😃
I found this book as a teenager and felt very seen. I recently reread it and although It is about existentialism, I found it cathartic asf. Something about seeing your emotions described so well by someone else Is comforting. It also has inspired me to keep a diary.
Jan 22, 2025
Related Recs
📖
In my mid-20s existential exploring life era
Mar 4, 2024
🪳
Yes I realize this is far more than one book, but I read all of these stories in very close succession & I believe they shaped me into the guy I am today. These are all very sensitive-young-man-core, but what can I say? I was a sensitive young man.
I have a very complicated relationship with Mother & Father. When I was first introduced to Kafka, it was like meeting my soulmate. I don’t have it in me to go into much detail at this moment, but being condemned to death by drowning for failing an aging father who can sense a deeply felt resentment; waking up one day to find you’ve turned into a disgusting bug after sacrificing so much for a family that cares so little— these are ideas that deeply rattled & resonated with me personally at the age that I read them. I resolved to try to live differently.
Death of Ivan Ilych was simply further exhortation for me to not live my life according to convention, to pursue wealth, status, family life for their own sakes. I think every single one of us has it in us to become an Ivan Ilych without even realizing. I was totally rapt & manic upon finishing this one I still am today, to some degree.
Portrait of the Artist really spoke to me as well. When Stephen looks at his father & realizes he’s a fool, and that he wants to be nothing like him. The moment when he sees the girl in the water & he becomes so horny he decides to dedicate his life to the pursuit of beauty, to aesthetics, to being an artist. The entire ending segment written as first person journal entries filled me with a lot of hope.
Emerson is the man. Great way to shock the materialist reductionist, the comformist, the busybody, & the consistent, conventional company man out of your system. Probably made me a more annoying person when alls said & done. Oh well.
May 12, 2024
⭐
this book is so comforting for so many reasons. firstly, it is a very quick read (~100 pages), and secondly, it's main theme is learning how it is okay to be lost in your 20's or really at any age. it promotes the importance of transition periods rather than trying trying to escape the emotions. highly HIGHLY recommend as this book literally healed me <3
Apr 18, 2025
Top Recs from @jakenewman
When I’m finally naked and standing
Caught in the sunlight
I look back at all the selfishness and foolish pride
And laugh at myself
Jan 22, 2025