Esther
2025년 3월 9일
We're reading <Night Train to Lisbon> by Pascal Mercier in the month of May!
Needless to say, I haven’t read this book yet. I like to keep things fresh - at least for those who actually show up to the meetings.
That said, this one comes recommended by a now regular member (a bold claim, considering “regular” here means having attended twice). Technically, it’s not even the first book she suggested. That one just arrived, still untouched, waiting for the moment I decide to read the first page. What do I know of this person’s literary taste? Not much, except that we both lean Dostoevsky over Tolstoy, should the world ever reduce itself to that particular dilemma. And since that seems like a decent enough measure of character, I thought - why not? Out goes the book I was thinking of picking for May, and in comes this one.
I have, in fact, heard of the movie. I ignored it, probably because I was listening too closely to the Rotten Tomatoes crowd - Possibly a mistake, possibly not. We’ll see:-) Anyway, it’s been a while since we’ve read a recommendation from someone other than me, so I’m looking forward to this - though, in all honesty, I’d look forward to reading anything that isn’t the never-ending tome I’m currently slogging through.
***
Night Train to Lisbon by Pascal Mercier is a mesmerizing literary journey that blends philosophy, history, and personal transformation. When Raimund Gregorius, a Swiss professor of ancient languages, encounters a mysterious Portuguese book, he impulsively abandons his predictable life and boards a train to Lisbon. As he pieces together the life of the book’s enigmatic author - a resistance fighter and doctor during Salazar’s dictatorship - Gregorius is drawn into a profound exploration of identity, love, and the choices that shape our destinies. Perfect for readers who enjoy introspective storytelling and thought-provoking narratives, Night Train to Lisbon invites you to embark on a journey that challenges the boundaries between past and present, intellect and emotion, and the stories we tell ourselves about who we are.
『리스본행 야간열차』 는 철학, 역사, 그리고 개인의 변화를 아름답게 엮어낸 매력적인 문학 작품이다. 스위스의 고전어 교수인 라이문트 그레고리우스는 우연히 한 포르투갈어 책을 접한 후 충동적으로 익숙한 일상을 떠나 리스본행 열차에 오른다. 책의 저자가 누구였는지를 추적하는 과정에서 그는 살라자르 독재 정권 시절의 저항운동가이자 의사였던 인물의 삶을 조각조각 맞춰가며, 정체성, 사랑, 그리고 우리의 운명을 결정짓는 선택들에 대한 깊은 탐구에 빠지는데... 특히 사색적인 서사를 즐기는 독자들이 좋아할만한 이 작품은 과거와 현재, 지성과 감성, 그리고 우리가 스스로에게 들려주는 이야기들 사이의 경계를 탐색하는 여행으로 초대한다.
Date: May 25, 2025
Time: 5pm
Venue: Esther’s
Join us for an evening of camaraderie and intellectual stimulation. Admission is free, but attendance is restricted to individuals of college age and above. You can sign up for the meeting via Karrot (당근 모임) or secure your spot through Kakao (에스더어학원). Happy reading, and see you in May!