A Week = A Book
#ReadingChallenge2020 #armenuhy
All started on Jan 6th, 2020, when I was still enjoying my New Year and Christmas holiday (in Armenia we are having the best and one of the longest holiday 31 Dec - 07 Jan).
There was a time I was constantly reading. Something has changed, the different rhythm of life, other priorities, a lot of job readings, etc., etc. Poor excuses :)
As I am fond of complicated things, I adore reading several books simultaneously, with the music fitting to the mood of books. The balance is the key here. Fictions are being balanced with poetry, historical books are being balanced with comics, biographies with tales. My reading languages: Armenian, Russian, English and the first time I'll try a little Arabic reading.
Sometimes I like reading the same book in different languages and it happens, translations are better than the original.
This article is about a one-year journey with my 50+ books to be. You can also follow me on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/4779210
Week 1. Yuval Noah Harari, '21 Lessons for the 21st Century' is balanced with Armenian modern writer, Aram Avetis's 'Blind Punctuation'
“Humans think in stories rather than in facts, numbers, or equations, and the simpler the story, the better.”
“One of the greatest fictions of all is to deny the complexity of the world and think in absolute terms:”
I did one 'Armenuhy' (yes, that is me) thing: started with the third book of Harari before reading Sapiens and Homo Deus.
My Music during this reading was by Muse - 'Uprising', 'Pressure', 'Something Human'
Week 2. A Christmas Carol by Dickens was a new year gift perfectly fitting with my year challenge. It was to remind me that “No space of regret can make amends for one life's opportunity misused”.
Together with English classic, I enjoyed "The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared" by Jonas Jonasson. What I love in Swede writers - they are charmingly easy and clear.
My Music for the reading was a playlist with Christmas songs. (+ my gift bookmark from Porto)
Week 3. Alice in Wonderland solely occupied my week in 3 languages: English, Russian translation (by Alexandra Rojdestvenskaya, 1908) and Armenian translation (by Sona Seferyan and Garik Banduryan, 1971).
“Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?""That depends a good deal on where you want to get to.""I don't much care where –" "Then it doesn't matter which way you go.” “Alice:How long is forever? White Rabbit:Sometimes, just one second.” “My dear, here we must run as fast as we can, just to stay in place. And if you wish to go anywhere you must run twice as fast as that.” “It is better to be feared than loved.” “The best way to explain it is to do it.” "Curiouser and curiouser!"
I liked Russian translation more than even the original text, though I had only one option of translations into Russian out of 9 (Anonym (1879); Alexandra Rojdestvenskaya (1908); Vladimir Nabokov (1923); Ina Deurova (1966); Boris Zahoder (1971); Alexander Sherbakov (1977); Bladimir Olyol (1988); Leonid Yakhnin, retell (1991); and Dmitriy Yermolovich (2016)).
Accept or not, but the Russian language is rich in translations.
My Music was The Nutcracker ballet.
p.s. I love accessories... even when reading, so my loved ones are different bookmarks, page holder, pen and paper (a must!), marking papers, earpads)
Week 4. The Grand Chessboard by Zbigniew Brzeziński with different geo-maps.
Maybe this was outdated for me and I should have been reading this two decades ago. Better later than never.
No other book could accompany. Alone during the week.
My Music - piano works by George Gershwin.
“History is much more the product of chaos than of conspiracy” “Because you can't intervene everywhere, you don't conclude you can't intervene anywhere.” “To resolve conflicts, excessive ambitions and one's own fears and aspirationis must be sacrificed.” “America is too democratic at home to be autocratic abroad.”
Week 5. Week 6. Week 7. - Harry Potter non-stop :)
Week 8. Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Professor Harari (Russian translation) is a promising one together with the Goblet of Fire (I do need fairy when reading about human history).
These two were a good combination, balancing the history and reality with fairness and dreams. Sapiens by Harari is a must-read!
Week 9. Jonathan Franzen - The End of the End of the Earth: Essays
The author is a contributor to my beloved The new Yorker since 1994.
