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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
“We enter the maze, you see, as in any tale, and with luck we arrive at the point from which we began, which is always ourselves.”
Dodging the draft in 1970, Jay Parini goes to St. Andrew’s in Scotland to get a graduate degree in English and ends up taking visiting Argentinian author Jorge Luis Borges on a tour of the Scottish Highlands. In an afterword Parini calls the book “a kind of novelistic memoir, a ‘narrative’ or Borgesian ‘fiction,” and it combines some of the best elements of both genres. I discovered this at Bad Animal Books, and it’s a great argument for the fine art of browsing in a used bookstore.
Dodging the draft in 1970, Jay Parini goes to St. Andrew’s in Scotland to get a graduate degree in English and ends up taking visiting Argentinian author Jorge Luis Borges on a tour of the Scottish Highlands. In an afterword Parini calls the book “a kind of novelistic memoir, a ‘narrative’ or Borgesian ‘fiction,” and it combines some of the best elements of both genres. I discovered this at Bad Animal Books, and it’s a great argument for the fine art of browsing in a used bookstore.
It has everything; a road trip, a larger than life character, a love of the written word and the Classics - in the hippie era.
A film adaptation is in the making.
A film adaptation is in the making.
It’s one of life’s true pleasures to find a wonderful book. But when it feels like the book chose you? Amazing magic. I was so lost this week, full of anxiety over current events, anxious and frustrated. I decided to stop all news and picked up this little volume of pleasure and wisdom. I sincerely hope you all pick it up too.
I have never read Borges. However, I will now always have Borges in my life.
I have never read Borges. However, I will now always have Borges in my life.
In 1970, Jay Parini went to graduate school in Scotland to avoid being drafted into Vietnam. There, through a series of chances, he wound up escorting the Argentinian author Jorge Luis Borges, whose work he did not know, through Scotland. This account of their adventures (the author admits he has made some changes) reads in some ways like a buddy comedy/coming-of-age story as the elderly blind Borges recites literature and helps Parini in the ways of being a writer. A delightful, humorous tale made richer by its real characters.
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
4.5… really enjoyed the story, characters, and the setting
funny
reflective
slow-paced
It starts real slow but gets better once the road trip begins.
This is a wonderful story with lyrical writing. It’s a tale about a road trip in Scotland, taken by a twenty-two year old, would-be poet Jay Parini and the eccentric and brilliant writer, Jorge Luis Borges. If you have read Borges, you should enjoy this fictionalized memoir. I've always been in awe of Borges' writing and this memoir made him feel much more understandable. It made me want to reread Ficciones. “There is only now . . . Act!”
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Jay Parini calls his book a novelistic memoir. In fact the first draft of this book was written as a novel. There is so much to love here for anyone who enjoys literary memoir. I loved reading about his encounter with Borges, and the road trip they take across the Scottish Highlands. The writing is beautiful, and full of joy, humor, and pathos. I really felt like I was on the road trip with them. One scene I will never forget takes place in the first ever Carnegie library in Dunfermline. I won't spoil it here, but it made my laugh out loud. Parini has already written a screenplay. Can't wait to see who is cast as Borges.
I marked several passages while reading this book, and especially love one about reading the classics. Jay has just admitted that he has not read Don Quixote which he feels he should have already read. Borges responds:
"Yes, and believe me, you will one day read it [Don Quixote] with a profound sense of recollection. That happens when you read a classic. It finds you where you have been."
I marked several passages while reading this book, and especially love one about reading the classics. Jay has just admitted that he has not read Don Quixote which he feels he should have already read. Borges responds:
"Yes, and believe me, you will one day read it [Don Quixote] with a profound sense of recollection. That happens when you read a classic. It finds you where you have been."