Scan barcode
kingkong's review against another edition
5.0
it would be so cool to just travel the Alps and paint and then be transformed into an inhuman monster
adrianasturalvarez's review against another edition
5.0
It has been a long time since I've read a story this good. Aira writes an adventure story, stays in 3 person past perspective, and yet, despite never entering the inner psychology of his characters, nor dwelling on philosophical concepts, manages to write a profound analysis of art and its relationship to life in a historical setting so brilliant it evokes a strange purity of form, nearly allegorical, while staying grounded into reality.
I'm going to be reading this one again but I highly HIGHLY recommend this. It's a novella with more to say than novels four times its length.
I'm going to be reading this one again but I highly HIGHLY recommend this. It's a novella with more to say than novels four times its length.
calla351's review against another edition
5.0
This may be a perfect little book. 88 pages and I don’t think there’s a single misplaced word in here. Aira’s written a wonderful novella, an exploration of places and the impossibility of rendering experience. Really is a must read, and you can finish it in less than an afternoon.
kaapeine's review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
loganalexander's review against another edition
4.0
So far my favorite Aira. Crackling and hilarious.
blchandler9000's review against another edition
3.0
Nicely written. A very short novella with a simple story*, some lovely passages of description, and occasional philosophical diversions. However, it sometimes was a struggle to pay attention. The story was so light, while the thoughts were so deep, I often found my mind wandering though thoughts inspired by the text as my eyes continued to roll along the words, my brain not really registering. I don't know if that's a credit to the author or not.
*Two German landscape artists travel though the wilds of Argentina. One of them is struck by lightning (twice!) but survives and the two continue on their way, the one looking after the significantly-damaged other.
*Two German landscape artists travel though the wilds of Argentina. One of them is struck by lightning (twice!) but survives and the two continue on their way, the one looking after the significantly-damaged other.
nateisdreaming's review against another edition
5.0
Bold, magical, unreal. Very very highly and enthusiastically recommended.
obione_tdg's review against another edition
3.0
Romanzo breve abbastanza carino, con uno spunto molto interessante, ma si perde un po' in un finale relativamente banale e un po' vuoto. Forse la vicenda era da sviluppare un po' meglio e piu' a lungo.
partypete's review against another edition
5.0
Fantastic book. Really one-of-a-kind. Has a cool way of referring to things, like the fictional history he wrote for a non-fictional artist, through clever metaphors that refer to reality without mirroring it. One of the most interesting things he does is break from the moment of the story to bring in our present - he might compare a moment from now to a moment in the story in which no context would be historically available, such as a dinner party or modern medicine, but he does this in an extremely subtle way.
I read part of Aira's "The Musical Brain" and hated it. It was clear from that book that the author is brilliant, but I got annoyed by the puzzle-like format and having to play a new game every time a short story ended. I'm guessing this is resolved in his novellas in no small part due to the fact that he has more space to develop the story and frame his ideas in context.
I read part of Aira's "The Musical Brain" and hated it. It was clear from that book that the author is brilliant, but I got annoyed by the puzzle-like format and having to play a new game every time a short story ended. I'm guessing this is resolved in his novellas in no small part due to the fact that he has more space to develop the story and frame his ideas in context.