus relieved his troops of their duty and destroyed his fortifications, believing he could "exonerate himself by ensuring the humiliation and failure of his successor." Needless to say, Lucullus was later exiled for his actions.
That's just one of the many petty squabbles that plagued Rome during combat campaigns. Sprinkle in some arrogant leaders, an ample dusting of economic and social turmoil, a dash of suffrage and citizenship struggles, and a pinch of rabble-rousing, and you have all the ingredients for a powder keg. Mike Duncan does a masterful job of describing the power dynamics of the time and creating a narrative that is accessible, insightful, and intriguing. It's also teeming with prescient quotes, including this one from Jugurtha, king of Numidia (roughly modern-day Tunisia) and a thorn in Rome's side for years, about the republic:
"A city for sale and doomed to speedy destruction if it finds a purchaser."
And this one from the Roman historian Sullust about the persistent civil wars of the late Roman Republic:
"It is this spirit which has commonly ruined great nations, when one party desires to triumph over another by any and every means and to avenge itself on the vanquished with excessive cruelty."
Surely, we've evolved past this sort of thing in 2024.
"The Storm Before the Storm" chronicles the events that would lead to the decline of the republic and the rise of an empire. It is informative and entertaining, although the parallels to our day and age can be jarring. If you want to brush up on or expand your knowledge of Latin, the late Roman Republic, and men like Marius, Sulla, and the Gracchi brothers, I highly recommend this book.
I'll file this under "nonfiction."
"Roadside Picnic"
Arkady and Boris Strugatsky
Translated by Olena Bormashenko
Amazon recommended "Roadside Picnic" to me one day while I was shopping for books. I don't know why the spooky, omniscient algorithm suggested it, but the premise hooked me: Aliens have visited our planet and left, littering several areas (or Zones) with, well, no one's sure. Is it treasure? Life-changing technology? Trash?
Then I thought, "Hey, that sounds like 'Stalkers,'" a movie I have saved on my DVR (which I still haven't watched). It's on my ever-expanding watchlist, which grows longer every day. I'll probably need to live to 175 to watch them all.
But back to the book. The story takes place in a town near one of these Zones. We mostly follow Redrick Schuhart, better known as "Red." He's a stalker, one of the bold and foolish who braves the perils of the Zone to retrieve artifacts left behind by the visitors from beyond. It's not an easy job. It's not really legal. And it certainly isn't safe. But the black market is always hungry for what comes out of the Zone. And poor Red can't seem to stay away, no matter how hard he tries.
"Roadside Picnic" is an imaginative philosophical science fiction story that grapples with humanity's place in the universe. Surely there's a reason the aliens came and left objects behind. It must mean something, right?
The Strugatsky brothers do an excellent job of keeping the story moving, and the scenes in the Zone are mysterious and nerve-wracking. Red is a fascinating character brimming with cynicism, self-loathing, and bitterness, but you can't help but root for him. Part of me wishes the Strugatskys had written the entire story from his first-person point of view.
While "Roadside Picnic" was a find for me, it's a known commodity for many. It has influenced and inspired many books, movies, and video games. If you're looking for a "first contact" book that focuses on how ordinary people deal with the extraordinary, give this one a try.
I'll tally this as a "quick" read.
"The Stepford Wives" Ira Levin
This was my second dive into the works of Ira Levin. I loved "Rosemary's Baby," which is often overshadowed by Roman Polanski's equally tremendous film version. I was somewhat familiar with the plot of "The Stepford Wives" even though I haven't seen either of the two movies based on the novel. (They're on the list. See my previous comment above.)
Joanna Eberhart seems to have it all: a successful husband, two wonderful children, and a burgeoning photography career. When the family moves from New York City to the picturesque town of Stepford, Connecticut, things keep getting better. Just one thing, though. All the women in Stepford are alarmingly submissive to their husbands' needs, always dressed to the nines, and obsessed with cleaning their homes. That will never happen to Joanna. But when her friends succumb to the same bewildering behavior, Joanna can't help but worry. Could it have something to do with the local Men's Association? And is she next?
"The Stepford Wives," published in 1972, is a sign of its times: The women's liberation movement, male-only societies, and ashtrays in every house were all the rage. The nuclear family, with its stay-at-home wives and 2.5 kids, was undergoing a dramatic shift in the United States. Many men didn't know how to handle it. Some may argue that the events in the book illustrate the ultimate male fantasy, while others may suggest that it underscores men's childish and naive beliefs and expectations of marriage. But those are just two of many possible interpretations.
