Famous First and Last Lines

“The sun shone, having no alternative, on the nothing new.”

            --Samuel Becket, Murphy

Samuel Beckett was born on April 13, 1906 in Foxrock, Republic of Ireland, and he died in Paris, France on December 22, 1989.  Murphy, published in 1938, is a story recounting the tales humorous tales of a husband-to-be.  Murphy, the main character, is getting married to his love, Celia, but first wants to establish himself in London before Celia comes to meet him.  Murphy must find things to do with the endless hours of his days, and find ways to work with the little resources that he has.  Murphy is a perfect example of Beckett’s recurring themes throughout his novels:  the meaning of life, sanity, and insanity.

I would like to read Murphy.  I think it sounds like an extremely entertaining novel that would keep me laughing.  I am also curious about Beckett’s themes of insanity, sanity, and the meaning of life.  I would like to read Murphy to be able to pick up on these themes, and to see how he incorporated them in a comedic novel.

“Come, children, let us shut up the box and the puppets, for our play is played out.”

            --William Makepeace Thackeray, Vanity Fair

William Makepeace Thackeray was born on July 18, 1811 in Kolkata, India, and died in London on December 24, 1863.  Vanity Fair (subtitled, A Novel without a Hero), first published in 1848, is a story that is set in a predominantly male world full of greed, noise, and materialism.  In Vanity Fair, Thackeray follows two women who have intertwining lives, and examine how their lives in a world where male rule.

I would not like to read William Makepeace Thackeray’s Vanity Fair.  It sounds like a book that is about feminism in the 1800’s, which is not something that I am particularly interested in (despite being a girl).  Based on the review of the book, it also does not sound like there would be much excitement in the novel, which I look forward to when reading a book.