Joseph Sciuto's Blog: A Curious View: A Compilation of Short Stories by Joseph Sciuto, page 45

John Updike’s “The Maples Stories.”

John Updike’s “The Maples Stories” are a collection of eighteen short stories, written over Mr. Updike’s career, that chronicle the marriage, separation, and divorce of Joan and Richard Maples and their four children. The writing is superb, at times frighteningly honest and other times frighteningly surreal. The author has captured the dissolution of a marriage brilliantly, so brilliantly that if anyone is thinking of getting married I would recommend not reading this wonderful collection.

It has been a long time since I have read any of Mr. Updike’s works. Actually, the last time was 1996 on an airplane ride, on Thanksgiving Day, from Los Angeles to New York. After reading this collection of stories, I definitely see more of Mr. Updike’s works in my future. He is one of a few writers whose use ‘of a stream of consciousness’ heightens the narrative and who James Joyce I think would happily approve.

W. Somerset Maugham’s, “The Razor’s Edge.”

W. Somerset Maugham’s, “The Razor’s Edge” is a beautiful and impressive novel. The writing is superb. The descriptions of characters and locations (Paris, England, Chicago and India) are wonderfully lucid, poetic, and at times majestic. The first 270 pages of this book were wonderfully enchanting. They read like a pristine river passing through virgin country. The last 30 pages or so were quite cumbersome.

The story takes place just after the end of World War 1 and right through the depression of the 1930’s. There are religious references made throughout the book as the lead character Larry searches for the meaning of his existence after his buddy saves his life in a air battle during the war and, in so doing, is killed.

The portrayal of the different locations and the different lifestyle each locale presents to the reader is as fascinating as any of the characters in the story. Actually, the locations are as much characters in the novel as the human beings represented in the book.

I strongly recommend. A truly wonderful and inspiring piece of writing.

Walter Isaacson’s, “Einstein: His Life and Universe.”

The name itself, Einstein, invokes reverence, awe, fear, intimidation, and so much more. Arguably, the most recognizable name in the civilized world. Even people who know nothing about the man, know enough that if one is lucky enough to be compared with the man it means that you possess a certain amount of intelligence.

Walter Isaacson’s, “Einstein: His life and Universe” is a comprehensive and wonderful portrayal and study of the man whose genius very likely has had the greatest effect and impact on the 20th century and beyond. Finally, I can say that I have some understanding of Einstein’s “Theory of Relativity” and his many other theories. Mr. Isaacson takes great pains, and exceeds brilliantly in explaining the complexities of Einstein’s theories.

And he goes one step further, and gives us a vivid look into the life and beliefs of this extraordinary and conscientious human being, whose generosity, gentleness, and caring had no limits like the ever expanding universe.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough for aspiring scientists, history buffs, and for any person interested in enhancing their own lives and seeing the world just a little bit differently. Wonderful! Wonderful! Wonderful!

Graham Greene’s “A Gun for Sale.”

Graham Greene’s “A Gun for Sale’ is quite entertaining, well written, and gripping from beginning to the end.

Raven, the main character, is a hit man. He carries out the execution of the Minister of War and in so doing also kills his secretary who happens to be still at work when he arrives and is a witness to the killing.

The repercussions of the murders goes way beyond what anyone might imagine, and puts the country on the brink of war. Raven, is the type of man, who asks no questions. He is hired, carries out the job, is paid and disappears, except this time he is paid with stolen, marked, money.

Raven, is an ugly man, with a hare-lip. He’s an outcast, without a friend, leading a lonely life whose only real affection is for a cat who doesn’t look or see him as a deformed creative. He is the character that carries the story and through chance encounters, dreams, and reflections we come to understand and sympathize with him on all levels, but especially as a man who lives with a deformity that society shuns and little children look away in horror.

I enjoyed this book very much. It’s a wonderful mystery but, more than that, it is the depiction and study of a human being who at first we abhor but with greater understanding we come to have great compassion for.

Charlotte Bronte’s, “Villette”

Charlotte Bronte’s “Villette” is the sixth book I have read by the Bronte sisters, the third by Charlotte, and you would think by now that I could not be anymore amazed by their brilliance than I was previously but, once again, that was not the case.

“Villette” is an amazing piece of literature, at times it reads like magical and enchanting poetry, and at other times it reads exactly like a diary, uncensored, but like all great literature it reads with a haunting honesty that borders on the sublime.

Lucy Snowe, like Ms. Bronte’s Jane Eyre, is a character whose appeal and inquisitiveness sets the stage for an analytic and intrusive insight into a society where an ambitious and smart woman’s place in the workforce is still an unacceptable and alien concept, unless the woman’s ambition is limited to being a servant, a governess, or a teacher.

