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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
A book about the power of vision. It examines the fragility of modern society. It contains pages of graphic descriptions of the horrific lengths people go to in order to survive. What an absolutely insane story. It took me a few pages to adjust, but despite the author's unconventional writing style—lacking quotation marks and proper formatting—the narrative remained surprisingly clear. While the text may seem visually chaotic, Saramago drew me into the story, its characters, moments, and dialogue. Reading this book made me realize how much hatred and pain exist in the world today and how we often turn a blind eye to it.
Maybe because it’s the translation?? Whatever it is, I despised reading this book. WHY IS THERE NO PUNCTUATION BESIDES A COMMA?!?!
Buenísimo
Historia que te atrapa, muy bien escrito con detalles que nunca había visto y personajes interesantes
Historia que te atrapa, muy bien escrito con detalles que nunca había visto y personajes interesantes
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Loved the actual story and some of the musings in it. The writing style made it a slog to get through though, a feat with such a theoretically engaging story. Additionally there were just too many odd musings by the author paired with my pet peeve, the “As one knows/does…” followed by statements I absolutely do not think. It just comes over as presumptious and pretentious, making for a grating experience.
I did however go to an audio focused play based on the book and it was amazing. As other reviewers already remarked, befitting the subject this book is best listened.
I did however go to an audio focused play based on the book and it was amazing. As other reviewers already remarked, befitting the subject this book is best listened.
It's fascinating how no matter the plague type that hits humanity, the results would ultimately be similar on how we react to the unknown threat.
This book was a very good read and I am glad it came up as a Ravenclaw reading challenge book. The horrors and small joys that came from this book were extremely well written and I was able to picture every scene in my mind clearly without knowing there was a movie until I was already engrossed in the book. Perhaps someday I will watch said movie.
This book was a very good read and I am glad it came up as a Ravenclaw reading challenge book. The horrors and small joys that came from this book were extremely well written and I was able to picture every scene in my mind clearly without knowing there was a movie until I was already engrossed in the book. Perhaps someday I will watch said movie.
All the metaphors.
And deep quotes.
Wrote down a lot of quotes and thoughts throughout this...
the unique style is also a nice change of pace.
And deep quotes.
Wrote down a lot of quotes and thoughts throughout this...
the unique style is also a nice change of pace.
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Harrowing to say the least, from the offset it seems slightly preposterous that the backbone of a functioning society is the ability to see. But when reading this, it becomes obvious how it can all capitulate when it is taken away from us, as it renders the ability to make sense of the world impossible.
Slightly confusing prose to begin with, but once I was immerse I didn't seem to notice the lack of quotations marks to denote speech, or the confusing sentences, where one clause would seem to fill entire page. It was refreshing to read something so bizarre and different from the norm. A study of human condition, where we see how our definition of ourselves changes through hardship and adversity that is unimaginable. It's cruel, barbaric and poignant. When luxuries are taken away and we are stripped down to our most basic form, those pillars of strength we thought we could rely on seem to crumble faster than we imagined. Saramago shows that within this, a lack of sight takes away more from us than our vision. What use is there for compassion when we cannot see the smile that it can evoke on the individual? Even if he may not be able to see the pain I caused he still feels it, but I am unable to see his sadness, so may I still feel remorse? Something different to what I've been reading lately. I know there's a sequel to this but I probably won't read it in the near future I think.
It's a very 'we live in a society' vibe. Not like full on 'Joker', it's more interesting than that, so like if you can't be asked to read 300 pages of that kind of stuff then fair enough, I'd rather watch a poorly dubbed Kung-Fu film than have to think about society and how we live in a society. But still very good, glad I read it.
Slightly confusing prose to begin with, but once I was immerse I didn't seem to notice the lack of quotations marks to denote speech, or the confusing sentences, where one clause would seem to fill entire page. It was refreshing to read something so bizarre and different from the norm. A study of human condition, where we see how our definition of ourselves changes through hardship and adversity that is unimaginable. It's cruel, barbaric and poignant. When luxuries are taken away and we are stripped down to our most basic form, those pillars of strength we thought we could rely on seem to crumble faster than we imagined. Saramago shows that within this, a lack of sight takes away more from us than our vision. What use is there for compassion when we cannot see the smile that it can evoke on the individual? Even if he may not be able to see the pain I caused he still feels it, but I am unable to see his sadness, so may I still feel remorse? Something different to what I've been reading lately. I know there's a sequel to this but I probably won't read it in the near future I think.
It's a very 'we live in a society' vibe. Not like full on 'Joker', it's more interesting than that, so like if you can't be asked to read 300 pages of that kind of stuff then fair enough, I'd rather watch a poorly dubbed Kung-Fu film than have to think about society and how we live in a society. But still very good, glad I read it.
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes