South of the Border, West of the Sun vs. Meditations by Marcus Aurelius

South of the Border, West of the Sun

Hajime has arrived at middle age with a loving family and an enviable career, yet he feels incomplete. When a childhood friend, now a beautiful woman, shows up with a secret from which she is unable to escape, the fault lines of doubt in Hajime’s quotidian existence begin to give way. Rich, mysterious, and quietly dazzling, in South of the Border, West of the Sun the simple arc of one man’s life becomes the exquisite literary terrain of Murakami’s remarkable genius.

Meditations by Marcus Aurelius

From wikipedia: Meditations is a series of personal writings by Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor from AD 161 to 180, recording his private notes to himself and ideas on Stoic philosophy. Meditations are worth reading if only to get a glimpse at the thoughts of a man who lived a life in truly extraordinary circumstances of being a Roman Emperor. It's surprising how relevant the themes of his diaries are two thousand years later.

Reviews

Reviews

Pros
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Thoughtful exploration of memory and desire1
Engaging, well-developed characters1
Cons
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Slow-paced narrative1
Ambiguous ending1
Limited action, heavy on introspection1
Pros
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Practical advice on personal conduct1
Historical insight into Roman times1
Written by a Roman Emperor1
Cons
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