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Val

@val.mpm

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Ainsi sera, groigne qui groigne.
From California.

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I guess that I should say this first and foremost: this isn’t exactly a review about East of Eden. I’ve wracked my brain these past few days to try to come up with a comprehensive summary/review/paragraph to express my thoughts on this book as a whole, and I can’t.

Because how can I go about summarizing this absolute emotional mammoth of a book? This is a book that put elements of the best and the worst of humanity to pen and paper and offered us a glimpse of the spectrum of humanity and it made me feel… everything.

Glimpses of happiness, instances of intense despair, utterly horrifying moments, grasping at the threads of hope and promise- these are just a few of the emotions I felt while reading this book thanks to the myriad of characters Steinbeck created. Charles, Adam, Cathy, Lee, Samuel, Abra, Aron and Cal- each character felt deliberate and purposeful-whether their purpose be towards the overall plot or for each other- but never wasteful. It’s hard to pick a favorite but I can’t help but highlight Cathy, Samuel, and Lee- my personal holy trinity in this novel. These three characters felt like the heart and soul of this novel for various reasons.
Samuel felt like a grandfather that held the secret to a good life.
Lee felt like a guiding spirit, one that offers counsel in moments of hardship and uncertainty.
And Cathy, oh Cathy. To be Cathy, Catherine, and Kate- both everything and nothing- she felt like an impending apocalypse, like an element necessary to reach salvation. I just couldn’t get enough of her.

I could ramble on and on for ages about this book but simply put: I get the hype now.
Hands down, this book is quite possibly the best book ever written.

#eastofeden #johnsteinbeck #americanliterature #literaryfiction #bookishthoughts by @val.mpm

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12 hours ago

“O youth! youth! you go your way heedless, uncaring – as if you owned all the treasures of the world; even grief elates you, even sorrow sits well upon your brow”
—-

Do you remember your first love? And *how* do you remember it- fondly, sadly, with ambivalence?
In First Love, Ivan Turgenev recounts one man’s story of his first love - a love that profoundly affected not only his youth, but the rest of his life.
At the center of the tale is the target of his affections: Zinaida. Zinaida is a beautiful 21 year-old who moves into the property next to that of our protagonist and his family. Armed with beauty, charm, and a legion of other admirers, Zinaida captures the heart and mind of young Vladimir, leading to unexpected consequences for all involved.
Having read Henry James’ Daisy Miller earlier this year, I couldn’t help but notice some similarities between Zinaida and Daisy: both are vivacious, firtatious, capricious and have a tendency to be sometimes petulant. But they are both utterly charming to their respective admirers and have a magnetic nature the draws people in. In fact, Turgenev really spent his time describing just how captivating Zinaida was- just one glance could be enough to cast a spell!

Of course, these verbal portraits of Daisy and Zinaida are painted through the eyes of young men, but perhaps that is something Turgenev and James wanted to emphasize- the universality and idealism that comes with experiencing young love. As it happened with Vladimir, it happened to Zinaida and to her other admirers. It can also happen to you, me, and everyone in between.
But beyond the specifics of how Vladimir’s first love felt, I really enjoyed how Turgenev explored the consequences of love (or perhaps not even love, but an intense crush?) and the power it has to affect one’s rationale, morality, and overall outlook on life. I won’t go into any plot spoilers, but let’s just say it’s a tangent that I wasn’t expecting, but am so glad was done.

#ivanturgenev #firstlove #russianliterature #bookrecs #bookishthoughts by @val.mpm

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5 days ago

Bits and bobs of the past week. Wrapping up multiple reads, including East of Eden, and choosing my next book.

But now, onto the important part: swipe to slide 2 to meet my new friend, Gallo.

(swipe to the last slide for a bonus pic 🐓) by @val.mpm

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8 days ago

At one point or another a vast majority of us will hear a line that goes like this: “You look so much like [insert family member here].” Sometimes the comparison is to mom and dad, or grandma and grandpa. Sometimes the behavioral resemblances are greater than the physical ones, or vice versa. I’ve had my fair share of these comments, mostly to my dad or my mother’s father (for better or worse). Funny how one line can imply so, so much. And it’s precisely this line that I found myself thinking of while reading John of John, for various reasons.
@douglas_stuart gives us the dynamic between a father and son whose resemblances, just as their differences, cannot be ignored.
John Sr. is a staunchly religious man that has lived most of his life the way his faith has dictated he should, except for one important aspect: his love life.
John Calum grew up in this environment, one that was curated by his father, sharing not only his name, faith, family trade, and community values, but also secretly bearing the same cross his father does: loving men.
But unlike his father, Cal dreams of going away from his small, harsh hometown and making a name for himself, or rather, finding a sense of identity beyond what he’s known.

