Kaitlyn contacted me regarding an article, 25 Books Every "Lost" Fan Should Read, that was published on onlineuniversities.com. It's a great article that you will want to know about. Here it is:
If you’re a fan of "Lost," you know that well-placed books were just some of the many clues (and red herrings) that the producers tossed in to heighten the mystery. Some of the books speak directly about the castaways’ situation, while others are more philosophical. The books on this list were all referenced on the show in some way, whether being read by a character or student, glimpsed quickly on a shelf, or just used as thematic inspiration. Digging into them might not solve any of the series’ lingering mysteries, but it will get you closer to the action.
1. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll: Could there be a better way to get into the world of "Lost" reading than the classic tale of a girl gone down a rabbit hole into a bizarre dreamworld? The book appeared in the fourth season’s "Something Nice Back Home," when Jack read it to young Aaron, and the story’s elements also popped up in episode titles like "White Rabbit" and "Through the Looking Glass." (Poor Charlie.)
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
2. A Brief History of Time, Stephen Hawking: Stephen Hawking’s book helped bring science to those without advanced math or training, and it explored tricky concepts like black holes and the origins of the universe in simple language. The book’s parallels with the series are obvious, and it appeared in Ben’s bedroom in "The Man From Tallahassee," and we also saw Aldo reading it while he was guarding the kidnapped Karl.
A Briefer History of Time
3. The Chronicles of Narnia, C.S. Lewis: Starting with "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe," C.S. Lewis’ fantasy series wove adventure with religious allegory, as often happened on "Lost." What’s more, the character of Charlotte Staples Lewis was named as a nod to the author, and the DHARMA station known as the Lamp Post, located in Los Angeles and used to pinpoint the island’s location, is a reference to the lamp post of the first Narnia book.
The Chronicles of Narnia
4. Everything That Rises Must Converge, Flannery O’Connor: Jacob was seen reading this collection of stories in "The Incident," the fifth-season finale. The book’s tales deal largely with family and society as well as the role of faith in the personal lives of the characters. Sounds like something John Locke would like.
Everything That Rises Must Converge
5. Fear and Trembling, Soren Kierkegaard: Although the book only makes one appearance, and a brief one at that — Hurley finds it in the sixth-season opener "LA X" — but the book’s explorations of the relationship between God and man are central to the world of "Lost." Kierkegaard wrote of making a "leap to faith," and the act of taking a leap of faith is one that’s discussed frequently on the show, usually between Locke and Jack. Locke’s obsession with being a "man of faith" makes this volume worth seeking out.
Fear and Trembling
6. The Invention of Morel, Adolfo Bioy Casares: Sawyer is seen reading this 1940 sci-fi novel in the fourth season episode "Eggtown." The book follows a fugitive living on an island who hides from the tourists who start to arrive there, only to find himself unable to interact with them. A number of strange things begin to happen that lead the narrator to question his sanity.
The Invention of Morel (New York Review Books Classics)
7. Island, Aldous Huxley: Huxley’s fictional Pala Island was the naming inspiration for the "Lost" island’s Pala Ferry, and this novel about a shipwrecked journalist is a slightly sunnier companion piece to Brave New World.
Island (P.S.)
8. The Little Prince, Antoine de Saint-Exupery: The inspiration for an episode title in the fifth season, this children’s book is worth a read for its eerie similarities to the world of "Lost": the narrator survives a plane crash (this one in the desert), and the prince of the titles lives on a faraway asteroid and claims that death is the only way home. Weirder: The author disappeared in flight in the 1940s.
The Little Prince
9. Lord of the Flies, William Golding: The classic novel about island survival and tribalism, William Golding’s book was referenced multiple times in dialogue and bears many emotional similarities to the series. The book’s examination of how easily societal rules can be abandoned in disaster situations was a heavy influence on the TV show.
