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3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
“It must be said that history is always selective, and discriminatory too, selecting from life only what society deems to be historical and scorning the rest, which is precisely where we might find the true explanation of facts, of things, of wretched reality itself. In truth, I say to you, it is better to be a novelist, a fiction writer, a liar.”
My first Saramago. I wondered if this would be a dense read but I found it accessible and delightfully funny. The novel mixes absurd humour with moments of profound philosophical and religious reflection. This was a perfect souvenir pick up from my Lisbon trip - I particularly enjoyed the repeated moanings of St Anthony being known as “of Padua” rather than his birthplace of Lisbon, having visited the chapel that commemorates his birthplace myself. I would definitely want to read more from Saramago in the future.
My first Saramago. I wondered if this would be a dense read but I found it accessible and delightfully funny. The novel mixes absurd humour with moments of profound philosophical and religious reflection. This was a perfect souvenir pick up from my Lisbon trip - I particularly enjoyed the repeated moanings of St Anthony being known as “of Padua” rather than his birthplace of Lisbon, having visited the chapel that commemorates his birthplace myself. I would definitely want to read more from Saramago in the future.
challenging
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
Es como si tu abuelito te contara un cuento muy feliz combinando fábulas y ficción con un poco de verdad y de historia de Europa del siglo XVI, pero con el gran estilo de Saramago.
"[...] Una cosa que cuesta trabajo entender es que el archiduque maximiliano haya decidido hacer el viaje de regreso en esta época del año, pero la historia así lo dejó registrado como hecho incontrovertido y documentado, avalado por los historiadores y confirmado por el novelista, a quien se le tendrán que perdonar ciertas libertades en nombre no sólo de su derecho a inventar, sino también de la necesidad de rellenar los vacíos para que no se llegue a perder del todo la sagrada coherencia del relato. En el fondo, hay que reconocer que la historia no es selectiva, también es discriminatoria, toma de la vida lo que le interesa como material socialmente aceptado como histórico y desprecia el resto, precisamente donde tal vez se podría encontrar la verdadera explicación de los hechos, de las cosas, de la puta realidad."
"[...] Una cosa que cuesta trabajo entender es que el archiduque maximiliano haya decidido hacer el viaje de regreso en esta época del año, pero la historia así lo dejó registrado como hecho incontrovertido y documentado, avalado por los historiadores y confirmado por el novelista, a quien se le tendrán que perdonar ciertas libertades en nombre no sólo de su derecho a inventar, sino también de la necesidad de rellenar los vacíos para que no se llegue a perder del todo la sagrada coherencia del relato. En el fondo, hay que reconocer que la historia no es selectiva, también es discriminatoria, toma de la vida lo que le interesa como material socialmente aceptado como histórico y desprecia el resto, precisamente donde tal vez se podría encontrar la verdadera explicación de los hechos, de las cosas, de la puta realidad."
medium-paced
This is the story of Solomon/Suleiman, the elephant, who was gifted to the Archduke of Austria by the King of Portugal in the sixteenth century. The delivery of this gift involved a rather long journey, mostly on foot, from Lisbon to Vienna. It was a whimsical tale that seemed to drift about with not a lot of direction, punctuation or paragraphs.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Not Saramago's best work, but still managed to tell an interesting story out of a simple journey of an elephant travelling with his caretaker from Lisbon to Vienna.
We join the Indian caretaker and Salomão, the elephant, and their entourage, and although not much happens, we get to know a little better how Suhbro thinks, being an Indian man in Europe, away from his homeland and the elephant he cares for. We understand his worries about not upsetting the king or the archduke, how the weather is different, if the elephant has enough rest and food, how people in every village and city receive them. There is a lot of ruminations during the trip, but nothing really is happening. Just a long and difficult travel.
But Saramago, as usual, even if not much is happening on the outside, there is plenty going on inside.
We join the Indian caretaker and Salomão, the elephant, and their entourage, and although not much happens, we get to know a little better how Suhbro thinks, being an Indian man in Europe, away from his homeland and the elephant he cares for. We understand his worries about not upsetting the king or the archduke, how the weather is different, if the elephant has enough rest and food, how people in every village and city receive them. There is a lot of ruminations during the trip, but nothing really is happening. Just a long and difficult travel.
But Saramago, as usual, even if not much is happening on the outside, there is plenty going on inside.