Reviews

The Little Buddhist Monk / The Proof by Nick Caistor, César Aira

seba97c's review against another edition

funny fast-paced

3.0

El mecanismo del chiste aireano se funda en dos principios: la solapación de términos opuestos y la confusión (elementos que, entre más avanza la narración, aumentan en intensidad o sutileza). Esto genera una sensación de desconcierto y desorientación con una clara intención de risa, pero no cualquier risa, una risa que demanda una pausa y un recuento de los hechos, de lo narrado hace apenas segundos. 

Es por esto que Aira frustra a tantos lectores, porque el pringlense te engatuza y te escupe, Aira sólo se deja leer, si el lector pacta con él en secreto antes de empezar la lectura, si acepta el mundo aireano y su falta de lógica aparente, fácil e inmediata.

Dicho esto 
¿Qué carajo acabo de leer?

lilaccoconut_bookclub's review against another edition

slow-paced

3.5

He certainly did his homework. I was a bit worried about the setting and the treatment of Korean characters, but it was all for a purpose, and Aira explicitly contradicts it when speaking from the monk's perspective and adding in details about Korean history.

mariana_cscs's review against another edition

adventurous funny mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

lina_djihane's review against another edition

1.0

This book in one image:

curlypineapple's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

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

4.25

bookstabulous's review against another edition

challenging funny lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

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

3.5

jaf2185's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious medium-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

3.5

lauren_endnotes's review against another edition

2.0

Probably not the best place to start with Aira. Of the two stories/novellas, The Little Buddhist Monk was the better of the two.

dankhill's review against another edition

dark funny reflective tense medium-paced

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

2.75

beepbeepbooks's review against another edition

4.0

I love Aira, and these two stories are some of his funnest translated yet. They rule