literature

 

Ok, so I found it really hard to make a list on the books I like the most, so I decided
I will only list ten (in no particular order) of those I often find myself recommend to other people.

 

Oblomov – Ivan Goncharov (Gontjarev/Goncarov)

A great narrative on doing nothing in particular. ”Oblomovism” is the word for the indolent behaviour of Oblomov, the tragicomical protagonist of Goncharov's novel, who instead of taking part of social life and duties, prefers lying in bed and contemplate over the universe and his life situation.
 

Brott och Straff -Fjodor Dostojevskij (Fyodor Dostoevsky)
(Crime and Punishment)

In my opinion, one of the best book ever written. Brilliant psychological study about a young man who decides to take the life of an old pawnbroker. Powerful descriptions on Russian culture, filled with social comments. With an outstanding sense for the relation between human conduct, context and social norms, Dostojevskij also proves to be a brilliant symbolic interactionist and social psychologist. Also, as always, he poses interesting moral questions.
 

Äcklet – Jean-Paul Sartre
(La nausée/ Nausea)

“Nothing seemed true; I felt surrounded by cardboard scenery which could quickly be removed…” Oh yes it is an existential novel and it made a long-lasting impression on me in my early twenties.
 

Odödligheten – Milan Kundera
(Immortality)

"What is unbearable in life is not being, but being one's self".
Likewise Sartre, Kundera explores the relation between the individual self and the individual's public image; reality and appearance and so forth…
 

Fallet Dominique –  Francoise Dolto
(La Cas Dominique / Dominique)

A psychoanalytic case study where Dolto analyzes the unconscious of a 14 –year old boy on his way to enter a psychosis. Non-fiction. Interesting.
 

Kappan – Nikolaj Gogol
(Shinel’ / The Overcoat) 

Short story about Akakii Akakievich, a public servant in l9th century St. Petersburg who spends his life savings on a new overcoat only to have it stolen on the first occasion he wears it.
"We have all come out from under Gogol's 'Overcoat" - Dostoevsky referring to Russian realism.
 

Vi –  Evgenij Ivanovic Zamjatin
(My / We)

Zamyatin’s We has influenced Huxleys “Brave New World” and Orwells “1984”. However, this one is superior.
 

Dråparen - Philip K Dick
(A Maze of Death)

I felt I needed to have a sci-fi novel on my list and I chose “A maze of death”. This is a brilliant futuristic novel where fourteen experts in various fields are sent to colonize the planet Delmak-O. Enthralling and mind-boggling when Dick dwells on the metaphysical nature of human existence. 
 

Zen eller konsten att sköta en motorcykel – Robert M. Pirsig
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance)

Quite a complex story that could be enjoyed by quite a few various reasons as well. When I read it, I especially enjoyed the technology – friend or foe-theme. While some might find the setting of the story - “vacation on motorcycle” - quite boring, that is what I liked the most about the book. (For those who enjoy the combination of silences, long journeys, contemplation in literature and film I would recommend the movies "Solaris", "Stalker", and "Eversmile/New Yersey" and also Dostojevskijs novel “The Idiot”)
 

En dag i Ivan Denisovitjs liv - Alexander Solsjenitsyn  (Solzhenitsyn)
(One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich)

If you would read only one book during your lifetime, this one ought to be it.