William Golding's Lord of the Flies (Bloom's Modern Critical Interpretations)
10. An Occurence at Owl Creek Bridge: Locke briefly rifles through this book when he finds the Swan station, hoping to find a note tucked in its pages, but the book’s worth far more than just a skim. This classic short story by Ambrose Bierce is about a man who hallucinates a new life in the seconds before his death, making it a striking parallel for the events of the final season of "Lost."
An Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge - Ambrose Bierce
11. VALIS, Philip K. Dick: This sci-fi volume was on Ben’s bookshelf, and when he’s being held captive in the Barracks, Locke tells him to read it again in case he missed something the first time. The extent to which that statement was a taunt or an actual clue is up for debate, but the book makes for some trippy reading regardless. Dick’s book deals with religion and spirituality in dense and challenging ways, echoing the multiple religious viewpoints embraced by "Lost."
Valis
12. Ulysses, James Joyce: Ben reads this in "LA X," and the book follows the journey of Leopold Bloom over the course of one day in town. The book is also a parallel with Homer’s Odyssey, another important "Lost" title.
ULYSSES by James Joyce
13. Odyssey, Homer: The epic poem and sequel to the Iliad traces the journey of Odysseus as he treks home to his beloved Penelope (the name of Desmond’s wife on "Lost"). What’s more, the series plays off the poem in several ways. Desmond’s attempts to get home to his Penelope are often thwarted by the sea (Charles Widmore standing in for the god Poseidon) and a cyclops (the one-eyed Russian Mikhail).
The Odyssey of Homer (P.S.)
14. The Turn of the Screw, Henry James: James’ book is one of the all-time classic ghost stories, all about a governess who realizes that her children are being haunted by the ghost of the woman who used to do her job. The "Lost" connection? Well, aside from appearing in the Swan station, the story is echoed in the eerie whispers heard throughout the jungle, which are revealed to be the movement of those souls trapped on the island.
The Turn of the Screw
For the entire list, visit:
http://www.onlineuniversities.com/blog/2010/07/25-books-every-lost-fan-should-read/
Thanks, Kaitlyn Cole!
“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” — C. S. Lewis
If you’re a fan of "Lost," you know that well-placed books were just some of the many clues (and red herrings) that the producers tossed in to heighten the mystery. Some of the books speak directly about the castaways’ situation, while others are more philosophical. The books on this list were all referenced on the show in some way, whether being read by a character or student, glimpsed quickly on a shelf, or just used as thematic inspiration. Digging into them might not solve any of the series’ lingering mysteries, but it will get you closer to the action.
1. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll: Could there be a better way to get into the world of "Lost" reading than the classic tale of a girl gone down a rabbit hole into a bizarre dreamworld? The book appeared in the fourth season’s "Something Nice Back Home," when Jack read it to young Aaron, and the story’s elements also popped up in episode titles like "White Rabbit" and "Through the Looking Glass." (Poor Charlie.)
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
2. A Brief History of Time, Stephen Hawking: Stephen Hawking’s book helped bring science to those without advanced math or training, and it explored tricky concepts like black holes and the origins of the universe in simple language. The book’s parallels with the series are obvious, and it appeared in Ben’s bedroom in "The Man From Tallahassee," and we also saw Aldo reading it while he was guarding the kidnapped Karl.
A Briefer History of Time
3. The Chronicles of Narnia, C.S. Lewis: Starting with "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe," C.S. Lewis’ fantasy series wove adventure with religious allegory, as often happened on "Lost." What’s more, the character of Charlotte Staples Lewis was named as a nod to the author, and the DHARMA station known as the Lamp Post, located in Los Angeles and used to pinpoint the island’s location, is a reference to the lamp post of the first Narnia book.
The Chronicles of Narnia
4. Everything That Rises Must Converge, Flannery O’Connor: Jacob was seen reading this collection of stories in "The Incident," the fifth-season finale. The book’s tales deal largely with family and society as well as the role of faith in the personal lives of the characters. Sounds like something John Locke would like.