The very first week of March happens to be the 9th week of my book challenge and the Essays of Franzen were in good harmony with nature, raising important questions about global warming and risks of it.
Now looking 3 weeks back, when there was no virus in my country and when we were not locked down, I was not that much deep into the stories of birds. But now I am periodically back to those stories and realise the whole idea behind the birds.
Sometimes we need to pass through, get some experience and wisdom and go back to understand.
Week 10. Naomi Wolf - The Beauty Myth
Not my style of a book, but as you can see there are also notes that I kept for the future.
Without recommendations.
Week 11. (right before my self-isolation because of a pandemic) Kazuo Ishiguro - The Remains of the Day (fresh and excellent translation into Armenian)
To say loved it, to say nothing.
Beautifully mannered, with easy but brilliant language, calm but expressing the sadness and beauty of life, our responsibility of choice and the way that we can destroy or flourish it, the story about perfectionism and love toward the profession.
Week 12. Daniel Keyes - Flowers for Algernon
A heartbreaking story, it reminds me of Bulgakov's Heart of a Dog.
Week 13. Andrei Bely - Petersburg
A novel was written in 1913. Really enjoyable! I had an Armenian version and promised never read original Russian novels translated into Armenian. The original language is the best for Russian novels.
"Andrey Bely belongs to the list of the greatest poets and novelists of the “Silver Age”, but besides that honourable category, his uniqueness as a writer and person effectively bars him from categorization." (Aleksey Calvin)
I need to re-read this book.
Week 14. Week 14 - Poetry week
Hrachya Tamrazyan is an Armenian modern poet. His poems and essays are on my table already 10 years, with constant reading. Deep, complicated and meanwhile, surprisingly light.
The poetry week started for me with a Greek poet Constantin Cavafy and continued with an Armenian one.
I love reading poems, check the latest one on my channel.
Week 15. Jo Nesbo - Cockroaches
I got this book as a present from my good friend by the end of the last year. This was an exciting reading. Like Linwood Barclay says: "Many authors know how to make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. Jo Nesbo's one of the few who keeps them there".
Whatever the differencies, they all shared the fact tha they had only vague notions of where they wanted to go in life and the knowledge that only one direction counted: UP!
Week 16. Ray Bradbury - Fahrenheit 451
There are books that after reading you realise: I could have read it before but it is good I haven't done it until the right time came.
Yesterday was the right day to read #RayBradbury's #Fahrenheit451. It took just 3 hours to read.
"There must be something in books, something we can't imagine, to make a woman stay in a burning house; there must be something there. We don't stay for anything."
"Why is it," he said, one time, at the subway entrance, "I feel I've known you so many years?"
"Because I like you," she said, "and I don't want anything from you."
"But you cannot make people listen. They have to come round in their own time, wondering what happened and why the world blew up around them. It can't last."
Week 17. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Written in 1931 and published in 1932, the futuristic novel can easily be fitted into today's world.
“Actual happiness always looks pretty squalid in comparison with the overcompensations for misery. And, of course, stability isn't nearly so spectacular as instability. And being contented has none of the glamour of a good fight against misfortune, none of the picturesqueness of a struggle with temptation, or a fatal overthrow by passion or doubt. Happiness is never grand.”
“Most human beings have an almost infinite capacity for taking things for granted.”
Week 18. 'Man's Search for Meaning' by Viktor Frankl
In the week of May 9th, 75th celebration of Victory day I recalled Viktor Frankl with his 'Man's Search for Meaning'. After surviving nazi concentration camp Frankl is writing about the logotherapy and about the search for the meaning.
The speech of Frankl is more vivid than my words, better to watch https://youtu.be/UgVA6nXCj1U
The music for reading this book - Rakhmaninof, Piano Concert
Week 19. Selected Poems by Vladimir Mayakovsky
Week 20. Classic Japanese Prose IX-XIV century
Sei Shonagon - The Pillow Book (1002) /my beloved one/ "Записки у изголовья"
Kamo no Chomei - Hojoki (1212) "Записки из кельи"
Yoshida Kenko - Tsurezuregusa (1330-1332) "Записки от скуки"
from Wiki: Zuihitsu (随筆) is a genre of Japanese literature consisting of loosely connected personal essays and fragmented ideas that typically respond to the author's surroundings. The name is derived from two Kanji meaning "at-will" and "pen."
