Penguin Classics!

Hello, everyone!

I just received The Picture of Dorian Gray Oscar Wilde from the Book Depository, and I thought I'd share a picture of it in case you're thinking about getting it too!

It cost me €15, which I don't think is bad considering it's a hardback.

I've been wanting to read this book for a long time, and with this book in my bookshelf it won't take long until I'll just have to pick it up and read it.

I'm definitely buying more books in the Penguin Classics series. I've seen there are other books by all sorts of writers, ranging from Homer to Austen to Dickens.

The title page

What do you think?

If you've read the book, did you like it?

- Charlie.

The Complete World of Greek Mythology by Richard Buxton

I decided it was time I learned some more about Greek mythology, and my order from the Book Depository just arrived with this lovely hardback:

The Complete World of Greek Mythology by Richard Buxton is a complete guide for those interested in learning about Greek mythology. The book takes you through famous stories and characters in addition to showing you maps and illustrations.

Though I haven't had much time to read it yet, the language used seems simple and easy to understand. I probably won't be reading this book from cover to cover, but rather look up a couple of things from time to time.

If you're interested in Greek mythology, I definitely recommend this book. It's not that expensive in the Book Depository, either, considering the quality of it and especially considering it's a large hardback with lots of colored pictures.

Are you interested in Greek mythology? Do you have any other books like this one that you would recommend?

How I feel about Murakami

I don't know how I feel about him.

So far I've read three books by him: After Dark, Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World and Norwegian Wood. To be honest, the only one I liked was Norwegian Wood.

I read all three books in Norwegian, which may explain why I sometimes felt like the language didn't quite live up to my expectations. All the books I've read by this publisher have been terribly translated and I'm never buying a book translated by them ever again.

I generally like the storylines of the books I've read so far, and I often like the main characters of the novels. Sometimes, however, the characters are just a bit too unrealistic, making me fall out a bit.

I've heard a lot of good things about his new trilogy, 1Q84, though. I'm planning on ordering it soon and see whether I like this one. After having disliked two of the three books I've read by him, I'm afraid of having to make a gamble every time I open another one of his novels.

People either love him, or they think he is overrated. There doesn't seem to be anything in between. I guess I'll just have to make up my mind.

What do you think about Haruki Murakami? Do you love everything he has ever written? Are you like me, and can't make up your mind?

And last, but not least, do you recommend 1Q84?

- Charlie.