Everything That Rises Must Converge
5. Fear and Trembling, Soren Kierkegaard: Although the book only makes one appearance, and a brief one at that — Hurley finds it in the sixth-season opener "LA X" — but the book’s explorations of the relationship between God and man are central to the world of "Lost." Kierkegaard wrote of making a "leap to faith," and the act of taking a leap of faith is one that’s discussed frequently on the show, usually between Locke and Jack. Locke’s obsession with being a "man of faith" makes this volume worth seeking out.
Fear and Trembling
6. The Invention of Morel, Adolfo Bioy Casares: Sawyer is seen reading this 1940 sci-fi novel in the fourth season episode "Eggtown." The book follows a fugitive living on an island who hides from the tourists who start to arrive there, only to find himself unable to interact with them. A number of strange things begin to happen that lead the narrator to question his sanity.
The Invention of Morel (New York Review Books Classics)
7. Island, Aldous Huxley: Huxley’s fictional Pala Island was the naming inspiration for the "Lost" island’s Pala Ferry, and this novel about a shipwrecked journalist is a slightly sunnier companion piece to Brave New World.
Island (P.S.)
8. The Little Prince, Antoine de Saint-Exupery: The inspiration for an episode title in the fifth season, this children’s book is worth a read for its eerie similarities to the world of "Lost": the narrator survives a plane crash (this one in the desert), and the prince of the titles lives on a faraway asteroid and claims that death is the only way home. Weirder: The author disappeared in flight in the 1940s.
The Little Prince
9. Lord of the Flies, William Golding: The classic novel about island survival and tribalism, William Golding’s book was referenced multiple times in dialogue and bears many emotional similarities to the series. The book’s examination of how easily societal rules can be abandoned in disaster situations was a heavy influence on the TV show.
William Golding's Lord of the Flies (Bloom's Modern Critical Interpretations)
10. An Occurence at Owl Creek Bridge: Locke briefly rifles through this book when he finds the Swan station, hoping to find a note tucked in its pages, but the book’s worth far more than just a skim. This classic short story by Ambrose Bierce is about a man who hallucinates a new life in the seconds before his death, making it a striking parallel for the events of the final season of "Lost."
An Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge - Ambrose Bierce
11. VALIS, Philip K. Dick: This sci-fi volume was on Ben’s bookshelf, and when he’s being held captive in the Barracks, Locke tells him to read it again in case he missed something the first time. The extent to which that statement was a taunt or an actual clue is up for debate, but the book makes for some trippy reading regardless. Dick’s book deals with religion and spirituality in dense and challenging ways, echoing the multiple religious viewpoints embraced by "Lost."
Valis
12. Ulysses, James Joyce: Ben reads this in "LA X," and the book follows the journey of Leopold Bloom over the course of one day in town. The book is also a parallel with Homer’s Odyssey, another important "Lost" title.
ULYSSES by James Joyce
13. Odyssey, Homer: The epic poem and sequel to the Iliad traces the journey of Odysseus as he treks home to his beloved Penelope (the name of Desmond’s wife on "Lost"). What’s more, the series plays off the poem in several ways. Desmond’s attempts to get home to his Penelope are often thwarted by the sea (Charles Widmore standing in for the god Poseidon) and a cyclops (the one-eyed Russian Mikhail).
The Odyssey of Homer (P.S.)
14. The Turn of the Screw, Henry James: James’ book is one of the all-time classic ghost stories, all about a governess who realizes that her children are being haunted by the ghost of the woman who used to do her job. The "Lost" connection? Well, aside from appearing in the Swan station, the story is echoed in the eerie whispers heard throughout the jungle, which are revealed to be the movement of those souls trapped on the island.
The Turn of the Screw
For the entire list, visit:
http://www.onlineuniversities.com/blog/2010/07/25-books-every-lost-fan-should-read/
Thanks, Kaitlyn Cole!
“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” — C. S. Lewis
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