Жанр 'дзуйхицу', что в переводе значит 'в след за кистью', записывать все, что приходит на ум, попадает на глаза, одно только движение души: воспоминание, неожиданная мысль, бытовая сцена, то, что приходит на ум.
Week 21. Elif ?afak - Baba Pi? (Bastard of Istanbul)
Simple life... Life of mixed emotions, connections, two nations, several families, a mix of stories. We, Armenians and our neighbours. So much we know about each other, so much we felt. I can guess how different is this book for us, for them, for others...
Week 22. Chuck Palahniuk - Fight Club
Usually, I am ignoring bestsellers during the times when they are trendy. I do not like doing things that all others are doing ))) this is Armenuhy style. But when the time passes and trendy one continues the steady journey, the interest is coming.
That was the same with this book. Finally, I had it. (I've not even watched the film :))
What to say? Nothing. You do not talk about Fight Club.
Week 23. How to be Heard, Julian Treasure
It's all about speaking, public speaking. What I liked in this book - there were many references to interesting TED talks, good authors, and my fave conductor Benjamin Zander with his talk about classical music (must watch) https://youtu.be/r9LCwI5iErE
The book has many tips and exercises, some are common and well known, some are new. Worth to read.
Week 24. Jorge Luis Borges - Miscellaneous
I've read Borges several times but in every phase of my life, in every phase of the World's life it is good to re-read him, talk to him, ask questions and have answers... or wait, there is a Rose of Paracelsus after we are out of the room, room of our questions. The answer is always there. We just need the ability to see it.
This is an Armenian translation of the parts of Borges' famous creations.
Week 25. Dmitry Merezhkovsky's - The Resurrection of the Gods
Novel translated by Ignat Avsey.
It is interesting to have a translation from the language that I know. In the English version, you can feel the translation layer. All the rest is good and moving smoothly.
Week 26. Jack London - Before Adam
The book I started on week 25 (The Resurrection of the God) is a pretty long one and will take some more weeks to finish. Thus, I am doing a parallel easy reading.
Short but sweet, simple but full, with the projection line to the present.
?Week 27. Yoni Binstock - What is Augmented Reality?
In parallel with 'The Resurrection of the God', started two weeks ago, a very fresh book about Augmented Reality came to my feed from a good friend of mine Arman Atoyan, Founder and CEO of Arloopa. In this book, Arman also featured as a bright mind in Augmented Reality tech sphere.
If you want to guess about the future developments, you need to listen more, to talk more with the professionals of the fields that you are very far from. This book contains exclusive interviews with over 50 of the top augmented reality experts.
After reading I started slightly imagine the future of our everyday tech.
?Week 28. Фаина Раневская - Жизнь, рассказанная ею самой / Faina Ranevskaya - The life by her stories
Faina Ranevskaya one of the greatest Soviet actresses in both tragedy and comedy. From the performances and movies, one can say she must be a happy person with sharp humour and strong character. From her own stories, the strong character is vividly visible while the classic type of happiness was not for her. Difficulties in the family, not loved by parents, Ranevskaya struggled all her life for fairness!
Some of her aphorisms:
-(After recovering from a heart attack) If the patient really wants to live, the doctors are powerless. - (Answering how to lose weight effectively) Eat anything and whenever you like, but only naked in front of a mirror. - Ageing is tedious, but it is the only way to live long.
Week 29. Kobo Abe 'The box-man', 'The face of another', 'The ruined map'
Three novels Japanese writer, playwright, musician, photographer and inventor. Kobo Abe often compared to Franz Kafka.
I adore Japanese style writings. Each of the novels was intriguing, but the one that matches with the times of Corona - The face of another, impressed more. Comparison line I had with the masked faces of ours caused by a coronavirus. Must read novel.
