This book is a compilation of six-word memoirs, a project initiated by SMITH Magazine. It features contributions from a wide range of writers, including Stephen J. Dubner, offering brief, insightful, and sometimes humorous glimpses into their lives.
In this book, Sarah Hart delves into the myriad connections between mathematics and literature. She demonstrates how mathematical concepts and structures can provide additional layers of depth and meaning to literary works. The book is organized into three sections: the role of mathematics in shaping literary forms, the use of mathematical metaphors and symbolism, and the explicit mathematical themes in various novels. Hart draws examples from a wide range of literature, including works by authors such as Melville, Joyce, and Tolstoy, and discusses topics like geometry, fractals, and cryptography in the context of literature.
La Disparition, translated as A Void in English, is a lipogrammatic novel written by Georges Perec in 1969. The book is a remarkable example of the Oulipo movement, which seeks to expand literary possibilities through formal constraints. Perec's novel avoids the use of the letter E, a challenge that significantly limits the vocabulary available. This constraint reflects the broader themes of the book, including loss, absence, and the Holocaust, which had a profound impact on Perec's life. The novel is a philosophical and literary exploration of the power of language and the human experience of loss and survival.
Set in 1866, 'The Luminaries' follows Walter Moody as he arrives in the New Zealand goldfields and becomes entangled in a mystery involving a series of unsolved crimes. The novel richly evokes a world of goldrush boom and bust, with a complex and exquisitely patterned narrative that combines elements of a ghost story and a gripping mystery. It is known for its masterful structuring and plotting, and its historical register is pitch-perfect.
In this novel, Alice enters a mirror and finds herself in a world that mirrors her own but with many peculiar differences. She navigates a realm where chess pieces come to life, and she must reach the eighth square to become a queen herself. Along her journey, Alice encounters characters like the Red Queen, the White Knight, and Humpty Dumpty, engaging in playful dialogues and nonsensical situations that challenge her understanding of logic and language. The story reflects themes of identity, growth, and the importance of curiosity and imagination.
Ce livre expérimental de Raymond Queneau, publié en 1961, est composé de dix sonnets de quatorze vers chacun. L'innovation réside dans la possibilité de combiner n'importe quel vers d'un sonnet avec un vers de même position dans les autres sonnets. Cela génère un nombre astronomique de poèmes, rendant l'œuvre potentiellement infinie. Le livre explore la créativité issue de contraintes formelles, un concept cher à l'Oulipo. Il met en lumière le rôle du lecteur comme co-créateur de l'œuvre.
People I (Mostly) Admire 