And that’s how John and Cal were: where Cal radiated warmth, John seemed cold to the touch. Where John felt the need to suppress his emotions, Cal let his smiles and tears flow freely. Where John felt tough as a diamond, Cal felt softer like an emerald. But at their core, they were both gems looking to be appreciated and loved.

(Continued below)
#douglasstuart #johnofjohn #literaryfiction #scottishliterature #bookishthoughts by @val.mpm

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16 days ago

vinyls, trinkets, and lots of reading.

happy fall, everyone. time to bust out the cozy slippers and depressing Russian literature.

#photodump #latesummer by @val.mpm

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17 days ago

This is a bit different from my normal bookish posts, but I just had to share with you all what I’ve been reading in the midst of Infinite Jest, East of Eden and Sunburn: Zatanna!

If you didn’t know this about me now you know that Zatanna is my favorite comic book character. I’ve loved her since I first saw her in Batman: the Animated Series. From Justice League Unlimited to Paul Dini’s Zatanna series to Smallville- I’ve basically ingested *a lot* of Zatanna media over the years. So when DC announced a new ongoing Zatanna series, I was super stoked!

To keep it simple: this series deals with Zatanna’s newfound role as Prime Magus. What exactly this role is, how Zatanna came upon this role and its responsibilities are a mystery which I hope the series will tackle in time. So, if you’re interested in reading I highly suggest you jump in now! Only five issues have been published so far, with the sixth coming later this month :)

(Pictured in slide 1 are three of my favorite variants so far. The artwork for each issue has been so stunning)

#zatanna #comics #dccomics #bookish #literature by @val.mpm

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2

a month ago

Took a trip to San Diego last weekend. It’d been years since I’d been to a zoo and, personally, I think the San Diego zoo is the amongst the finest ones in the U.S. I mean, pandas? Pandas!

Fun fact: I wanted to be a zoologist for the longest time as a preteen. And then reality hit when I realized biology wasn’t my forte.

(PS. Slide 10 alone made the entire trip worth it)

#sandiego #sandiegozoo #photodump by @val.mpm

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a month ago

How does one respond when tragedy strikes? Some look for comfort in each other, others look towards faith, others disassociate, and others look inward.

This is the situation Claudia Piñeiro places the Sarda family in after Ana, the youngest daughter, is found murdered and dismembered. The family, though deeply religious, is torn apart. The case goes cold. Time passes. People come and go. The truth remains unknown.
The novel is told via different perspectives, though each POV has a connection to the victim, Ana. We read how the lives of these characters, Ana’s friends and family, have been drastically altered since her death.

One of the most striking POVs is that of Lia, Ana’s older sister. For Lia, this tragic event has completely upended her life and her reason for being. She is so marked by her sister’s death and the horrible circumstances surrounding it that she has forsaken her family and faith altogether. In one of the most important and poignant scenes of the novel (though it happens very early on), Lia declares that she “doesn’t believe in the fruit of the womb” whilst staring at her sister’s coffin. Her mother slaps her. Those around her only stare in shock. It’s a moment that upends the entire family dynamic.
Now, in the Catholic tradition, one’s baptismal vows are renewed every Easter Sunday as a reminder of the core tenets of the faith, specifically that of Christ’s triumph over death. But Lia staunchly rejects the fruit of the womb-Christ- after coming to terms that her sister, unlike Christ, will not triumph over death. Ana’s death is final. There is no resurrection in this life for her. So what’s the point of believing? What *is* there to believe?

(Continued below) #claudiapiñeiro #cathedrals #literaryfiction #latinamericanliterature #bookishthoughts by @val.mpm

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5

a month ago

This summer (though hot as hell) has been lovely! Lots of fun times spent with lovely people. Heres a quick photo dump featuring some of the random things that have caught my eye recently.

