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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
joe_olipo's review against another edition
2.0
Not refuting accusations of Pastiche.
A young imitator of Sebald, who retains his description of the flight of birds suspended in air for eternity, and a felicity for fin-de-siècle authors suffering from, alternatingly, homosexuality and venereal disease; though we know Kafka not to have been so somber and Stendhal so maudlin.
A young imitator of Sebald, who retains his description of the flight of birds suspended in air for eternity, and a felicity for fin-de-siècle authors suffering from, alternatingly, homosexuality and venereal disease; though we know Kafka not to have been so somber and Stendhal so maudlin.
ejmartinez82's review against another edition
2.0
A frustrating read to say the least. I read the first of the four stories. I was frustrated by the assumption of the narrator, assuming we just know the characters. It read like a disjointed, disturbed coming of age diary entry. It lacked in detail. I kept looking for the common thread of the exploration of memory.
Sebald's character Beyle touches on memory slightly. I assume Sebald may explore memory further in the other 3 stories in this book.( which I never read)
Mentions of memory I appreciated :
Page 5
• The difficulties of recalling a memory
• Self correction: understanding fact vs memory. When we remember something or someone one way but understand the circumstances of the event make that memory impossible.
I found it interesting that Beyle had an understanding and acceptance of the imperfections in his memories. To acknowledge an inaccurate memory rather than taking it as truth is a level of honesty and humbleness most do not possess.
Page 6
• The acknowledgement that a traumatic event erased what his true recollection would have been.
When we are in chaos our memories and perceptions are altered. Often we retreat the present only to have never recorded it in the first place, resulting in made up memories.
Page 7
• “ …even when the images supplied by memory are true to life one can place little confidence in them.”
I found this particular sentence to be interesting because I feel most of us are overconfident in our memory. People often argue over the differences in recollections. Beyle, a narcissist, seems to doubt the one thing he should be more confident in. He is often the observer and not the participant through out this story. This is another example of his emotional detachment to life.
Page 8
• When we purchase a professional photo of a place we visited, often that photograph erases our true memory. What we really saw is erased by the photographer’s vision.
As a photographer and a fan of travel this was one of my favorite points. I think its so true.
The theme of memory started to bore me as it was not as explored as I had hoped. I become engrossed in Beyle’s emotional issues.
He was simply a sad narcissistic man with mommy issues. He came across as somewhat borderline, emotionally unavailable, narcissistic sociopath.
Through out the story he was often the observer and not the participant. He was constantly on a search outside of himself for more value and meaning. It was as though he was deeply wounded as a child and was looking for something to tell him he had value. His search for more started at the age of 17 when he was in Napoleon’s army. We then are brought through his years of recalling memories of the adventures he had. Sometimes he wasn’t even sure an event actually transpired.
He is delusional as he holds onto ideas of women he fantasizes about. As he fixates on a woman, it’s as though he falls in love with HIS idea of her and not who she actually is…… then he becomes a creepy stalker.
On page 26 he tries to discuss what interests him. The woman he is speaking to does not have the same interests. Instead of empathizing and relating to her on her level he completely dismisses her because she is not giving him what he wants.
Due to his sociopathic tendencies he is incapable of love; which ironically is what he is on a quest for.
The only positive change was that he was able to write a book. He decided to write it in Autumn, a season of death and change. His book was published in spring, a season to blossom. I held onto this small fact because it was the only light in the very dark tunnel that is this story; Beyle, or Love is a madness Most Discreet.
Fun Facts- Sebald uses the German word “Schwindel” knowing its similar English translation “swindle.” Our memories do in fact swindle us at times.
Gefuhle is the translation for vertigo only Gefuhle means emotion. This tale was certainly one of an emotional vertigo more so than memory.
o
Sebald's character Beyle touches on memory slightly. I assume Sebald may explore memory further in the other 3 stories in this book.( which I never read)
Mentions of memory I appreciated :
Page 5
• The difficulties of recalling a memory
• Self correction: understanding fact vs memory. When we remember something or someone one way but understand the circumstances of the event make that memory impossible.
I found it interesting that Beyle had an understanding and acceptance of the imperfections in his memories. To acknowledge an inaccurate memory rather than taking it as truth is a level of honesty and humbleness most do not possess.
Page 6
• The acknowledgement that a traumatic event erased what his true recollection would have been.
When we are in chaos our memories and perceptions are altered. Often we retreat the present only to have never recorded it in the first place, resulting in made up memories.
Page 7
• “ …even when the images supplied by memory are true to life one can place little confidence in them.”
I found this particular sentence to be interesting because I feel most of us are overconfident in our memory. People often argue over the differences in recollections. Beyle, a narcissist, seems to doubt the one thing he should be more confident in. He is often the observer and not the participant through out this story. This is another example of his emotional detachment to life.
