My favorite stories by Borges keep changing, but here’s a list of my top 10 at this moment (in chronological order):
- Tlön, Uqbar, Orbis Tertius
- The Circular Ruins
- The Garden of Forking Paths
- Death and the Compass
- The Secret Miracle
- The South
- The Zahir
- The Writing of the God
- The Aleph
- The Book of Sand
Many people know that I am a librarian and may be surprised that The Library of Babel is not on that list. It’s a great story, but it’s so well-known that I wanted to give it an honorary mention and make room for something else on the list. As I said, my favorites keep changing. Perhaps at the end of these thirty days I will have a new list.
In future postings I’m going to be writing about each of the stories I listed, as well as others.
May 23rd, 2006 at 8:43 am
I am absolutely ovewhelmed with El Aleph; it happens to me everytime I read it, this feeling of anxiety grabs me and takes me through the story in such a way that leaves me with nothing but admiration towards Borges.
I read The Circular Ruins when I was, I guess, too young, and didn’t quite like it. Perhaps I should re-read it now, who knows, huh?
Another story that caused extreme feelings in me was Emma Zunz, but these were of impotence and anger.
Very interesting blog, I’ll keep coming!
May 23rd, 2006 at 9:05 am
Romi - thanks for your comment! Do re-read Circular Ruins. I’m going to take another look at Emma Zunz myself. Borges certainly requires multiple readings.
October 25th, 2006 at 10:10 am
thanks for this list. i will attack these first.
best,
e