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Vice and Virtue
Notes From After Dusk follows two people through their journal entries as they explore psychological and philosophical topics and how childhood experiences impacted their adult mental health and personality issues. What inspired the setup of your story?
I decided to write Notes From After Dusk during a particularly difficult time in my life. I had been reading books such as On the Heights of Despair, Nausea, and Lolita. I had been interested in experimenting with the epistolary format, and I wanted to write a novel about love, sadness, and philosophy.
What are some things that you find interesting about the human condition that you think make for great fiction?
I believe in the existence of free will. Moreover, I believe that every human being is capable of vice and virtue alike. I believe that these aspects of human nature fuel literary fiction.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I knew from the beginning that I wanted Notes From After Dusk to explore Existentialism, love, and depression. As the novel developed, I realized that I also wanted to explore Marxism and Liberalism as well.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
I’ve been working on some prose that I think is very promising. I want my next book to be more intensely philosophical than Notes From After Dusk. Hopefully, it’ll be published within the next two or three years.
Author Links: Website | Book Review
Notes From After Dusk
Notes From After Dusk is a captivating novel chronicling the lives of two individuals, Olivia and Michael, through their poignant journal entries. These entries, ranging from several pages to succinct sentences, are written in the first person, allowing readers to delve deeply into the psyches and souls of the protagonists. This unique narrative structure adds profound depth and intimacy to their experiences.
The novel is not merely a story but a journey into a rich tapestry of universal concepts and philosophies. Olivia and Michael share their daily lives through journal entries, revealing their innermost beliefs, ruminations, and realizations. They delve into Socratic and Platonic philosophies, exploring their relevance in the modern world. Their unorthodox commentary on psychological and philosophical topics offers a fresh perspective on centuries-old teachings, sparking curiosity and contemplation in readers’ minds. The text employs symbology from various cultures and philosophies, significantly enhancing the protagonists’ relatability as they learn to heal through therapy, study, and the passage of time. The philosophical references throughout the book open several topics for readers to research or ponder for academic and inspirational purposes. The entries interweave the impact of childhood experiences on Michael and Olivia’s adult lives, connecting childhood traumas to adult mental health and personality issues. The later portions of the book highlight the ebb and flow of mental health struggles and the toll that depression takes on the human brain and psyche.
Notes From After Dusk is a masterfully composed, multifaceted novel that resonates with readers while challenging them intellectually. The numerous journal entries excel at employing the complexity of the English language, shedding light on vital topics and fostering new ruminations on philosophies studied for centuries. It is a thought-provoking novel that will captivate those who enjoy pondering the many questions the human condition presents.
Pages: 152
LITERARY TITAN 