Page 8
• When we purchase a professional photo of a place we visited, often that photograph erases our true memory. What we really saw is erased by the photographer’s vision.
As a photographer and a fan of travel this was one of my favorite points. I think its so true.
The theme of memory started to bore me as it was not as explored as I had hoped. I become engrossed in Beyle’s emotional issues.
He was simply a sad narcissistic man with mommy issues. He came across as somewhat borderline, emotionally unavailable, narcissistic sociopath.
Through out the story he was often the observer and not the participant. He was constantly on a search outside of himself for more value and meaning. It was as though he was deeply wounded as a child and was looking for something to tell him he had value. His search for more started at the age of 17 when he was in Napoleon’s army. We then are brought through his years of recalling memories of the adventures he had. Sometimes he wasn’t even sure an event actually transpired.
He is delusional as he holds onto ideas of women he fantasizes about. As he fixates on a woman, it’s as though he falls in love with HIS idea of her and not who she actually is…… then he becomes a creepy stalker.
On page 26 he tries to discuss what interests him. The woman he is speaking to does not have the same interests. Instead of empathizing and relating to her on her level he completely dismisses her because she is not giving him what he wants.
Due to his sociopathic tendencies he is incapable of love; which ironically is what he is on a quest for.
The only positive change was that he was able to write a book. He decided to write it in Autumn, a season of death and change. His book was published in spring, a season to blossom. I held onto this small fact because it was the only light in the very dark tunnel that is this story; Beyle, or Love is a madness Most Discreet.
Fun Facts- Sebald uses the German word “Schwindel” knowing its similar English translation “swindle.” Our memories do in fact swindle us at times.
Gefuhle is the translation for vertigo only Gefuhle means emotion. This tale was certainly one of an emotional vertigo more so than memory.
o
jonfaith's review against another edition
4.0
I also read this one twice, I recall being disappointed by my initial reading. The subtle sequences it engages were much more palpable upon the second encounter.
pavram's review against another edition
4.0
Baš mi se zavrtelo he-he (kad postanem ćale sledi hladna smrt univerzuma od svih propalih šala).
Elem - Saturnovi prstenovi nisu me upola spremili za Vrtoglavicu, iako je Zebaldov stil i dalje veoma prepoznatljiv i ono što čini srž romana. Četiri celine lutanja i lutalica, samog Zebalda, Kafke, Stendala (koji se u romanu pojavljuje pod svojim pravim imenom; sramotno dugo mi je bilo potrebno da doznam da je Henri Bejl Stendal lično, a ne neki galski preteča Gereta Bejla (rip)), sve pod lajtmotivom, da se pretpostaviti, vrtoglavice. Niko čitav ne može reći da je ovo loše - Zebaldov stil iako pun opskurnih referenci odiše samoćom kojoj treba društvo čitaoca, koja ga i traži i na neki čudan, mrvu hladan način (ipak) poziva na suživot. Niti je ovo ni u jednom trenutku dosadan roman. Međutim, pronaći smisao druga je glavobolja, koju nisam u potpunosti uspeo da odagnam (ili rrrrešim). Biće da nisam bio vičan, ali otud i nešto slabiji konačan utisak.
4-
Elem - Saturnovi prstenovi nisu me upola spremili za Vrtoglavicu, iako je Zebaldov stil i dalje veoma prepoznatljiv i ono što čini srž romana. Četiri celine lutanja i lutalica, samog Zebalda, Kafke, Stendala (koji se u romanu pojavljuje pod svojim pravim imenom; sramotno dugo mi je bilo potrebno da doznam da je Henri Bejl Stendal lično, a ne neki galski preteča Gereta Bejla (rip)), sve pod lajtmotivom, da se pretpostaviti, vrtoglavice. Niko čitav ne može reći da je ovo loše - Zebaldov stil iako pun opskurnih referenci odiše samoćom kojoj treba društvo čitaoca, koja ga i traži i na neki čudan, mrvu hladan način (ipak) poziva na suživot. Niti je ovo ni u jednom trenutku dosadan roman. Međutim, pronaći smisao druga je glavobolja, koju nisam u potpunosti uspeo da odagnam (ili rrrrešim). Biće da nisam bio vičan, ali otud i nešto slabiji konačan utisak.
4-
bethhhhhhh's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
jyanfr's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Complicated
4.25
tdpingers's review against another edition
5.0
Don't really know what to make of this. Still, compelling and poetic.
(Edit) Some of the imagery still sticks with me, I find myself thinking back on the book from time to time. Definitely 5 stars
(Edit) Some of the imagery still sticks with me, I find myself thinking back on the book from time to time. Definitely 5 stars
jeorrettp's review against another edition
3.0
I love Sebald's writing style. But I didn't feel the same connection as I did with Rings of Saturn'.