Reviews tagging 'Animal death'

Blindness by José Saramago

13 reviews

stephanieanneauthor's review against another edition

dark reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.0

This story is a fascinating, and dark, look at humanity. The whole thing plays out like a social experiment - what would happen to us if we all suddenly went blind? By refusing to name the characters, it adds to the dehumanizing effects of the story. And by occasionally omitting to note which character is speaking, it adds to the confusion. Unfortunately, because of this lack of identifying information, I felt that some scenes dragged on a little too long. But overall, I enjoyed this bleak, hypothetical examination of the human race. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Grief, Rape, Excrement, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Pandemic/Epidemic, Sexual violence, Sexism, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Death, Violence, and Vomit

Moderate: Animal death, Abandonment, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Infidelity, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Police brutality

lindseyhall44's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

A beautiful, dark, horrifying, redemptive read, which is more honest about human nature than anything I have ever experienced. I would highly recommend.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Rape, Gore, Animal death, Death of parent, Confinement, Violence, Sexual assault, Animal cruelty, Death, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, and Excrement

isaospina's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Leí esté libro por primera vez en el 2011, como tarea del colegio. En ese entonces yo tenía 15, tal vez 16 años, era lectora por hobby, una diversión. Mis lecturas tenían poco análisis y apenas estaba incursionando en el mundo de los clásicos. 
Poco o nada recordaba de este libro, pero por doce años una cosa era clara: la Isa adolescente disfrutó, devoró, la marcó algo de este libro. ¿Qué? No sé porque no recordaba nada, pero siempre que lo veía en una librería pensaba "lo mucho que me gustó este libro cuando lo leí para esa tarea de español". 

Doce años después por fin me decidí a leerlo de nuevo. Reticente, sí, tenía miedo de no disfrutarlo nada porque siendo sinceros, muchas de las cosas que disfrutaba cuando era adolescente ahora las aborrezco. 
Afortunadamente no había necesidad de preocuparme. Este libro es uno en el mundo, es una obra maestra de Saramago. Es terrorífico, es filosófico, es una distopía de esas que hacen que se te erice la piel porque todo es demasiado real, todo es demasiado cercano a algo que ya hemos vivido. 

Leer Ensayo sobre la ceguera después del a pandemia fue una gran decisión (no creo que mi estado mental en la cuarentena hubiera mejorado un ápice si lo hubiese leído en ese momento), si Saramago hubiera estado vivo en medio de la pandemia del covid-19 seguro hubiera escrito algo más, o se hubiera ido de para atrás al ver qué tan realista Ensayo de la ceguera parece cuando se copara con lo que se hizo y cómo se manejó la pandemia de la vida real. 

Es claro que no es un libro para los débiles de mente o corazón, los sensibles a salvajismos y muchos, muchos relatos escatológicos. Todos estos relatos de lo horrible que puede volverse la humanidad son lo que hace que uno se haga mil y un cuestionamientos sobre la identidad personal, sobre qué nos hace humanos, la belleza, los sentimientos, el poder, las dinámicas sociales, las posesiones, la resiliencia y muchísimo más. 

El ritmo es tan rápido que uno tiene que parar la lectura para recuperar el aliento, para hacerse preguntas y tratar de responderlas (fallando, claro). El estilo de lectura no es fácil, con capítulos extensos y sin cortes o guiones para definir los diálogos, pero poco o nada resta a la calidad del libro. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Murder, Gun violence, Vomit, Physical abuse, Blood, Excrement, Pandemic/Epidemic, Homophobia, Violence, Animal death, Car accident, and Confinement

moscatel's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Pandemic/Epidemic, Blood, Confinement, Excrement, Murder, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, and Vomit

Moderate: Physical abuse, Death, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexual content, Animal death, Body horror, Car accident, Grief, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Homophobia and Suicidal thoughts

justahappyreader's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Physical abuse, Vomit, Sexual violence, Excrement, Misogyny, and Murder

Moderate: Animal death

lucimolri's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense 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? No

3.5

Me ha gustado bastante! Mi mayor problema ha sido lo de que no estén marcados los diálogos y que se nota bastante que está escrito por un hombre, if you know what I mean…
Ha sido durillo y tenso, no es para todo el mundo

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Medical trauma, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Sexual harassment, Police brutality, Sexual violence, Violence, Medical content, Infidelity, Vomit, Gun violence, Confinement, Chronic illness, Animal death, Physical abuse, Murder, Sexual content, Excrement, Fire/Fire injury, Death, and Rape

vibmesq's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Gun violence, Police brutality, Murder, Sexual assault, Violence, Vomit, Misogyny, Gore, Death, Animal death, Physical abuse, Blood, Forced institutionalization, Sexism, Rape, Grief, and Confinement

anna220310's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I've never read a dystopia that felt so real and that truly exposed so much of the realities of society and human nature. It shows perfectly how brittle the security of our modern world is and how unprepared we are to survive disasters. By taking away everyone's sight, you also take away government, morality, hygiene, food security and everything else which is a founding pillar of our society. Be mindful of the very graphic content though (check the trigger warnings!), it's not for the faint of heart.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Excrement, Body horror, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Animal death, Death, Rape, Violence, Grief, Confinement, Gore, Vomit, and Gun violence

Moderate: Medical content

mariasilva's review against another edition

dark emotional 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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Sexism, Animal death, Excrement, Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, Rape, Grief, Blood, and Death

madalenainwonderland's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Confinement, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Vomit, Violence, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Physical abuse, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Excrement