Death in Venice

Death in Venice is a book by Thomas Mann and it's one of my favorite books. I first read it in high school and even after all these years, the imagery has really stuck with me. Aschenbach was a renowned writer who decides to take a trip to Venice. During his vacation, he develops a distant love for a young boy named Tadzio. (No the gayness isn't why I like the book.. keep reading.) This love eventually turns to obsession. At the time that Aschenbach takes his trip, Venice is overrun by a secret disease. Although the city is a great tourist attraction and caters to them, there are warning signs posted by the Health Department and the smell of disinfectant is in the air. What I like about the book is that there are two sides to everything. Aschenbach is famous and has to present that image to the public but secretly he has another side to him. Venice is a beautiful tourist attraction but it is secretly being eaten away by disease. I think that the hidden side always ends up eating away at the facade that's presented to the public. Whether you present yourself as a free spender, but in reality you're a cheapskate, or whether you act like you care, but you really don't give a rat's ass, or whether you act pious, but you're just a sinner, or whether you put on a brave front for someone, but you're really torn up inside. It all eventually bubbles to the surface no matter how hard you try to suppress it.