my dc ocs as my recently reads + tbrs
CASPIAN: perks of being a wallflower by stephen chbosky (TBR)
heavily recommended to me multiple times and unfortunately still on my tbr.
from everything that i've heard from my sibling, i imagine that caspian would really identify with charlie. it'd force him to face things that he usually tries to dismiss and. well. he'd definitely cry.
also, i can't help but assign him a coming-of-age story since i've based caspian off of lots of people from my past + my younger self.
DEONDRE: catcher in the rye by j.d. salinger (READ)
deondre would read this book with a sort of sympathy for holden that borders on paternal — only to later identify somewhat with holden himself, even if they are more different than they are alike. the fundamental components of their characters are super similar even if their general outlook on life and attitudes are completely different.
BUT! reading this book and seeing how holden spoke about his sibling also reminded me of deondre and his own siblings.
LAILA: veronica by mary gaitskill (TBR)
this author seems right up laila's ally! the plot of veronica seems like something she'd find herself deeply engrossed in, especially in the way that laila treasures friendships and is always searching for something raw and real.
it's a pick that's dark and unconventional, while still being full of feelings.
HEART: the metamorphosis by franz kafka (READ)
this was a distressing and delightful read.
i wanted to give heart something short but meaningful. i think that this book is just the right amounts of absurd and depressing to keep him entertained. i'd imagine his copy (like mine) is annotated to hell and back.
i also think that he would find it relatable in a way he wasn't exactly prepared for when picking it up.
CHANCE: the picture of dorian gray by oscar wilde (READ)
this should be shocking to no one. even just the way that oscar wilde writes is so unbelievably chance coded that i'm surprised that i didn't write parts of his character with this book in mind. the inner turmoil of dorian and the voice of lord henry make the clusterfuck that is chance.
and since i'm currently on a re-read of this: i'll just put these here...
INSECTAVORA: social creature by tara isabella burton (TBR)
while it leans way too contemporary for insectavora's personal tastes, a female-centered story about a codependent and obsessive friendship that ends up spiraling into the biggest, bizzarest disaster is exactly what she wants. she likes drama! give the girl her drama!
VALENTINO: the great gatsby by f. scott fitzgerald (READ)
a book i just re-read recently. hold on tight, i've got words.
while i don't see valentino as an avid reader, i do imagine his younger self being forced to read this book in high school — only to understand more of it later in his life.
in my heart, he's somewhat of a gatsby character himself?? less about the glamour and the ambition, but more about him being a dreamer and deeply romantic, to the point of ruin. um. i'm normal abt him.
part of me also sees him as nick. both of them end up a spectator to the whims of people who have too much money on their hands and not enough concern for others. the true, ugly nature of the american dream is something that valentino is exposed to in his early days. oh. also the whole thing about nick being queer? yeah. valentino too.
KERINA: i who have never known men by jacqueline harpman (TBR)
i imagine she tried to read the novel in it's original language in spite of her rudimentary level french and then gave up to read the rest in english.
i think that something peculiar, weirdly beautiful, and reflective is something she would reach for.
also. the friend who recommended this to me reminds me of kerina's internal world quite a bit! both very introspective and curious. it makes sense both of them would enjoy dystopian feminist literature.
ROCKY: where the sidewalk ends by shel silverstein (READ)
i have to confess that i read this in one sitting, bored out of my mind in a three hour lecture.
lighthearted, fun, and beyond clever, i really can't help but think of rocky. it's imaginative in a way that awakened the childlike wonder inside of me — you know, all that stuff you think you lost somewhere along the way.
it's funny and very witty and full of heart — that's about as rocky as you can get. my baby :(
GENESIS: sky daddy by kate folk (TBR)
i'm so fucking excited to get to this book. this is deadass one of the WEIRDEST plots i have ever encountered in my entire life but the minute i heard about it, it had me HOOKED.
absurd and amusing while somehow also being very emotionally provocative? that's a book for genesis.