Heralded by many as a "feminist horror novel," few writers can execute paranoia, social commentary, and psychological thriller like Levin. While dated, "The Stepford Wives" still packs a powerful punch and does so in a propulsive style.
Another "quick" read.
"Oleanna"
David Mamet
David Mamet can be a polarizing figure, but no one can deny his talent, especially his ear for writing dialogue. Reading and watching the amazing "Glengarry Glen Ross" in a playwriting class in college was an eye-opening experience for me. His pauses, repeated lines, and rapid-fire exchanges are second to none.
Years ago, I came home from work and turned on the TV to a random movie channel. Within five minutes I knew it was something from Mamet. I was mesmerized by the characters' back and forth, the rhythm of their words, the precise movement of their actions. That movie was "Oleanna," and I sat riveted for the next 90 minutes or so.
This summer, for reasons unknown, I decided to read the play, which was the source material for the movie. It's about a college student (Carol) who goes to her professor (John) for help in his class. During those meetings in John's office, their exchanges revolve around power, authority, education, elitism, miscommunication, manipulation, victimhood, and perception. All in roughly 80 pages.
Obviously, plays are meant to be seen rather than read, but I found reading "Oleanna" to be a rewarding experience. It reintroduced me to the brilliance of Mamet's writing style and his fearlessness to delve into uncomfortable situations. Seeing William H. Macy and Rebecca Pidgeon perform the play on the stage would've been great, but Macy does appear in the film version. And (shocker) he's incredible.
If you think cancel culture is a relatively recent phenomenon, check out "Oleanna." If you're not tense and sweating by the end of this play or movie, you might need to see a doctor.
I'll record this as yet another "quick" read.
"The Merchant of Venice" William Shakespeare
I took multiple Shakespeare classes during my college days (such is the life of the English major), but I never felt like I gave The Bard a fair go. Most of the time I was looking to get the reading assignments over as fast as possible and take what I could from the professor's lectures. (Sometimes I wish I could go back and shake that no-good kid!) I enjoyed most of the plays (with Macbeth, King Lear, and Hamlet leading the way), but there are many I don't remember (The Tempest, Twelfth Night, As You Like It), and some I never got around to reading.
I'm not getting any younger, so I decided to dip my toes back into some Shakespeare this summer. And "The Merchant of Venice" has been at the forefront since I saw the movie "Se7en" in 1995. In the film, Detective Somerset reads a note left by a killer: "One pound of flesh. No more, no less. No cartilage, no bone, but only flesh. Merchant of Venice." I thought, "Whoa. I gotta read that play someday."
That day is now.
For those unfamiliar with the story, it follows Antonio, an honorable and well-to-do merchant, who borrows money from Shylock, a Jewish moneylender, to help his friend Bassanio, a financially irresponsible man with noble blood, win the heart of Portia, a wealthy heiress. When Antonio falls into some economic difficulty and can't repay the loan, Shylock demands a pound of his flesh, per their agreement.
Like all of Shakespeare's plays, "The Merchant of Venice" features colorful characters, witty dialogue, and intertwining storylines. He also explores timeless themes, most notably justice versus mercy, prejudice, and friendship and loyalty. Shakespeare also demonstrates his knack for inventive plot devices. For example, Portia's suitors must choose the correct casket (gold, silver, or lead) to win her hand in marriage. If they choose incorrectly, they can never get married. Talk about pressure.
I found reading Shakespeare easier and more enjoyable when I didn't have a quiz on Acts I and II coming up the following day. Understanding all the references and what everything means can be challenging, but I think I got a handle on the important elements.
Shakespeare isn't for everyone, but there's a reason people still read his work more than 400 years after his death. I thought the penalty handed out to Shylock was a bit harsh, and the ending reminded me of an episode of "Three's Company." I also found myself thinking in Elizabethan English after I finished the play. But I'm richer for having read it.
Some memorable lines from "The Merchant of Venice": "If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die?" (Act 3, Scene 1)
"The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose." (Act 1, Scene 3)
"All that glitters is not gold." (Act 2, Scene 7)
An obvious "classic."
Not bad. Four "quick reads," one nonfiction, and one "classic."
What of thee, good friend? Hast thou partaken in any reading this summer?
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