Week 30. a) Gustave Flaubert - Salammbo
A historical fiction novel set in Carthage around 2200 years ago, during the 3rd century BC.
Flaubert wrote in a realistic style, all the colours, aroma, smell, all the senses have easy but impressive descriptions. The realistic description of violence is shocking while the parallel sensuality is surreal.
I had an Armenian translation of it, with a simple but impressive language.
My reading was accompanied by much more reading of the history of that period in Carthage, Roman Republic, Tunisia, coming to the Kingdom of Armenia with the continuation of the life of Hannibal.
Week 30. b) The Future of Finance by Henri Arslanian and Fabrice Fischer
I picked up the book form the post office today, late-afternoon and already on the 5th chapter.
Starting from the view of technological landscape moving to fintech fundamentals, crypto, artificial intelligence and all these with the easy language. The book covers deep topics interesting and useful for professionals as well as understandable for students.
I like it!
Week 31. Ken Kesey ' One flew over the cuckoo's nest'
Re-reading after a decade. While the world and we are changing, it is good to be back and re-read. This is the exact time for this book.
Week 32. Jo Nesbo 'The Redbreast'
I love gifts: a book as a gift. It is a double joy when your business friends know about this.
August 9 #BookLoversDay is a perfect day to start this book.
Week 33. a) Artak Movsisyan "10 Outstanding Armenian Queens"
Two weeks ago I was travelling in Armenia, mostly visiting old fortresses and castles. Going back to history, I was imagining how kings (some of them were not kings, but anyway) and queens were living. Returning back I got this book (not a history book, mostly like a history brochure). Stories were interesting but the most important are references for detailed information.
Unfortunately, we don't have much information about queens of Armenia and the value of this work is a gathered list of all important women mentioned somehow by history tellers + information about 10 great queens of us. Can be a nice gift
Week 33. b) Seyran Grigoryan 'Why are you sad'
Armenian modern writer, novelist. Classics are forever, but who knows about the classics of tomorrow that we are living with now? Not saying that this author will be the next classic of Armenian literature, but the book was telling a sad life story that reminds about important principles of life and its unbelievable details during the stalin period. Cruelness, death, arrests and ... example of one damaged life. Sad to read, sad to imagine, sad...
Week 34. Daniel Goleman 'Emotional Intelligence'
“In a very real sense, we have two minds, one that thinks and one that feels”.
Don't know why I haven't read this before, but the 34th week of 2020 is the best to do it, as I'm going to attend a meeting and discussion on this topic. So, getting prepared and also enjoying the analysis of our brain and behaviour. Must read!
Week 35. James Joyce - Dubliners
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First time I met a story from Dubliners 11 years ago, since then keeping in mind the taste of reading style of Joyce. Armenian translation was out with the colourful and exactly fitting cover. Loved it!
Week 36. Thomas Mann "Doctor Faustus"
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Mann was perfect in his last great novel. I was reading under Beethoven's sonatas (not 5th or 9th symphony, would be too many emotions...).
Musically speaking, the novel was like a symphony. I was reading meanwhile feeling the flight with closed eyes. Have you ever felt reading with closed eyes?
The parallels of the time intervals WWI and WWII, vision of the century and tragedy of a genius.
"But admiration and sadness, admiration and worry, is not that almost a definition of love?"
"There are people with whom it is not easy to live, but whom it is impossible to leave"
Week 37. Harper Lee "To Kill a Mockingbird"
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Easy reading. Bringing adults back into childhood, where we were more open to life, to people, with more kindness and compassion. I love being a child. There is an inner child that was happy during the reading.
Keep your inner child alive!
"Atticus told me to delete the adjectives and I'd have the facts"
Week 38, book 1. Mark Manson "The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F..k"
I would not have read this book if it not the boy who works at a grocery store a short distance from my home.
When my bags full of fruits and vegetables are heavy, Arman, who is working in the store free from school time, are helping me and carrying them to my place. We are talking on the way and he once said that he really wanted to read this book. I promised to give him a present and decided to read first, then pass it on to Arman.
