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scarletohhara's review against another edition
3.0
One can guess that Borges meant for those book to be read in a playful tone, the book being an encyclopedia of all things magical. But the book feels serious and academic, exactly what the translator didn't want it to be.
Read this if you have time to browse and want to know how a centaur came to be, or the types of unicorn or more about Valkyries or the likes...
Read this if you have time to browse and want to know how a centaur came to be, or the types of unicorn or more about Valkyries or the likes...
scheu's review
4.0
An interesting bestiary compiled by Borges and filled with legendary and literary reference. Well worth the minimal dollar amount I paid.
cauchemarlena's review against another edition
5.0
Üks põhjus, miks see raamat mulle nii väga meeldis, on see, et just sellisena kujutasin ma ette Rowlingu raamatut fantastilistest elukatest enne, kui ma seda lugesin. Too pisike punaste kaantega raamat on siiani kodus alles, seisab riiulil, keegi seda eriti enam ei loe, aga ära ka ei ole nõus andma. Borgese "Kujuteldavate olendite raamat" on aga just selline, mida võiks ja peaks lugema veel kord ja veel kord.
See on kirjutatud keskaegse bestiaariumi vormis, tutvustades kummalisi olendeid tervest ilmast. Selles on rohkelt viiteid, mis ei pruugi alati õiged olla, kuid mis jätavad raamatust sellise lummava mulje. Siin sulavad ühte reaalsus ja väljamõeldis, ulme ja ulme. Seda saab lugeda igat pidi, algusest lõpuni, tagantpoolt ettepoole, avades suvalisest kohast. Mina lugesin esimese variandina, sest e-raamatutega mulle see hüppamine ei meeldi. Aga ma suudan ette kujutada, kuidas ma ühel päeval võtan selle kaunikaanelise teose suurest raamaturiiulist. Avan selle suvalisest kohast, lehitsen mõne elukatutvustuse alguseni ja sean end sisse mugavasse korvtooli. Toas on hubane valgus ja mitte keegi ei sega.
See raamat lihtsalt on selline. Erinevad kihid annavad palju mõtlemisainet, igaüks neist erinevat. Ja see on nii ütlemata hea.
See on kirjutatud keskaegse bestiaariumi vormis, tutvustades kummalisi olendeid tervest ilmast. Selles on rohkelt viiteid, mis ei pruugi alati õiged olla, kuid mis jätavad raamatust sellise lummava mulje. Siin sulavad ühte reaalsus ja väljamõeldis, ulme ja ulme. Seda saab lugeda igat pidi, algusest lõpuni, tagantpoolt ettepoole, avades suvalisest kohast. Mina lugesin esimese variandina, sest e-raamatutega mulle see hüppamine ei meeldi. Aga ma suudan ette kujutada, kuidas ma ühel päeval võtan selle kaunikaanelise teose suurest raamaturiiulist. Avan selle suvalisest kohast, lehitsen mõne elukatutvustuse alguseni ja sean end sisse mugavasse korvtooli. Toas on hubane valgus ja mitte keegi ei sega.
See raamat lihtsalt on selline. Erinevad kihid annavad palju mõtlemisainet, igaüks neist erinevat. Ja see on nii ütlemata hea.
bengriffin's review
3.0
A beautiful edition and an impressive compendium, but as many people have said, apart from the odd entry, it is more of a dictionary than a showcase of his writing. Impressive, but not particularly lovable.
lsl2155's review
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
5.0
angustiacosmica's review against another edition
3.0
I don't remember the last time I read a full book in Spanish despite it being my mother tongue.
After all, e books are far more prominent in English than otherwise so it was just easier for me. However, this is the kind of book I had to dig to find in its original version.
It rekindled my love for not only Spanish, but for the Argentinean literature I so long stopped checking.
It's a great book, don't get me wrong, but I ultimately knew most of the creatures in it. What I DID enjoy most were the beasts imagined by other popular writers, including Poe, C. S. Lewis, and many others.
It was a fun read, I definitely recommend it if you want to unplug from daily life for a bit. Just wish it had pretty drawings to go with it.
After all, e books are far more prominent in English than otherwise so it was just easier for me. However, this is the kind of book I had to dig to find in its original version.
It rekindled my love for not only Spanish, but for the Argentinean literature I so long stopped checking.
It's a great book, don't get me wrong, but I ultimately knew most of the creatures in it. What I DID enjoy most were the beasts imagined by other popular writers, including Poe, C. S. Lewis, and many others.
It was a fun read, I definitely recommend it if you want to unplug from daily life for a bit. Just wish it had pretty drawings to go with it.
bigbeardedbookseller's review against another edition
4.0
In 2018 (and still continuing now) I had set myself a challenge to read more books that were seen as classics (or by authors who are seen as authors to read) and more books that had been translated into English.
The Book of Imaginary Beings fits nicely into both categories.
Ostensibly a short survey of mythical and imaginary beings from around the world, collected by Borges and then revised, enlarged and translated by Norman Thomas di Giovanni in collaboration with Borges, this becomes much more when enlivened by Borges prose.
Beautifully descriptive and humorous, Borges weaves the tales into a cohesive whole in this modern bestiary.
The Book of Imaginary Beings fits nicely into both categories.
Ostensibly a short survey of mythical and imaginary beings from around the world, collected by Borges and then revised, enlarged and translated by Norman Thomas di Giovanni in collaboration with Borges, this becomes much more when enlivened by Borges prose.
Beautifully descriptive and humorous, Borges weaves the tales into a cohesive whole in this modern bestiary.
megea's review
3.0
It's difficult for me to rate this. Perhaps it's very good at being what it is. I just don't happen to like that much. What is it? Essentially it's a reference work, an encyclopedia of imaginary beings. (And surely, it must be a very incomplete one...) I had a very difficult time concentrating on the short entries for each species. Longer, more fully fleshed, anecdotal descriptions of each of them would have been much more engrossing. But of course, what I would really wish for is a plot. The reference format is not incompatible with incorporating a plot. The Dictionary of the Khazars and Pale Fire brilliantly carry plots despite the extremely nonlinear and disjointed structures they adopt (of an encyclopedia and end notes to a poem, respectively).