The Invisible Protagonist

Carla Ricci

Summary

Set in Japan, the book tells of Kou, his extraordinary life and the compelling thread that gives the work its title. It is powerful because it shatters the notion that every human being has of himself, of feeling that he is the protagonist of his own existence. Although it is an inevitable perception, Kou helps us to understand that this is not the case. He presents us with evidence of the fact that the real protagonist is someone else, an invisible presence who silently waits for man to do what he must, does nothing to show itself but never denies its being if it is sought. In the first part, the author narrates Kou's story, but in the second part, it is the invisible protagonist who speaks about himself and the man he inhabits, their roles, their missions and also what death means for both of them. It is about a man, but also about all men, because the sense of infinity that permeates the book belongs to every human being and the reader cannot help but feel it. It will be like sensing the beating of your own essence, which you have ignored or forgotten until now, but which you can now rediscover and discover why and for whom you are living along with it.

Available since: 01/16/2023.

Other books that might interest you

Cohen of Trinity - From their...

Amy Levy

Amy Levy was born in London, England in 1861, the second of seven in a fairly wealthy Anglo-Jewish family. The children read and participated in secular literary activities and became firmly integrated into Victorian life.
Her education was at Brighton High School, Brighton, before studies at Newnham College, Cambridge; she was the first Jewish student when she arrived in 1879, but left after four terms.
Amy’s writing career began early; her poem ‘Ida Grey’ appeared when she was only fourteen. Her acclaimed short stories ‘Cohen of Trinity’ and ‘Wise in Their Generation,’ were published by Oscar Wilde in his magazine ‘Women's World’.
Her poetic writings reveal feminist concerns; ‘Xantippe and Other Verses’, from 1881 includes a poem in the voice of Socrates's wife. ‘A Minor Poet and Other Verse’ from 1884 comprises of dramatic monologues and lyric poems.
In 1886, Amy began a series of essays on Jewish culture and literature for the Jewish Chronicle, including ‘The Ghetto at Florence’, ‘The Jew in Fiction’, ‘Jewish Humour’ and ‘Jewish Children’.
That same year while travelling in Florence she met the writer Vernon Lee. It is generally assumed they fell in love and this inspired the poem ‘To Vernon Lee’.
Her first novel ‘Romance of a Shop’, written in 1888 is based on four sisters who experience the pleasures and hardships of running a London business during the 1880s. This was followed by Reuben Sachs (also 1888) and concerned with Jewish identity and mores in the England of her time and was somewhat controversial.
Her final book of poems, ‘A London Plane-Tree’ from 1889, shows the beginnings of the influence of French symbolism.
Despite many friendships and an active life, Amy suffered for many years with serious depressions and this, together with her growing deafness, led her to commit suicide by inhaling carbon monoxide on September 10th, 1889. She was 27.

Show book

The Power of Two - The Riveting...

Anita Eleanor Patel

Shantaben and Ramanbhai begin with nothing, in an arranged marriage when they are 14 and 15-years-old. She must remain with his family to serve them, and he must go to East Africa to earn money to pay off his father's debts. Ramanbhai arrives in Dar es Salaam with only a blanket over his shoulder and a cloth bag containing a few possessions.
Shantaben holds tightly to her dream of her own family in a vibrant community. But four years later, when she finally joins her husband in Kenya, he takes her to his stone cabin in the bush. She finds no community, no support and no medical resources. She must deliver her first baby alone and he lives only a few hours.
WW2 rages, lndia overcomes the British Raj, and Kenya moves painfully towards independence. Living now in the city of Nairobi Shantaben has the family and the community she'd always dreamed of. Her two eldest sons leave for higher education in England. Eight years later they return to Kenya to set up businesses. Striving to maintain a traditional Indian home Shantaben tries hard to entice her sons to marry beautiful Indian girls. But they are determined to marry their British girlfriends.
The family business grows and generates great wealth. As their children settle in Europe and North America they narrate their own coming of age stories. These narratives are peppered with dramas, setbacks and challenges, revealing many shades of human nature.
A man asks Ramanbhai, "Just how rich are you?
"Why" he replies, "I'm the richest man in the world! I have eight children and each one is doing well in their life - riches are in the heart my friend, not in the wallet."
This multicultural story of great love and forgiveness, full of rich personal stories and the exotic spice of history, will inspire readers of all generations to find the power of love within their own lives.

