The Culture Enthusiast: Books

Books I should have read

Books 2:14 PM

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Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe

Books 8:22 AM

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“Why has God done this to me? What have I done to be thus used?”
Robinson Crusoe - Chapter 8 "The Journal"

Many people hated reading that dreadfully long story about a guy stuck in an island. But what Robinson Crusoe lacks in action, it makes up for in heroism.

Think: his ship sank, he is the only survivor. His reaction is to make a list of the bad aspects while rationalizing that those aren’t as bad as they could be. ““Evil: I am cast upon a horrible desolate island, void of all hope of recovery. Good:But I am alive, and not drowned, as all my ship’s company was.” (Chapter 6 "I build my fortress")

So, Crusoe actually teaches us how to go from despair and grief to gratitude and self-reliance.

The proof that what he teaches us is so essential is that his stoicism seems impossible to modern readers. On the IMDB forum for Castaway (the movie with Tom Hanks with a similar story) someone asked a curious question: “Why didn’t he act crazy when he got back?”*

Apparently, it was unrealistic for a person that lived for such a long time without any human contact or any sign of our modern civilization to come back “normal”. I guess with so many movies of people going crazy after traumatic situations, it is expected that people go crazy. If you don’t go crazy… now, that’s very strange.

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“I might be more happy in this solitary condition than I should have been in a liberty of society.”
Robinson Crusoe - Chapter 14

However, I don’t think it is unrealistic at all. It was the person’s ability to adapt to a new environment that made him survive in the first place. It is likely that this same ability will help him adapt to modern society as well.

I wonder what Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe’s author and a proponent of Realism, would say when accused of being unrealistic. Or what he would think if he knew that to us it is strange for a person not to go crazy.

How do you feel about Crusoe’s adventures – inspiring or boring?

* The link for this comment no longer exists, because it's a couple of years old. I guess IMDB deletes older comments. However, on the current IMDB Castaway forum someone asks why he didn't commit suicide. This goes even further than the previous comment. It implies that it's impossible to bear being stranded on an island. But then again, Crusoe provides the answer: "O what ridiculous resolutions man take when possessed with fear! It deprives them of the use of those means which reasons offer for their relief." (Chapter 14 "I find the print of a man's naked foot")

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Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Books 10:24 AM

Everybody's first Austen book
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I was at a book store the other day and I saw two different people holding copies of “Pride and Prejudice”.

Now that I consider myself an Austen reader (which, let’s face it, it’s no big deal, she only wrote six novels) I look down on people who only read "Pride and Prejudice". “They’re not real fans!” – my snobish look tells them.

But that’s just plain evil. "Pride and Prejudice" was in fact the first Austen book I read. Not because of the beautiful stylish covers they have now, but just because it was part of the assigned reading for a college class.

I remember buying it without any excitement or expectactions – I had never even seen the movie! Later on, I was so engrossed in the story that I couldn’t put it down. I read it in the bus during my morning and evening commute.

During one of these commuter readings, Mr. Darcy had just delivered a letter to Elizabeth before I got off the bus. I rushed home to read the letter but a neighbour saw me on the street and came to talk to me. I explained I needed to hurry (I just had to read Mr. Darcy’s letter!)

Another good memory is the excellent grade I got on the paper I wrote for college. Unfortunately, the paper got lost when I was changing computers and the professor never returned my hard copy. But my notes for the paper are all there written in pencil in my book.

Years later my grandmother was in the hospital and it was a pretty difficult time for our family. My aunt, who was staying in the hospital with my grandmama, mentioned she wanted to re-read “Pride and Prejudice”. I thought that was so appropriate. Not only does the book help you take your mind off things but it also gives you a portrayal of really controlled and wise ladies. (Maybe Elinor from "Sense and Sensiblity" would be a better role model – but then again "Sense and Sensibility" is not as funny.).

So, even though it saddens me to think those people who pick up “Pride and Prejudice” might never really read “Sense and Sensibility” or “Persuasion” I get some satisfaction on the fact that they might have a pretty good time with it and perhaps some fond memories too.