Broken April - Classic Novel

Sorry for the delay on the new post, I've been really tied down as of late. Moving on, the next classic novel I will share with you is "Broken April" by Ismail Kadare. Ismail Kadare is an Albanian author who has tremendous talent, especially in poetry. He has deservedly been nominated for numerous Noble Awards.
Broken April  is a deep and sincere story set in the High Plateau, by where the central Albanian government does not run there. This means that any killing that occurs will not go unavenged. To say it bluntly, blood feuding is effective gorvernment.First we meet Gjorg, who is forced to avenge his brother's death, and eventually finds himself in the centre of a blood feud which has torn him and the opposing family to peices.
Along come a rich couple from the capital city Tirana, who have decided to visit High Plateau. They cross paths with Gjorg, and become part of something they wouldn't expect on any type of holiday they would go to.

"To tell the truth, this was one of the few cases in which she had not told him just what she was thinking. Usually, she let him know whatever thoughts happened to come to her, and indeed he never took it amiss if she let slip a word that might pain him, because when all was said and done that was the price one paid for sincerity." 

"His suspicion that he was not going in the right direction tortmented him more and more. At last he had the conviction that he would never go anywhere but in the wrong direction, to the very end of the handful of days that was left to him, unhappy moonstruck pilgrim, whose April was to be cut off short." 

This was, at first, not a particularly appealing novel for me to buy. I knew of the author yet was unsure as to whether to pursue it. After reading this classic novel, I was certainly glad I picked it up. Without any exaggeration whatsoever, it is a fantastic novel, and also extremely depressing. To gain somewhat of an insight in Albanian history, as well as be gripped into a chilling story made this book such an entertaining read.
Ismail Kadare is a genius with this book, and I have promised myself to look into more novels he has wrote. "Broken April" by Ismail Kadare is a classic novel by a classic author. If there is one author who you wish to look into, it is, without a doubt, Kadare.

The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights - Classic Novel

The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights is a classic novel by John Steinbeck. Published in 1976, this novel by Steinbeck focuses on the legendary King Arthur of Britain, and his noble acts during his lifetime, aswell as that of his knights of the round table. After reading numerous Steinbeck books, in this classic novel he uses a more different writing style, taking a "living" approach, which certainly made me feel as if I was a part of the adventure.
I decided to continue posting books relating to a much earlier time period as, as of late, they have particularly appealed to me a lot more. Introducing us to the reign of Uther Pendragon, we enter the adventure of war and politics. Uther needs a heir to the throne, and, on the coditional wish of Merlin that, when Arthur is born, he will raise him under his own conditions and bore him a true king, Uther gladly pursues his dream. Once the death of Uther Pendragon occurs, the whole kingdom is left without a leader. Merlin makes all the lords agree that the true king of England will be able to pull the "sword in the stone". Unknowingly by all, Arthur is the son of Uther and, regardless, is the rightful heir. He, and only he, managed to pull out the sword and this brought fury from all 11 lords.
Thus begins Arthur's tests, and the acts of his noble knights. He brings forth equality to his kingdom and leads the greatest army of his era.

"Words can be traitors but deeds have no advocate"  

"There is a seat of worth beyond the reach of envy whose occupant ceases to be a man and becomes   the receptacle of the wishful longings of the world."

This is undeservedly one of Steinbeck's less popular classic novels. Unfortunately, he died before he was able to fully finish this book. Even so, the ending itself is truly crushing, by where Lancelot, the most famous and greatest of all knights in his and Arthur's times, destroy's his own chivalry and knighthood by pursuing his personal affections for Guinevere, the Queen and wife of King Arthur. This is without a doubt a classic novel and is an entertaining read. Steinbeck successful switched from his usual writing style to create this peice of classic literature, and it worked flawlessly.

Spartan - Classic Novel

Hey everyone! Bringing you another classic novel as I havent in a while. Its another classic by Valerio Massimo Manfredi, entitled "Spartan". Some obviously have become introduced to "Spartans" from the popular film 300, and dont worry, that battle is involved in this classic novel.
Started off with a cruel tale of the choice a father has to make in alliance with Spartan laws, his wife gives birth to a disabled boy, who according to ancient laws, must be ridden of. Like any father, he couldnt not bear this, and placing the young boy's fate in the hands of the Gods, he leaves his child in a hollow oak in the mountains nearby.Already, this gripping story has common characteristics of any classic novel.
This young boy, Talos, lives normally throughout his life with the servant people, until one moment where he is passed by several Spartan soldiers. A fire burns in his heart, and little does he know his destiny has already been made. This classic novel follows the adventures of the young Talos, and the struggles he has to endure in his life, his fame and glory, and ultimately, his heartbreak with his long-lost brother, an unstoppable duo. 

Valerio Manfredi has definitely outdone himself. The first time I read this classic novel, it was truely heartwarming, and is definitely worthy of being talked about on here. This is another classic novel you CANNOT miss out on!

Classic Novel - Brave New World

Another classic novel I have read a few times. This classic novel is somewhat similar to 1984, setting the scene immediately to a sort of brainwashed and inhumane society, due to the cause of futurism. This is also a definite must read.

"My dear young friend," said Mustapha Mond, "civilization has absolutely no need of nobility or heroism. These things are symptoms of political inefficiency. In a properly organized society like ours, nobody has any opportunities for being noble or heroic. Conditions have got to be thoroughly unstable before the occasion can arise. Where there are wars, where there are divided allegiances, where there are temptations to be resisted, objects of love to be fought for or defended–there, obviously, nobility and heroism have some sense. But there aren't any wars nowadays. The greatest care is taken to prevent you from loving any one too much. There's no such thing as a divided allegiance; you're so conditioned that you can't help doing what you ought to do. And what you ought to do is on the whole so pleasant, so many of the natural impulses are allowed free play, that there really aren't any temptations to resist. And if ever, by some unlucky chance, anything unpleasant should somehow happen, why, there's always soma to give you a holiday from the facts. And there's always soma to calm your anger, to reconcile you to your enemies, to make you patient and long-suffering. In the past you could only accomplish these things by making a great effort and after years of hard moral training. Now, you swallow two or three half-gramme tablets, and there you are. Anybody can be virtuous now. You can carry at least half your morality about in a bottle. Christianity without tears–that's what soma is."

Modern Library ranked this classic novel a staggering 5th in its list of the 100 best English-Language novels of the 20th century, truely mirroring the brilliance of this peice of classic literature. A recommend for all!