Weekendowe lektury: “Błahostka”, “Platforma” i “Znany świat”
“Top 3 Books to Read This Weekend”
This week I returned from vacation, during which I managed to read a few really enjoyable books. Italy, sun, beach, and a book. It was the perfect holiday. Returning to everyday life after two weeks is not easy. So, when choosing a book to read over the weekend, I wanted to extend the dolce far niente a little bit.
In the office, I found a book with a beautiful cover that immediately caught my attention. Then I glanced at the description – August, Italy, and a historic villa with a pool in a town near Naples. And I already knew that this weekend I would take with me to the Polish beach “Błahostka” by Magda Tereszczuk.
The main character is looking forward to a wonderful vacation. Italy, a villa with a pool, and a nostalgic journey to a place where she spent holidays with her parents. Everything seems perfect, until someone shows up who reminds her of the past.
After dealing brutally with the stacks of shame (see: What We’re Reading This Weekend from June 14, 2024), I no longer gather piles like a maniac, I don’t stack them one on top of the other next to the bed, and if my heart beats faster at the sight of a certain book, I look away, take a deep breath, and move on, because I know there is no place for it now, and I will surely meet many more in my life, maybe even more wonderful and beautiful ones. After all, there are plenty of fish in the sea.
However, there comes a moment when I turn the last pages of the books I am currently reading and a feeling of emptiness arises. For such an occasion, a new strategy is needed. There is nothing left on the shelf, so I have to go hunting. But what to focus on – on big game or on goldfish? Go to the forest or to the water? Use a stick or a fishing rod? I decided to open myself up to impulses. This turned out to be a editorial discussion with Konrad about Michel Houellebecq. His books are a manifestation of a penetrating mind and great writing, or is the admiration for them nothing more than adding value to literature, behind which lurk the obscene fantasies of an aging writer? And in the end, it turned out that there is a book by him that has eluded me so far, so this weekend I intend to catch up on “Platform”.
Intrigued by the recent articles about the “New York Times” list of the “100 Best Books of the 21st Century,” I looked through the top ten.
I was particularly interested in the fourth place, the book “The Known World” by Edward P. Jones – and that’s the book I plan to read this weekend.
The action of the novel takes place in the fictional Manchester County in Virginia between 1855 and 1861. The main character is Henry Townsend, a former slave who becomes a plantation owner after being freed and begins to own slaves himself. This situation creates numerous moral and ethical dilemmas for both him and other characters in the novel.
This historical novel has garnered critical acclaim and readership, including the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2004. Published in 2003, the book provides a deep study of life in the southern United States before the Civil War, focusing on complex racial and social relationships.
I must admit that the “New York Times” list is a great source of inspiration for me, and I intend to take a closer look at these titles. And now I am looking forward to a successful weekend with Edward P. Jones.
In conclusion, these three books offer a diverse range of genres and themes, providing readers with the opportunity to immerse themselves in different worlds and perspectives. Whether you’re looking for a light-hearted vacation read, a thought-provoking literary analysis, or a deep dive into historical fiction, these books have something for everyone. So, grab a copy, find a cozy spot, and enjoy a weekend filled with captivating stories and unforgettable characters.