I realized I haven’t done a book club update in a while, so I’ll sneak a little one here. ICYMI, this year my friends and I decided to start a very informal book club in order to combat the ongoing literacy crisis. We’ve challenged ourselves to explore a wise variety of genres and it’s truly been so fun.
Just to give you some insight as to how much literary whiplash we’ve gotten recently, here are the books/works we’ve read the past few months:

May: Immortal Cowboy by Alexis Morgan (paranormal romance)
June: Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical Magnifica Humanitas (theology)
July: Lorena Immaculate by HoracioMarissa (horror graphic novel)

And our Aug/Sep read will be The Scarlet Plague by Jack London (apocalyptic/dystopian novella)

Really looking forward to whatever we end up reading the next few months! Expect an in-depth wrap up once the year comes to a close.

#photodump #summer26 #iwasthisclosetobuyingthecoffeeshopmirrorsatIKEA by @val.mpm

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a month ago

Defiance is the name of the game in We Were Forbidden, a collection of three translated short stories from Jacqueline Harpman. This central theme runs through the three stories, albeit in different ways. In The Ardennes Forest, a group of people defy their odds of survival and instincts in a post-apocalyptic world. In The Outcast, a young girl defies two sets of rules: one set from her school’s administration and the other from her peers. Lastly, in The Broom Closet Harpman portrays defiance in a twofold manner: by writing an unexpected, experimental, meta-narrative story in which the protagonist (a married woman) goes against all societal and marital expectations.

These three short stories are all quite different from one another and really showcase Harpman’s adventurous approach to writing. The first one was quite reminiscent of Harpman’s most well-known work, I Who Have Never Known Men, which was good. Of the three, The Outcast was the story I enjoyed the most due to the vibrance and tenacity of the narrator’s character/voice. To be honest, The Broom Closet was an interesting concept that didn’t quite click with me, unfortunately. It seemed a bit too all-over-the-place for me. But overall, I enjoyed this collection and think it’s worth reading to really experience Harpman’s range.
#wewereforbidden #jacquelineharpman #literature #bookishthoughts #shortstory by @val.mpm

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2 months ago

From June: The Getty Villa with friends.

This place has such a special place in my heart due to its location and the thoughtfully curated exhibitions available, like the one focused on the Egyptian Book of the Dead, which is currently on display.

I decided to highlight two of my favorite items housed at the Getty: the bust of Octavia Minor (Slide 6) and a fresco of my all-time favorite couple from Greek Mythology, Dionysus and Ariadne (Slide 9).

#photodump #thegettyvilla #ancienthistory #ancientegypt by @val.mpm

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2 months ago

The year is 1506: the Ottoman Empire is ascendant under the rule of Bayezid II. At its heart is Istanbul/Constantinople- a city already decorated with Byzantine and Early Ottoman jewels like the Hagia Sophia and the Galata Tower. But it’s also 1506 and iconic monuments like the Sultan Ahmed Camii (Blue Mosque), the Beyazit Tower, and the Haseki Hurrem Sultan bathhouse have yet to be built.
Yet, it is 1506 and it is in this year that Michelangelo is invited by the Ottoman sultan to construct a new monument-a bridge, to be precise- that would be so grandiose and beautiful that it would be the envy of those around the empire.

This story, of course, is purely fictional. Michelangelo never went to the capital of the Ottoman Empire. There was never a bridge commissioned by Bayezid II. There was never Mesihi, the beloved poet and Michelangelo’s tour guide, or the Andalusian beauty. There was never a pet monkey. There was never a journey. This exists purely as a “what if?”
But what Mathias Enard has achieved in this slim little novel made me believe that at least parts of it could’ve definitely happened. And maybe that was part of Enard’s plan all along?

This is a story of memory, of how stories are remembered and told, of how experiences and dreams are forged in one’s mind, and of how perspectives affect the narrative being shared. And beyond what I mentioned above, I think Enard brilliantly draws a distinction between what is fact and fiction not only when it comes to the historical events featured, but also on important themes like Orientalism.
(Cont. below)

#historicalfiction #literaryfiction #mathiasenard #bookishthoughts #bookrecommendations by @val.mpm

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6

2 months ago