“The Stranger” by Albert Camus
This novel is the prime example of the writing that I enjoy the most. It spends no time on extraneous details and focuses purely on raw sensation. The main character is our narrator and all sentences are short, direct, and declarative. It feels like we are inside of Meursault’s mind. The story is short and worth a read. If you do not know it, I would go in blind and just see what happens. Trust the rec.
“The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” by Mark Haddon
Following an Autistic child, Mark Haddon’s novel explores and completely unveils the mind of Christopher as he processes his own life through a mystery he is attempting to uncover. This book is so charming and such a fun read. The way Christopher is written and narrates the book shows so much about the mind of a young Asperger’s boy, and you feel so much for him instantly. Bonus points for drawings, diagrams, and chapters being only in prime numbers.
“Flowers for Algernon” by Daniel Keyes
A classic from the late 50s, this book shows us Charlie Gordon who undergoes a surgery to combat his intellectual disability. The novel is written through diary entries that he keeps throughout his trials, which is a very interesting way to see his development. This book is very emotional to me every time I read it, and will always be special to me. There is bliss in simpler pleasures.
iPod for listening
I switched to using an iPod (innioasis Y1 since it was cheap, modern, and my nano no longer worked) and it has drastically improved my listening experience. You only listen to what you want, no algorithms, so everything moment and song feels intentional!
