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3.38 AVERAGE
3.38 AVERAGE
challenging
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was mainly confused.
i understand that this wasn't the best book to introduce myself to aira with. the first chapter struck me as a mislabeled introduction instead of the beginning of a coherent story. i guess you could say that coherence isn't necessarily the author's thing. and on that note, neither is editing.
i'm misquoting him, but he said something along the lines of not seeing the point of editing because you cannot be a better writer than you are. and i don't think this is the case in any way. you can always be a better writer, learn to read like an editor, like your own audience. you can test your own stories for holes and minimize lazy mistakes and tired cliches.
i'm sure i'll give something else of his a chance, but it may just be that aira and i don't get along. the seamstress and the wind could have been something as beautiful as [b:Light Boxes|6033372|Light Boxes|Shane Jones|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1235160422s/6033372.jpg|6208864]. instead it read like a first draft.
i'm misquoting him, but he said something along the lines of not seeing the point of editing because you cannot be a better writer than you are. and i don't think this is the case in any way. you can always be a better writer, learn to read like an editor, like your own audience. you can test your own stories for holes and minimize lazy mistakes and tired cliches.
i'm sure i'll give something else of his a chance, but it may just be that aira and i don't get along. the seamstress and the wind could have been something as beautiful as [b:Light Boxes|6033372|Light Boxes|Shane Jones|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1235160422s/6033372.jpg|6208864]. instead it read like a first draft.
The more I read of César Aira, the less I feel I understand him. [b:Ghosts|374188|Ghosts|Henrik Ibsen|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1174264212s/374188.jpg|203071] was kind of surreal and creepy, and had some of the best scenes set in a supermarket that I have ever read (this is meant to be more of a compliment than it sounds). I liked [b:The Literary Conference|7444221|The Literary Conference (Pearls)|César Aira|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1278350691s/7444221.jpg|9460138] less, but it still had some audacious meta bits. This...I have no idea, man. But I think I'd rather be reading [a:Javier Marias].
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
2.5 really. Set in Argentina, a good bit in Patagonia. I think I read that this is supposed to be funny, and there are some humorous sections. For me, just implausible and definitely surreal.
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This story completely confused me. Is it supposed to be a fable? What is the meaning? It is completely farfetched. Perhaps that is the point?
In typical Aira style, there are transformations and twists and surprises. Enchanting, cerebral. Not entirely satisfied as most of the knots are not unknotted or even dealt with. Some are just discarded.
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced