Hi everyone, my name is Simi Braich! I am currently in my fourth and final year of my degree in political science here at UBC. Even though I am a political science major, and I have a separate minor as well, I have taken a couple of other RMST courses as electives, as well as other literature focused courses in different departments. I have enjoyed reading throughout most of my life, so I always look for ways to incorporate it into my life or even school routine. Outside of school, I like to read (for myself), play and watch soccer and spend time with my friends and family. I also have a pet dog named Caesar and a gecko named Jeeto and they are best friends!
This course in particular really caught my eye based on the title and description of the course, which pertains to long books. It first made me try to remember all the books I have ever read and then think about how many of them were “long”. What constitutes a book being long, is debatable, likewise to what the elements of a story should be which I find really interesting. After attending the first seminar, it solidified what I had expected the course, but it also made me familiar with other topics we would be covering in the course. I have read for many years, but I am very excited for this course because we will also be learning about the practice of reading, as well as its importance and variations which I have never really considered before. Based on the format of the seminar, I am expecting to spend a lot of time on collaboration and discussion, similar to how we did in the first class.
For my self-selected book, I have chosen Zeno’s Conscience by Italo Svevo. I have been wanting to read this book for some time, so this course has now given me a specific reason as to why I should. Based on what I have heard of the book and its plot, it reminded me a little of a play called Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen. I really enjoy works that follow one central, very eclectic and/or manic main character, so I think I have picked a good book for myself. The book was written originally in Italian and I have also not read too many books from Italy, so I am also looking forward to broadening my scope.
Thank you for reading my introduction post, I’m excited to work and learn with everyone this semester!
2 replies on “Introduction”
Hi Simi, and welcome to RMST 495! I’m trying to imagine a dog and a gecko being best friends, but it’s hard to conjure up that image! (Oh, but here’s a book narrated by a gecko, which you might like: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1159038.The_Book_of_Chameleons.)
There’s a question I should have asked yesterday: what’s the longest book you have read? Ha!
Anyhow, I hope you enjoy the Svevo. I remember I read it on the belief that it was about someone trying to give up smoking… which at times can be an endlessly protracted process, which merits a protracted novel!
Hi Simi! I’m thrilled to hear that you’re also reading a novel originally written by an Italian author. Some of my classmates from Italian classes who read other works of Italo Svevo mentioned that The Solitude of Prime Numbers, written by Italian writer Paolo Giordano, offers a similar atmospheric reading as Svevo’s; whereby, both authors like to center on highly introspective and psychologically complex characters and plot, centring on the cognitive and mental states of isolation and obsession.
As for me, I intend to read Quiet Chaos by Italian author Sandro Veronesi. Though Veronesi doesn’t share the exact level of atmospheric writing, it is also a complex, mentally fatiguing breakdown of the main character. Have a good read! – David C.