Author: Andriana

I write about my three biggest passions: languages, literature and travel.
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Travel

The Use of the World — On Nicolas Bouvier’s Road, Between Maps and Mirages

There are books that make you want to pack your bags, and there are books that make you realize you’ve already been traveling all along. Nicolas Bouvier’s L’usage du monde (The Way of the World) belongs to both categories. Written from his journey between 1953 and 1954 with his painter friend Thierry Vernet, this travelogue traces a slow passage through the Balkans and the Middle … Continue reading The Use of the World — On Nicolas Bouvier’s Road, Between Maps and Mirages

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Life lessons

Brain Rot and the Fight to Think Again

The word for 2024? Brain rot. Totally expected. Totally felt. I could sense it happening, slowly but surely—my brain decaying under the weight of (anti)social media. Five years of endless scrolling, fragmented thoughts, and dopamine hits designed to keep me addicted. Before that, I loved the person I was. As a literature student, I devoured books, analyzed them with passion, lived in stories longer than … Continue reading Brain Rot and the Fight to Think Again

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Literature

Rereading Cortázar’s Hopscotch: A Dance Between Chaos and Clarity

One reads nonfiction to understand the world and fiction to shut down all possible explanations—because, at some point, nothing makes sense. Yet real literature gives a taste of what never made sense, turning living into not seeking answers but feeling the unbearable lightness of being. Sometimes, I feel the urge to unplug. To silence the marketing tricks, the shouting headlines, the capital letters of Black … Continue reading Rereading Cortázar’s Hopscotch: A Dance Between Chaos and Clarity

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Culture

The Resilience of Rhythm: A Journey Through Brazilian Music and Storytelling

In Brazilian music, there is a philosophy that transcends the mere notes and rhythms—it is an ethos of joy in the face of adversity, and of a profound belief that amanhã um lindo dia vai nascer—tomorrow, a beautiful day will rise. During the military dictatorship of the 1960s and ’70s, when censorship drove many artists into exile, the music of Brazil became a quiet defiance … Continue reading The Resilience of Rhythm: A Journey Through Brazilian Music and Storytelling

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Education, Languages, Literature

Rediscovering Language Learning: The Data-Driven Magic of Literature

In the whirlwind of our modern, tech-driven world, where fleeting TikToks and Instagram reels compete for our attention, something sacred seems at stake—our ability to focus, reflect, and truly absorb knowledge. Among the casualties? Deep reading and the transformative process of language learning through literature. But what if we flipped the narrative? What if instead of lamenting our short attention spans, we leveraged literature as … Continue reading Rediscovering Language Learning: The Data-Driven Magic of Literature

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Literature

Kafka’s Timeless Insight into Burnout and Human Vulnerability: Why The Metamorphosis Speaks to Every Generation

Franz Kafka’s work is an ageless classic, a piece of literature that transcends time. With each reread, his stories reveal new interpretations, hidden meanings, and fresh insights that spark feelings, thoughts, and compassion. Kafka’s sarcasm is sharp but subtle. He critiques society’s flaws through symbols only perceptive readers can decipher. I first encountered The Trial at 14, thanks to my mother, who brought it from … Continue reading Kafka’s Timeless Insight into Burnout and Human Vulnerability: Why The Metamorphosis Speaks to Every Generation

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Lifestyle, Philosophy

Top 5 Japanese Concepts for Embracing Everyday Life | Art of Saudade

Japanese culture is rich with profound philosophies and aesthetic principles that offer valuable insights for enhancing our everyday lives. From embracing imperfection to cultivating mindfulness, these concepts encourage us to appreciate the beauty in simplicity and transience. Here, we explore the top five Japanese concepts that can inspire a more meaningful existence, along with comparisons to similar concepts in other cultures. Wabi-Sabi: Finding Beauty in … Continue reading Top 5 Japanese Concepts for Embracing Everyday Life | Art of Saudade

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Life lessons

The Unforgettable: Memory, Love, and the Dreamscape of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind | Art of Saudade

This movie has been around for a while, right? It’s one of those films you feel like everyone has seen at least once. Then, there are the devoted fans who still share scenes and quotes as if the film is everywhere. Strangely enough, I’d never watched it until recently. I had plenty of chances but something inside me boycotted it, dismissing it for being mainstream … Continue reading The Unforgettable: Memory, Love, and the Dreamscape of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind | Art of Saudade

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Literature

The Unbearable Lightness of Being: A Personal Reflection | Art of Saudade

I try not to get seduced by good titles, much like how we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover.  But I must confess, the title The Unbearable Lightness of Being and the reputation of the author played a significant role in my decision to pick up this book. This was my first encounter with Milan Kundera, a Czech writer exiled in France. There’s something … Continue reading The Unbearable Lightness of Being: A Personal Reflection | Art of Saudade

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Culture, Education

Defying Short Attention Spans with Heavy Reads: A Call to Rejuvenate Our Minds

It’s no longer a secret: human attention spans are shrinking. From younger to older generations, technology and the fast-paced consumption of information are reshaping our brains. Is it for better or worse? Only time will tell. For now, I find myself worried about these statistics, especially when I recognize my own habits contributing to this trend. No, this isn’t paranoia—we see it in our daily … Continue reading Defying Short Attention Spans with Heavy Reads: A Call to Rejuvenate Our Minds

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