Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
All of Saramago's books that I've read begin with an extreme, impossible event. Thereafter, he explores the consequences of the event upon the society in which it occurs. In Blindness, he described how an entire society descends into a Hobbesian state of nature after all of its inhabitants (except one) go blind. In Seeing, which is only tenuously a sequel to Blindness, he describes the attempt of the government to restore normality after 83 percent of voters cast blank votes, thus threatening the legitimacy of the democratic system. Blindness was a grim novel. The consequences of mass blindness seemed predetermined and mechanistic. Seeing, on the other hand, is hilarious satire that exposes the hypocrisies and contradictions of democracy. Perhaps because he was a journalist for so many years, Saramago is acutely attuned to the workings of power.
The enigma of why so many citizens cast blank votes is not resolved through the book. The depiction of how the society turns into a kind of anarchist utopia after the government abandons it isn't quite convincing. The ending seems arbitrary. But perhaps the situation that Saramago creates is such that it is impossible to resolve. In any case, one doesn't read Saramago for the plot. One reads it for his avuncular, mischievous voice and his wisdom.
The enigma of why so many citizens cast blank votes is not resolved through the book. The depiction of how the society turns into a kind of anarchist utopia after the government abandons it isn't quite convincing. The ending seems arbitrary. But perhaps the situation that Saramago creates is such that it is impossible to resolve. In any case, one doesn't read Saramago for the plot. One reads it for his avuncular, mischievous voice and his wisdom.
Excelente, no llega a ser como "ceguera", pero está muy bien. La narración, como siempre, impecable.
challenging
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was not an easy one but at the end I actually enjoyed it quite a lot. Saramago's writting is hard to read and so, in the beginning, I was having a hard time with this one, but the plot was actually very engaging and I found myself wanting to keep reading it. The ending was a bit abrupt and I wanted more. I was also very curious to actually read his other books, namely Blindness which takes place in the same world as this one, 4 years before.
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
José Saramago's "Seeing" is a thought-provoking sequel to "Blindness," exploring democracy, government, and individual responsibility. Saramago’s narrative is not simply a story; it serves as a reflection of the intricate relationship between the governed and their government.
In his work, Saramago invites readers to reflect on the core principles of democracy. What occurs when the standard methods of political representation are inverted? The government's reaction to the null votes, which included confusion, suspicion, and authoritarianism, serves as an important critique of how power systems deal with challenges.
There are two particularly notable scenes in the film.
The first scene shows the President, Prime Minister, and Interior Minister strategizing how to handle voters leaving the capital. This caricatured portrayal highlights the tough decisions those in power make and the basic approaches taken.
The second scene involves a meeting between the police commissioner, a doctor, and the doctor's wife. This scene is reminiscent of Ionesco's play about how to handle conversations.
"Seeing" is more than a political allegory; it questions the boundaries of government control and citizen obedience, making it a highly relevant read in today's complex political landscape in his particular writing style.
In his work, Saramago invites readers to reflect on the core principles of democracy. What occurs when the standard methods of political representation are inverted? The government's reaction to the null votes, which included confusion, suspicion, and authoritarianism, serves as an important critique of how power systems deal with challenges.
There are two particularly notable scenes in the film.
The first scene shows the President, Prime Minister, and Interior Minister strategizing how to handle voters leaving the capital. This caricatured portrayal highlights the tough decisions those in power make and the basic approaches taken.
The second scene involves a meeting between the police commissioner, a doctor, and the doctor's wife. This scene is reminiscent of Ionesco's play about how to handle conversations.
"Seeing" is more than a political allegory; it questions the boundaries of government control and citizen obedience, making it a highly relevant read in today's complex political landscape in his particular writing style.
tense
medium-paced
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
[b:Seeing|1103|Snow Flower and the Secret Fan|Lisa See|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1157830997s/1103.jpg|1453585] is written as a sequel to [b:Blindness|2526|Blindness|José Saramago|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1161054077s/2526.jpg|3213039], but in truth, is a completely different beast entirely. Saramago wrote [b:Seeing|1103|Snow Flower and the Secret Fan|Lisa See|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1157830997s/1103.jpg|1453585] because of the United States and what has happened here in the past six years. I know he did.
I just finished the book about an hour ago. I have it sitting right here at my hand, open to the last page. The last sentence haunts me, even though I can't bring myself to read it over again. For that matter, I don't know that I could bring myself to read this book again. It's such a farce and yet so true.
Why O why Saramago, do you play with my heart and my mind, so??
I just finished the book about an hour ago. I have it sitting right here at my hand, open to the last page. The last sentence haunts me, even though I can't bring myself to read it over again. For that matter, I don't know that I could bring myself to read this book again. It's such a farce and yet so true.
Why O why Saramago, do you play with my heart and my mind, so??