There is nothing more to tell about the book than the prehistory. Classes started and I saw Arman on the next vacation, which started very early because of the coronavirus.
Week 38, book 2. A Treasury of Humor and Toastmaker's Handbook
Funny, easy book, edition of 1950s. Old fashioned stories with hilarious cartoons, just with the mood of 50s. This became my table book for the days when sadness is there and you need a funny story.
Week 39 - Week 43
September 27, 2020 the war started in Armenia and Artsakh. Nothing to read, only news from frontline. After 5 weeks without a book, I am back to my reading challenge on 44th week of my book challenge year.
Week 44. Arman Saghatelyan "Nervus Vivendi"
A novel that was written 10 years ago by Arman Saghatelyan, a person who participated in the first war of Artsakh in 1992-1994, when he was a first-year student. The book is about two friends, two Armenians in the war.
A simple life of frontline...
Week 45. hitler 'mein kampf'
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In order to win the fight against the devil, you need to know him.
Could never imagine that buying a book can be so hard. It was burning inside when I took the book (Armenian translation) from the bookshelf, it was burning when paying for it...
It will be super hard to read this book.
I am starting the 45th week of my book challenge on the 43d day of the war.
update: 22 Feb 2021, book is still on, not finished yet.
Week 46. Winston S. Churchill "Early Life"
It is always interesting to read leaders especially when they are also good writers.
Supporting translation works in Armenia I am trying to read Armenian translations as much as possible.
Week 47. Emmanuel Macron "Revolution"
Week 48. Justin Trudeau "Common Ground"
Two books translated into Armenian and published by 'newmag' publishing house.
Week 49. Jean-Paul Sartre "The Words"
Jean-Paul Sartre's famous autobiography of his first ten years has been widely compared to Rousseau's Confessions. Written when he was fifty-nine years old, The Words is a masterpiece of self-analysis. Sartre the philosopher, novelist and playwright brings to his own childhood the same rigor of honesty and insight he applied so brilliantly to other authors. Born into a gentle, book-loving family and raised by a widowed mother and doting grandparents, he had a childhood which might be described as one long love affair with the printed word. Ultimately, this book explores and evaluates the whole use of books and language in human experience. (text from Goodreads)
Week 50. Douglas Murrey "Strange Death of Europe" (audiobook)
The only audiobook in my challenge. Reading is better for me that listening.
Week 51. J.M. Coetzee Waiting for the Barbarians
Cavafy - Poetry
These two should be read together. As Coetzee was inspired by Cavafy's "Waiting for the Barbarians" for his novel.
This is a second time for me reading these two books together.
What are we waiting for, assembled in the forum? The barbarians are due here today. Why isn’t anything going on in the senate? Why are the senators sitting there without legislating? Because the barbarians are coming today. What’s the point of senators making laws now? Once the barbarians are here, they’ll do the legislating. Why did our emperor get up so early, and why is he sitting enthroned at the city’s main gate, in state, wearing the crown? Because the barbarians are coming today and the emperor’s waiting to receive their leader. He’s even got a scroll to give him, loaded with titles, with imposing names. Why have our two consuls and praetors come out today wearing their embroidered, their scarlet togas? Why have they put on bracelets with so many amethysts, rings sparkling with magnificent emeralds? Why are they carrying elegant canes beautifully worked in silver and gold? Because the barbarians are coming today and things like that dazzle the barbarians. Why don’t our distinguished orators turn up as usual to make their speeches, say what they have to say? Because the barbarians are coming today and they’re bored by rhetoric and public speaking. Why this sudden bewilderment, this confusion? (How serious people’s faces have become.) Why are the streets and squares emptying so rapidly, everyone going home lost in thought? Because night has fallen and the barbarians haven't come. And some of our men just in from the border say there are no barbarians any longer. Now what’s going to happen to us without barbarians?
Those people were a kind of solution.
Week 52. Aram Avetis "Architectual Mutation" and "When Rats Could Read"
Two books of Armenian modern writer Aram Avetis are the culmination of my book challenge year.
Young writer is trying a new syle in Armenian literature - argot (a cant language).