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sidharthvardhan's review against another edition
5.0
If I wasn't cautioned by acts of a psychologist in this book trying to read the nature of intellectual in his theories; I could be disturbed to think that Canetti was only 26 when he wrote this masterpiece. There are books that are cynical about humanity and others that talk about how low humanity can fall. However, this book presents an entirely new level of the disturbing picture of humanity. Canetti offers no hope for humanity in here. Every single one of the characters are motivated by base instincts - though sometimes capable of fooling themselves into believing they act on some higher ideals.
There is a totalitarian tendency to almost all the characters - an utter lack of ability to think from someone else's perspective. Peter Kien, the protagonist of the book, is one book lover that shows all base values of book lovers and intellectuals. He is supposed to be really wise in his own field, but shows little understanding of humanity and life. One disturbing tendency that I find rather common among all readers which he shares that excessive love for books, not wanting to share books with a child who might read them. Books seem to be of value to him of themselves rather than what they say and are of greater value than humans. Personally I treat my books in a bad way. They might get worn out, dusted, sometimes torn, etc. And I won't mind if others treat them the same way as long as they are being read. I actually avoid buying them since I consider it a waste of them that no one will read them after I am done with them. Peter Kien is also excessively snobbish, incapable of having an open mind, etc.
And he is just one bad character. The book is full of such characters who barely tolerate the existence of most other humans. A lot of it can be seen as misogyny (the second last chapter is a big misogynistic debate) and antisemitism but really all characters in here are villains. George gets married to an older woman whose greed throws him out. The title alludes to the last chapter so won't discuss that. The story is irrelevant I guess, it is the atmosphere that counts. In a way, it forecasts totalitarianism - in a world where we are all carrying out our obsessions barely tolerating the existence of other human beings; it is only a matter of time before hate becomes the driving force.
There is a totalitarian tendency to almost all the characters - an utter lack of ability to think from someone else's perspective. Peter Kien, the protagonist of the book, is one book lover that shows all base values of book lovers and intellectuals. He is supposed to be really wise in his own field, but shows little understanding of humanity and life. One disturbing tendency that I find rather common among all readers which he shares that excessive love for books, not wanting to share books with a child who might read them. Books seem to be of value to him of themselves rather than what they say and are of greater value than humans. Personally I treat my books in a bad way. They might get worn out, dusted, sometimes torn, etc. And I won't mind if others treat them the same way as long as they are being read. I actually avoid buying them since I consider it a waste of them that no one will read them after I am done with them. Peter Kien is also excessively snobbish, incapable of having an open mind, etc.
And he is just one bad character. The book is full of such characters who barely tolerate the existence of most other humans. A lot of it can be seen as misogyny (the second last chapter is a big misogynistic debate) and antisemitism but really all characters in here are villains. George gets married to an older woman whose greed throws him out. The title alludes to the last chapter so won't discuss that. The story is irrelevant I guess, it is the atmosphere that counts. In a way, it forecasts totalitarianism - in a world where we are all carrying out our obsessions barely tolerating the existence of other human beings; it is only a matter of time before hate becomes the driving force.
luigiafalce's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
eliathereader's review
5.0
Sonunda okudum dediklerimden oldu. Körleşme açgözlülüğün ve cehaletin kitabı. Edebiyatsever herkes okumalı.
ahmetfurkanustun's review
4.0
Bir müddettir kurmaca metinleri yorum yapmaksızın ve üzerinde pek de düşünmeksizin okuyup geçiyordum ama şu romandan için iki kelam etme ihtiyacı hissettim. Çünkü bir kurmaca metnin uzun zamandır peyda edemediği mikyasta kafamı şişirdi. Ben de buna mukabil dedim ki madem öyle, işte böyle. Evet bu bir roman, tam anlamıyla modernist bir roman, bilhassa döneminin Avusturya çevresi edebiyat ekolünü yansıtan esaslı bir roman. Karakter gelişimleri, tebessüm ettiren tespitleri, yer yer müstehzi, yer yer alt metinli, sıkı bir roman. 26 yaşında kaleme alınmış olması da metni ayrıca kıymetli kılıyor diyelim. Ancak ne hikmetse, şiştim arkadaş! Zor metinleri severim ki zor bir metin de değil, aman aman entelektüel bir teraküm de beklemiyor ki beklese baş tacı edilir. Tarif etmek için arif olmak da gerekmiyor ki bu tarife uyan ne kurmacalar var... Peki derdi nedir bu metnin? Hacmi midir, daha kısa kesilebilir miymiş, meramını daha az kelimeyle anlatabilir miymiş, bunun yanıtını ileride bir kez daha okuyunca ki uzun bir süre bu metne tekrar uğramayı düşünmediğimden eminim, zannımca daha iyi verebilirim. Ezcümle şöyle ifade edeyim muhteremler: Öğle güneşinde üstü açık taraçada bir batman, yok yok, bir urupla sıcak bira içmişçesine şişirdi. Bu romanın bana ilk elden gösterdiği şu oldu ki ben single malt mesabesindeki metinlerden daha çok hazzediyorum. 4 yıldız emeğe ve zamanı yenişine verilmiştir. Vesselam.
marinacka17's review against another edition
3.0
"(...) Giusto, le aveva promesso un libro. Per lei non si poteva prendere in considerazione altro che un romanzo. Non che dai romanzi la mente tragga molto nutrimento. Il piacere che forse offrono lo si paga a carissimo prezzo: essi finiscono per guastare anche il carattere più solito. Ci si abitua a immedesimarsi in chicchessia. Si prende gusto al continuo mutare delle situazioni. Ci s'identifica con i personaggi che piacciono di più. Si arriva a capire qualunque atteggiamento. Ci si lascia guidare docilmente verso le mete altrui e per lungo tempo si perdono di vista le proprie. I romanzi sono dei cunei che un attore con la penna in mano insinua nella compatta personalità dei suoi lettori. Quanto più precisamente egli saprà calcolare la forza di penetrazione del cuneo e la resistenza che gli verrà opposta, tanto più ampia sarà la spaccatura che rimarrà nella personalità del lettore. I romanzi dovrebbero essere proibiti dalla legge."
vbarta's review against another edition
5.0
This is the kind of book where, whether you liked your litterature course in school or not, whether you're still in school, or haven't set foot in one in 20 years, you will feel the need to take out a marker and pencil and start scribbling furiously in the margins.
It's full of meaning and symbolism, and it would probably deserve to be read at least 5 times, but as it took me a month the first time around...
I spent my time wavering between horror and amazement, never knowing if I should laugh, cry, or run to a psychiatrist to make sure I'm not anything like the crazy, crazy characters in this book.
This novel is long, and hard to read, and I never quite knew what was going on precisely, but bloody hell is it worth the read (and re-read)!
It's full of meaning and symbolism, and it would probably deserve to be read at least 5 times, but as it took me a month the first time around...
I spent my time wavering between horror and amazement, never knowing if I should laugh, cry, or run to a psychiatrist to make sure I'm not anything like the crazy, crazy characters in this book.
This novel is long, and hard to read, and I never quite knew what was going on precisely, but bloody hell is it worth the read (and re-read)!
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