Show book

Eros the Bittersweet - An Essay

Anne Carson

Anne Carson's remarkable first book about the paradoxical nature of romantic loveSince it was first published, Eros the Bittersweet, Anne Carson's lyrical meditation on love in ancient Greek literature and philosophy, has established itself as a favorite among an unusually broad audience, including classicists, essayists, poets, and general listeners. Beginning with the poet Sappho's invention of the word "bittersweet" to describe Eros, Carson's original and beautifully written book is a wide-ranging reflection on the conflicted nature of romantic love, which is both "miserable" and "one of the greatest pleasures we have."

Show book

My Secret Life Vol 1 Chapter 12

Dominic Crawford Collins

My Secret Life, the anonymously written erotic memoirs of a Victorian English gentleman who refers to himself simply as 'Walter' is one of the most idiosyncratic and prurient books ever written. In this vast autobiographical confessional the author recounts, in meticulous detail, his sexual exploits throughout the course of a life devoted entirely to the pursuit of carnal knowledge. Through this compelling exploration of the author's sexual and moral behaviour we are left with a uniquely entertaining insight into life behind the closed doors of Victorian society. My Secret Life is funny, sorrowful, suspenseful, compulsively readable, obscene, titillating, exciting and erotic...we are privy to the thoughts, emotions and memories of one of the most unusual, unsung and colourful characters of the Victorian era.

Now, for the first time, the complete unabridged version of this unique and important text is being narrated and scored by film composer Dominic Crawford Collins as an 'audiofilm' (an audiobook in which the emotional landscape is explored through the music score). Each chapter of My Secret Life will be released at monthly intervals over the next ten to fifteen years culminating in a lifetime's work for the composer and what is likely to become the longest audio book ever to be produced.

Show book

Great Opportunities - How a...

Marty Friedman

I was a boy who started with nothing and finished with more than I ever wished for. I want to inspire others to do the same and to learn from my experiences. 
As a young man, I always questioned if I'd be able to make my mark in the world because I didn't have the smarts or grades that most of my classmates had. I wasn't a good athlete which is what counts in grammar and high school, and my parents didn't have a lot of money. I did understand though that if I didn't do it for myself, there was nobody else to do it for me. 
Today, I consider myself the luckiest person in the world. I am 96 years old. 
I have a wonderful, loving family even though 10 years ago I lost my very special and supportive wife. I have two great sons, two wonderful daughters-in-law, and five smart grandchildren. 
After 70 years in the TV & appliance business, I am still active in our family business and still love it. 
I believe this statement: "If you do what you do, and love what you do, you shouldn't call it work."

Show book

Jewish Legends of the Patriarchs...

Various Ancient Jewish Writers,...

What if ancient storytellers whispered fuller portraits of Adam, Noah, and Moses—waiting for you to listen? 
The Jewish Legends of the Patriarchs & Prophets audiobook lifts timeless midrashic adventures off the page with engaging narration and rhythmic prose. Journey through: 
•	The Book of Jasher – Expansive episodes that flesh out Genesis and Exodus. 
•	Ladder of Jacob – A celestial ascent through seven shimmering heavens. 
•	Joseph and Asenath – A dramatic love story of faith and transformation. 
•	Lives of the Prophets – Brief yet powerful sketches of Israel’s greatest voices. 
Hear the patriarchs wrestle angels, prophets behold fiery visions, and sages unveil cosmic mysteries—stories that once echoed in synagogue courts and candle-lit homes.  
Immerse yourself in a sonic pilgrimage through the legends that kept Jewish hope alive across centuries.

Show book