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liamriley1987's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
sidharthvardhan's review against another edition
5.0
"And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music."
- Nietzsche
Books have a highly subjective value, probably more subjective than anything else – what to one person is only a piece of scrap can be gospel to someone else. Not only there is a difference in value for person to person and from time to time, but one's own old copy of a book with its ear-marked yellowing pages, underlined sentences might be infinitely more valuable than a new identical copy- which will fetch many times more value if sold in market. The non-readers are never able to understand the world of books worms. A habitual reader can’t not see the worlds contained inside books, which have to be respected. Even to the books, he does destroy, Henta gives honour of physical touch, he can’t understand the new machinery which doesn’t need people to touch books before burning them, he actually finds new process inhuman - as if it was denying water to a dying person.
The books he rescued and his habbit of reading are what he has to show for thirty five years of his life which, because of its too loud a solitude and unless you are aware of treasures contained within books, might appear really poor ... but then I guess there is some sort of emptiness in every life when looked in retrospect, the very word ‘retrospect’ sounds sad, looking at something gone – or at least that is the impression that most fiction written from old people’s point-of-view gives( The Sea, The Remains of the Day, The Last Orders etc. and now this)
Or maybe, it is the introspection that makes people sad – people who do not bother thinking about their lives are probably happier or at least not aware of their sadness but an introspective mind knows it sooner or later. When we meet someone who is sad, we usually advice him/her not to think just showing at least subconscious awareness of saddening effect of introspection, as if one could stop thinking about something at will. Don't think of elephants!
And introspection is a disease you are more likely to catch as you grow old. Socrates once said an unexamined life is not worth living; but an examined life is far more difficult to live. The only remedy after this disease has made you conscious of emptiness of your life lies in art, which if it doesn't stop flow of thoughts, at least redirects them to something better. It is basically running away from truth but then truth is only an accident of universe and there is nothing to suggest that it is preferable to versions of realities one might come up with.
And so reading is probably like an addictive pill providing temporary relief for a mostly incurable disease - and after once you get addicted, there are no rehabilitation camps for this addiction. Hent was always high on books, for better or worse - depending upon how you value books. According to his manager, he was dumb and even if some of these non-readers had liked him, they probably would have adviced him against kind of life he is living- bringing us back to Nietzschien concept of fools; for he himself probably won't change a thing in last thirty five years of life - not even rats which fed on his books.
sprior's review against another edition
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
86jonesc's review against another edition
“My education has been so unwitting I can’t quite tell which of my thoughts come from me and which from my books, but that’s how I’ve stayed attuned to myself and the world around me for the past thirty five years. Because when I read, I don’t really read; I pop a beautiful sentence into my mouth and suck it like a fruit drop, or I sip it like a liqueur until the thought dissolves in me like alcohol, infusing brain and heart and coursing on through the brains to the root of each blood vessel.”
dawkeller's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
mmmedhat246's review against another edition
1.0
توقعت إنى هستمتع بالكتاب ده و اول شابتر منه شدنى لكن بعد ذلك أصابنى بالملل و لم أستسغه إطلاقاً
guinness74's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
My reading list is compiled of books I learn of through other books, articles, and authors who talk about books they enjoy. In many cases, I’m not even aware of how I came across a particular book, or what possessed me to add it to my list. Such is the case with this particular book. However, while I don’t know the provenance, per se, of this particular writing, I found it interesting, even if it didn’t appeal to me. It’s a bit depressing, but also entrancing in its descriptives. It’s slightly redundant, but I feel like that reinforces the story of Hanta. It has the feel of allegory, but it also reads a bit like a memoir. It was not my favorite book ever. I didn’t care for the style of writing (which may be a translation issue), but I enjoyed the story. In all, an average collective of mental dichotomies.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Excrement, and Suicide