The Remains of the Day

Kazuo Ishiguro's The Remains of the Day is as beautifully written as English grammar and idiom allows. The charm and elegance of the writing is accompanied by lucidity: one always has a clear understanding of the past and present events in Stevens' epistolary narrative. Yet as Stevens crosses the boundaries of English counties on his way to meet Miss Kenton, the reader senses that the memories he recalls and the motives he professes are more profound than they seem. Romance, appeasement (the British policy prior to World War II), one's duty, and class: these matters and more underscore the suspense that compels the reader to finish the book.

Marcus Aurelius and his comforting words

The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius is one of those exceedingly rare books that has profoundly changed my outlook on life.

At the moment, I am part-way through Book 9. Though some of his philosophy pertaining to the Universe goes right over my head, I am pleased to report that I have drawn much comfort from those chapters of his books that discuss good conduct and death.

In essence, Marcus says that life, so short as it is, is an opportunity "to clear away your clouds". The things of man - length of life, perception, body, mind, fortune, fame - do not last. But philosophy can escort us on our way. Fortunately, the virtues are both wholly in our own power and in fact natural to man. So Marcus urges, "[w]hile you live, while you can, become good." "And do not let it matter to you for how long you will be alive in this work: even three hours spent thus are sufficient."

Of death, Marcus says, it is nothing more than a function of nature that benefits her. That is nothing to be frightened of.

More to come.