Welcome to this week’s 5BF: a work of incredible inventive
and thoughtful fiction, a history of solitary pleasure, ‘code red’ for
humanity, the courage and absurdity of standing by your morals, and more…
1 – what I read
Orlando by Virginia Woolf – a novel that spans over many
centuries, like Hyder’s masterpiece of Urdu literature ‘River of Fire’, and possesses
the lightness, wisdom, playfulness of Voltaire’s masterpiece ‘Candide’, this is
Woolf’s meditations on society, conformism, gender, literature, travel, time,
and life. An entertaining and giving read.
2 – this week’s articles
Milan Kundera on writing @brainpickings – extracting the key
points from Kundera’s nonfiction book ‘The Art of the Novel’, Popova writes
about how the intelligence of the novel transcends and succeeds that of its author’s,
in that ‘Anna Karenina’ came out to be more intelligent than Tolstoy himself
was. Something truly incredible for the writers to think about!
A handy history @aeon – not only a taboo in act, but also a
taboo in words, masturbation has always been uncomfortable to talk about. Its
history presented, we see how the taboos and resistance against this solitary
act of pleasure started and waved off, but how still, it remains one of the
dirty and untalkable sexual acts.
Eros at play @aeon – modern pornography, like much else in capitalism,
has made sex and pleasures therein too objectified, instantly gratifying, and
shallow. Ancient erotic poetry, in comparison, still holds is weight and appeal
by being teasing, complex, and transcendental, ingredients for what keeps the
eroticism and desire alive and in good health.
3 – this week’s podcasts
Code red for humanity @voxtoday – the recent UN summit
called for the alarming climate situations across world, from wildfires to
floods to famines, gathered in data and the scientists declared code red for
humanity, that is the climate change has slipped out of our hands and human
activities are largely possible. Unless a radical cease in these damaging
activities, which is unlikely, we shall continue down the road of disastrous
climate situations.
Delta in the delta @voxtoday – how scientists and medical
staffs hoped that production of vaccine and ensuring its availability would finally
defeat the covid-19, yet much to their surprise, cultural effects, such like
skepticism about the vaccine and blind beliefs in conspiracy theories are still
letting millions die and the virus continue to live. Delta the latest variant
of the virus is stronger than ever.
4 – this week’s movie recommendations
Again, all worth watching, and short description to keep it
easily communicable.
King of Devil’s Island (Norway 2010): an island school where
misbehaved kids are sent for discipline.
A Hidden Life (2019): a 3hr. long movie about a Scottish farmer
refusing to hail Hitler, prisoned and taken away from his loving family.
Good Time (2017): a bank robbery gone wrong; thrilling, funny,
and amazing.
I Lost My Body (2019): an animated movie about a delivery
boy’s crush on a girl and its sad story.
Private Life (2018): couple in 40s try to have a baby but
cannot, even with all the medicals advancements. Loved it!
5 – this week’s quote
This mind is its own place, and in itself
Can make Heav’n Hell, a Hell of Heav’n.
- John Milton