Last week the literary world celebrated what would have been the 117th birthday of Jorge Luis Borges. The Argentine journalist, author, and poet was infamous for the way he blended fantastic themes and elements with the real world, and his works continue to resonate with us 30 years after his death. Borges was also notorious for writing through the lens of a labyrinth- leaving the minds of his readers running in circles. A great deal of his fictional works can leave one questioning everything they thought they once knew about life and religion for weeks, months or even years after reading them. Below is just a handful of some of Borges' most thought-provoking short stories.
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1. The Library of Babel
Imagine the universe as a library. It's the biggest library possible, with an infinite number of galleries, collections and volumes, holding every written work there is. What would you check out?
2. The Book of Sand
Read The Library of Babel first. Read The Book of Sand next. Then re-read The Library of Babel, followed by The Book of Sand. Repeat this until you think you've solved the connection. Mind-blowing.
3. The Aleph
"Yes, the place where, without admixture or confusion, all the places of the world, seen from every angle, coexist."
4. A Problem
What if our favorite delusional knight, Don Quixote, actually killed someone?
5. The House of Asterion
Looks like Minotaur is just misunderstood- mythological monsters, they're just like us!
