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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
Contos preferidos:
Continuidade dos parques;
O rio;
Os venenos;
A porta condenada;
As Ménades;
O Ídolo das Cícladas;
Uma flor amarela;
A Banda;
O móbil;
Relato com um fundo de água;
Axolotl;
Final do Jogo.
Continuidade dos parques;
O rio;
Os venenos;
A porta condenada;
As Ménades;
O Ídolo das Cícladas;
Uma flor amarela;
A Banda;
O móbil;
Relato com um fundo de água;
Axolotl;
Final do Jogo.
adventurous
inspiring
reflective
The final book I read in 2018 is possibly one of the best books I've ever read; which is crazy, cause this year I've read three of the "best books I've read" (Moby Dick, Anna Karenina, and this).
However, I say "possibly" because I loved part one much better than part two, which kind of made me lose all sympathy with the character. This was while reading the "linear" version of the novel. I then read the nonlinear version (re-reading chapters again); and it made me fall in love even more with part one -- but again, left me a little dry in part two.
Narrative-wise, part two makes sense -- its the insanity and fall from grace that stems from trauma and from indecision and inaction (and disassociation). However, its hard to take at times, and you feel like strangling the protagonist Oliveira more then anything else.
Part one however is filled with so much accurate wonder, nostalgia, romance, dreaminess ... It reminded me of my 20s, living among "bohemians" in New York (or really, among wanna-be bohemians, and I count myself among the wanna-bes, so I'm not judging) -- it captures the romance and aimlessness of that lifestyle better than anything else I've read, including Kerouac or Bolano. Each chapter is like an unfolding origami poem filled with sentences to dissect and re-read and ponder over.
Its shocking to me that Cortazar was able to hold on to this feeling throughout his life; as he wrote this in his 60s I believe (correct me if I'm wrong). The feelings and atmospheres he evokes are ones that were lost to me, hollowed out by modern living and by the reality that enters our 30s (I'd love to read this again in 10 years, as I'm 36 now and think this book will be filled with surprises and transformations in years to come).
There are, aside from the apathy in book two; more than a few scenes of masculine offensiveness ; and like much art, I'm often conflicted and torn between my enjoyment of the novel's "truths" and some of the behaviors it can glorify, or at least, justify, or at least, make relate-able. And its hard for me to know if my "maleness" accentuates or obscures the sections that offend me. However, the novel inspired so many feelings (including the desire to write), and inspired so many memories, and magical moments of reading that I found myself reading it (and immediately re-reading it) as. slow. as. possible. Each chapter was a slice of mysticism.
So, despite many faults (mostly psychological -- stylistically, its near perfect), I say with a giant grain of salt that Hopscotch is among the best books I've read.
However, with that same grain of salt, I would say that I'm maybe wrong or maybe exaggerating, and I somehow think that's appropriate for a novel of this sort of mystery and whimsy, and that Cortazar would probably approve of this shifting opinion.
(In any case, above five stars -- and highest recommendation.)
However, I say "possibly" because I loved part one much better than part two, which kind of made me lose all sympathy with the character. This was while reading the "linear" version of the novel. I then read the nonlinear version (re-reading chapters again); and it made me fall in love even more with part one -- but again, left me a little dry in part two.
Narrative-wise, part two makes sense -- its the insanity and fall from grace that stems from trauma and from indecision and inaction (and disassociation). However, its hard to take at times, and you feel like strangling the protagonist Oliveira more then anything else.
Part one however is filled with so much accurate wonder, nostalgia, romance, dreaminess ... It reminded me of my 20s, living among "bohemians" in New York (or really, among wanna-be bohemians, and I count myself among the wanna-bes, so I'm not judging) -- it captures the romance and aimlessness of that lifestyle better than anything else I've read, including Kerouac or Bolano. Each chapter is like an unfolding origami poem filled with sentences to dissect and re-read and ponder over.
Its shocking to me that Cortazar was able to hold on to this feeling throughout his life; as he wrote this in his 60s I believe (correct me if I'm wrong). The feelings and atmospheres he evokes are ones that were lost to me, hollowed out by modern living and by the reality that enters our 30s (I'd love to read this again in 10 years, as I'm 36 now and think this book will be filled with surprises and transformations in years to come).
There are, aside from the apathy in book two; more than a few scenes of masculine offensiveness ; and like much art, I'm often conflicted and torn between my enjoyment of the novel's "truths" and some of the behaviors it can glorify, or at least, justify, or at least, make relate-able. And its hard for me to know if my "maleness" accentuates or obscures the sections that offend me. However, the novel inspired so many feelings (including the desire to write), and inspired so many memories, and magical moments of reading that I found myself reading it (and immediately re-reading it) as. slow. as. possible. Each chapter was a slice of mysticism.
So, despite many faults (mostly psychological -- stylistically, its near perfect), I say with a giant grain of salt that Hopscotch is among the best books I've read.
However, with that same grain of salt, I would say that I'm maybe wrong or maybe exaggerating, and I somehow think that's appropriate for a novel of this sort of mystery and whimsy, and that Cortazar would probably approve of this shifting opinion.
(In any case, above five stars -- and highest recommendation.)
challenging
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
“con tanta ciencia una inútil ansia de tener lástima de algo, de que llueva aquí dentro, de que por fin empiece a llover, a oler a tierra, a cosas vivas, sí, por fin a cosas vivas.”
Grande, Cortázar.
Grande, Cortázar.
Um PORRE machista tem cheiro de esquerdomacho
Rayuela es una propuesta de libro diferente de los que usualmente leo, Cortázar me tomó desprevenida. Mientras leía Rayuela, tuve una cosa muy clara... todo el tiempo sentía que era como una pintura de Edward Hopper, donde imperaban ciertos colores y permanecía estático, era como si fuera amarillo, pero al mismo tiempo triste o como si fuera rosa, y después nostalgia. Yo nunca creí ser capaz de sentir con colores (al menos al leer un libro), pero al estarlo comparando con la pintura de Hopper, he caído en cuenta que todo esto que me transmitió el libro, me lo transmiten las pinturas impresionistas francesas. Mi conclusión es que me hubiera gustado tener más conocimiento de lo que Cortázar quería transmitir, sinceramente, me he quedado corta al interpretar el libro.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The first thing that should appeal you to this read is an interesting approach towards the arrangement of paragraphs. There is not any set order of reading, you can follow at least few sequences and get different story.
I have read this book only once, in the basic order (not author’s recommendation), and in the following year I will reread it as Cortázar suggested.
It was an interesting and intriguing read. The world cannot fully understand main characters and characters themselves live in more than one word. There is a lot of magic and mystery, as author presented both real and transcendental point of view. To be honest, it could be the main reason why I am not completely sure whether I understood the whole.
I truly enjoyed it, but because it is such an unique writing style, some people could find it hard to read/understand (I got those problems as well).
<I need to collect my thoughts, and come back here afterwards>
I have read this book only once, in the basic order (not author’s recommendation), and in the following year I will reread it as Cortázar suggested.
It was an interesting and intriguing read. The world cannot fully understand main characters and characters themselves live in more than one word. There is a lot of magic and mystery, as author presented both real and transcendental point of view. To be honest, it could be the main reason why I am not completely sure whether I understood the whole.
I truly enjoyed it, but because it is such an unique writing style, some people could find it hard to read/understand (I got those problems as well).
<I need to collect my thoughts, and come back here afterwards>
Buen libro. Tendré que leerlo otra vez en el orden que da Cortázar.