Reviews with content warning for Suicidal thoughts - Blindheten

Reviews tagging 'Suicidal thoughts'

Blindheten by José Saramago

6 reviews

watermelleon's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

it is so hard to write a review for this one!!

the good bits:

the writing style is completely unique. I have read nothing like this ever, and it has been a fully original experience.
The characters were incredibly complex, despite not knowing their names or what they look like past a quirky defining feature used to establish who is in the room or speaking.
In a book where almost no-one can see, this book has some of the most vivid and detailed descriptions I have ever read. I could map out a floor plan of a whole building, which absolutely added to the impact of what was happening within the novel.
so many well thought out moments and quotes, the messaging behind this book was incredible. it feels like a very good time to be reading a book like this, as many instances early on felt very reminiscent of the current situation in Palestine (and other political situations), something saramago has spoken out about for many years.
I really enjoyed reading this on holiday in portugal! although purposefully not set in a specific country or town, I felt very connected to the work this way - I also caught a glimpse at the saramago foundation community space in obidos :)

the challenges;

the book is incredibly dark, and a difficult read. by far this book has some of the most uncomfortable scenes I have ever come across, with a lot of potentially triggering detail. However, it doesn't feel gratuitous, or there for the sake of it being there. It has a purpose, and I think any other author (my mind gravitates to stephen king) would have done a terrible job. What was unique for me was that saramago managed to centre these events through the eyes of the victims and not the perpetrators, something I have very rarely (if ever) seen in any other book.
The writing style I imagine is not for everyone. It does take some getting used to, and I think this plus the traumatic contents do slow down the reading experience. I would not change this though!
I wish I could have read this in portuguese. I think the translator did an excellent job, however it does (as it always will) feel like it is likely that the original flowery prose is lost to me!
having known people on a personal basis that have lost their vision overnight, it was a concern to me going in how this concept would come across, and whether it would be too abelist for my tastes. I felt personally that this was avoided, however cannot speak on this opinion from the perspective of a visually impaired person. What made this book feel okay to myself personally was that: it was made very clear that it was a "medically impossible" blindness and not a known medical condition, as well as the one character that could see showing her own type of blindness, assuming that her blind friends needed her help when they were sufficient. what is referred to as "blindness" in this novel is perhaps more a state of mind, over level of vision.

I went into this book wondering if it would be a bit too close to the bone to those who in some way have lost their vision, but have left wondering perhaps the opposite. with something this descriptive and visual I feel like it could be an absolutely incredible audiobook journey!

I would recommend this book on everyone's bucket list, providing the topics covered aren't too difficult for you!

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diana311's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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moscatel's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Continuo a amar o estilo do Saramago, é tão único e cheio de personalidade. Entendo que não seja para todos, por causa dos devaneios e juízos de moral constantes, mas eu acho que tem o seu charme.
Estive o livro todo a tentar formular para que defeito humano é que a cegueira era uma analogia (ou metáfora, não sei bem a diferença) e porque é que só uma personagem não cegou, mas não consegui chegar a nenhuma conclusão.

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madalenainwonderland's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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annihilatrix's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

Truly just so much poop and rape and poop.

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thegingerbreadhag's review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective slow-paced

2.0

A dystopia about a pandemic of blindness, the government decides to (forced) quarantine people. Though it took me a while to get used to it (I felt out of breath), the writing is really interesting. It's as if we're getting lost in narration / dialogues like the characters are loosing their ways and lendmarks. I also liked the main character (the doctor's wife) and her relation with the young woman with dark glasses. Sometimes mother/daughter like, sometime partners-like, or each other confidente, I was always in awe each time they talked to each other or a chapter was about them.

Now for what pissed me off and why I dont rate the book higher.

I've read my fair share of disturbing and graphic violent stuff (Poppy War trilogy, Dirty Sexy Valley, some scenes in the Broken earth trilogy to name a few). But I'm so disgusted, disturbed, angry at the gang rapes graphically described scene I just read in this book. I read some reviews to check what other readers thought, and it's either too triggering, or they're justifying it because "it's a dystopia, bad shit happens". First, I'm thinking fair enough, it is a dystopia, and we don't even need to go in dystopian worlds for this to happen. But then I'm just pissed. Even if it does happen irl, even if it could (and would probably) happen in dystopian world, what do you get by describing in such vivid details ? I'm not advocating for a "safe space-y" kind of literature. (The trigger warnings were available, I checked them, thought I could handle them and gave the book a try, kinda my bad 🤷🏻‍♀️). But I'm genuinely wondering what does a 25 pages long chapter vividly describing gang rapes does to the story. Why the need for graphic sexual violence. You tell me my guy masters the art of the unsaid, of metaphors and connotations, but couldn't use them for this chapter ? And what for !!!! I get it the chapter is a pivotal moment for the character and the whole community, they either revolt or die of hunger, but it could have just been implied !! Or better, why even the need of a gang rapes scene to make your character capable of murder 🤯 and why do you center the reactions of the men whose wifes are abused ?? (The author criticizes the men's reaction, but still)

I'm still not on board with the comments that are like "it's a dystopia, bad shit happens". It reminds me of how the game of thrones show uses rape for their women characters' development, and it being justified by "well it's fantasy, medieval inspired, so of course it would happen". (Btw : YEAH. AND ? THERE ARE ALSO FUCKING DRAGONS IN THE SHOW. ARE WE BLAMING THAT ON HISTORICAL ACCURACY TOO, JOSH). Same here : yes it's a dystopia, yes it can be, as most dystopias are, a critic of modern society, and yes, rape is not exclusive to reality. But seriously ? You're telling me you asked yourself "what would happen if we all went blind" and one of the answer you come up with is gang rape ? Really ? I'm not asking for a lovey dovey scenario, or exclusively "solidarity, community, mutual aid and love conquers all" kind of stories. But I'll just say this. To have come up with gang rape as one of the answer AND one you chose to put exactly at the core of your book, just shows a deep lack of imagination, even if it's used as a comment on human morality.

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