“Villette” is the last of Charlotte Bronte’s novels and it goes places and poses questions about religion, morals, corruption,and ambition that are still being heatedly debated one hundred and seventy years later.

This is a very long novel and it is the type of book that should be read carefully and patiently, and more than once. It has so much to offer and it simply overflows with brilliance and reawakens many of our dreams and desires that we might have long ago forgotten but we should never have buried.

W. Somerset Maugham’s “The Magician”

W. Somerset Maugham’s “The Magician” starts off slowly, leaden with plenty of ancient Greek and latin phrases, but after this short introduction this story moves like an out-of-control freight train.

To say that it is gripping would be an understatement. It is fascinating and engrossing, pitting science against black magic, good against evil, and the egocentric nature of certain men to believe that they possess the power of Gods.

The character of Oliver Haddo, an extremely obese and ever growing individual with layers of fat hanging from his chin and with eyes that seem to look right through you, is quite an unforgettable individual. He is The Magician and, his character, put into the hands of a less talented writer than Mr. Maugham would have appeared like nothing more than a grotesque caricature. But, in the hands of an extremely talented writer he comes off as a most dangerous and mysterious character that is the center and heartbeat of the story.

This book is exceptionally well written, and except for the burdensome few pages at the beginning, can easily be read in one sitting. If you are interested in the supernatural or simply a wonderful piece of storytelling I strongly recommend this book.

Anne Bronte’s “The Tenant of Wildfell Hill.”

Anne Bronte’s “The Tenant of Wildfell Hall” is a wonderful, gripping, suspenseful, and beautifully constructed novel. The writing is lucid and clear. The characters are richly developed and the main storyline is tantalizing. Helen Graham, a mysterious and angelic character, is so totally brutalized by her husband, Arthur, that she is forced to runaway with her five year old son and her friend and servant, Rachel.

The marital abuse is so detailed, real, and shocking that it actually had this reader reeling in pain and agony for the heroine. Like Ms. Bronte’s “Agnes Grey” the portrayal of women in Victorian England is a very sad and disturbing commentary of how poorly females were treated and looked down upon during this era. Sadly, 175 years later, this novel is as relevant as ever.

I loved this novel. It was gripping from the very first pages to the last pages.

Truman Capote’s “Other Voices, other Rooms.”

Truman Capote’s “Other Voices, Other Rooms” is a beautiful, creative, delectable novel. In short, it is like a magnificent and diverse banquet that overwhelms all your senses. This is the book, his first book at the age of 24, that immediately shot him to literary and international fame.

It is lyrical, enchanting, spiritual, haunting, and at times it hinges on the supernatural. The writing at times is so effortless that it reminded me of Byron (a super high compliment), at other times so painstaking and thoughtful and descriptive that it reminded me of Conrad (another super high compliment). The dialogue, the story, and the location reminded me of Faulkner (still another super high compliment) and finally the creative and imaginary vision reminded me of Twain (another super high compliment). But, have no doubt, in the end it is one hundred per cent Capote.

The characters are unforgettable, even characters seen only in a photo are bestowed with a richness and distinction that makes them unforgettable. The struggle of young Joel and his ability to survive under the strangest of circumstances while living in a house without electricity and running water and a with cast of individuals that are both eerie and unpredictable, yet, fascinating is engrossing and gripping.

This is the work of pure genius. This is the book that you hand to an aspiring writer and simply remark, “If you ever want to know what great writing is, just read this book. Don’t try to imitate the style because that would be futile and stupid but try to set your standards as a writer at the level of this book and the dedication to detail and character development that is required to be a great writer.

Agatha Christie’s “Evil Under the Sun”

Another wonderful Agatha Christie, mystery novel. Great characters, perfect story and plot construction, and clear and lucid writing. Amazing!

W. Somerset Maugham, “Of Human Bondage”

W. Somerset Maugham’s “Of Human Bondage” is one of the best books I have ever read about the trials and tribulations that a human being goes through just prior to his teenage years, during his teenage years, and just before entering adulthood. The character of Philip, born with a club foot deformity, is a textbook, detailed, and analytic study of the formation and evolution that takes place in the mind and body of person as he passes through these turbulent years. It is also a social commentary about institutions, such as schools and churches, that are so rigid, unbending and unwilling to accept change that they become barriers to the growth and education of the human being and society as a whole.

This is the first book that I have read by Mr. Maugham. It will not be the last. I loved this book.