A Midsummer Night's Reading List

Read any good books lately? I figured I'd pass along what's been on the shelf as of late- also, suggestions are always welcome. Not really that much in the way of recently published books- it's been a while since I've made it down to the library. So here goes-
Othello- Shakespeare's oddest villain, this one is an interesting study in characters, both those that make sense and those that don't. Let's see, you've got Desdemona, the flaky, sheltered gal who, in the words of the Reduced Shakespeare Company, loves Othello because he has a big... sword. This is actually true- Desi loves not the real, flawed Othello, but her idealized version of him. There's Othello, who loves not too wisely but too well. Actually, it's his tendency to go ballistic at the drop of a hat that makes the play interesting. And add to this mix the apparently psychopathic Iago, who seems to have no real motivation for his actions, and you wind up with a lot of dead people. Classic literature at its best!
Siddhartha- Herman Hesse's novel about a disaffected young Indian scholar who wanders through life, trying on different lives, essentially, and finally settles down. Like many Hesse characters, Sid comes across as a smidge self-indulgent and a bit of a drama queen, but not really to a fault. There's a surprising degree of self-examination and honest evaluation in this book, so if that sounds like your cup of iced tea, this comes highly recommended.
Consolations of Philosophy- Written by a philosopher named Boethius, this is written as a dialogue between Boethius and a personification of philosophy, in the literal sense of the word- a love of wisdom. Philosophy tells Boethius that it's cool, seeking out wisdom and knowledge is not a wasted life, and that that wisdom will never leave him, and can't be taken from him. A good deal of emotion also comes across in this, even though it was intended as a study of the human condition, and the place of learning therein.
The Portable Walt Whitman- One of a number of compilations of Whitman's poems- I have to admit, I like him, despite his reputation as a dirty old man. He has an almost crude style of writing, but at the same time you can see exactly what he's talking about.
Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World- by Japanese author Haruki Murakami. With a title like that, it must be good. It contains two parallel and seemingly unrelated stories which come together eventually. Strange, involved and with a complicated plot, but very engrossing.
Well, hopefully that will keep you running until the fall. Enjoy your summer, everyone, wherever it may take you!