The Parallax View #166: Death and Rebirth of a Woman

'The Dream Story' tells the story of Fridolin and Albertine, a married couple living in Vienna. After Albertine confesses a dream of erotic longing for another man, Fridolin embarks on a night of his own adventures, encountering hidden desires and unsettling secrets. His journey leads him to a mysterious masked orgy and a brush with danger, blurring the lines between reality and fantasy. The novella explores themes of sexual desire, marital dissatisfaction, and the hidden depths of the human psyche, set against the backdrop of early 20th-century Vienna. The story is a psychological exploration of the complexities of relationships and the boundaries of human desire.

This book is the first volume of Gurdjieff's 'All and Everything' trilogy. It presents a complex and allegorical critique of human life, narrated by the character Beelzebub to his grandson Hassein as they travel through space. The narrative includes discussions on cosmological and psychological laws, the early life of Earth, and the human condition. Gurdjieff aims to 'destroy mercilessly' the conventional beliefs and views of humanity, intending to guide readers toward a deeper understanding and spiritual awakening. The book is part of Gurdjieff's broader teachings on the 'Fourth Way' spiritual path.

James Joyce's "A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man" is a semi-autobiographical novel that follows the intellectual and artistic development of Stephen Dedalus, a young man growing up in Dublin at the turn of the 20th century. The novel explores Stephen's journey of self-discovery, his struggles with religious faith, and his burgeoning artistic ambitions. Joyce's masterful use of language and stream-of-consciousness technique captures the complexities of Stephen's inner life, his emotional turmoil, and his artistic awakening. The novel is considered a masterpiece of modernist literature, its themes of self-discovery and artistic creation continue to resonate with readers today. It's a coming-of-age story that delves into the complexities of identity and artistic expression.

Ulysses is a groundbreaking and complex modernist novel that chronicles the experiences of three Dubliners over a single day. The novel is loosely based on Homer's epic poem 'The Odyssey', with Leopold Bloom paralleling Odysseus, Stephen Dedalus paralleling Telemachus, and Molly Bloom paralleling Penelope. It explores themes such as antisemitism, human sexuality, British rule in Ireland, Catholicism, and Irish nationalism. The novel is known for its innovative use of language and narrative techniques, including stream-of-consciousness and multiple literary styles. It captures the essence of early 20th-century Dublin, providing a detailed snapshot of the city's social, political, and cultural landscape.

Finnegans Wake is James Joyce's final and most complex work, written over a period of seventeen years. The novel is set in a dream world where the protagonist, Humphrey Chimpden Earwicker (HCE), and his family—wife Anna Livia Plurabelle (ALP) and their children Shem, Shaun, and Issy—undergo various transformations and identities. The book is known for its innovative use of language, combining elements from multiple languages and creating new words through portmanteaus and puns. It explores themes of identity, history, and the cyclical nature of life, drawing on Irish mythology, biblical narratives, and personal experiences. The novel's structure is circular, ending with the sentence that begins the book, creating a continuous loop.

Published in 1958, 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' is a novella by Truman Capote that follows the life of Holly Golightly, a charming and mysterious woman living in New York City. The story is narrated by a young writer who befriends Holly and recounts their time together in the 1940s. Holly, born Lulamae Barnes, is a country girl turned Manhattan socialite who lives by socializing with wealthy men and dreams of a secure life. The novella explores themes of identity, friendship, and the complexities of Holly's character as she navigates her life in the city. The book also includes three other short stories: 'House of Flowers', 'A Diamond Guitar', and 'A Christmas Memory'.

The novella tells the story of Santiago, an old Cuban fisherman who has gone 84 days without catching a fish. Determined to break his unlucky streak, Santiago ventures far into the Gulf Stream, where he hooks a giant marlin. Over the course of three days, he battles the marlin, showing respect and admiration for the fish. Despite eventually killing the marlin, Santiago's catch is devoured by sharks on his journey back to shore. The story highlights Santiago's endurance, his deep connection with nature, and the themes of struggle, dignity, and the indomitable human spirit.