You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by jensbrede
Rayuela: Himmel und Hölle by Julio Cortázar
3.0
Da ich die Deutsche Ausgabe gelesen habe, wollte ich ursprünglich auch meine Bewertung in Deutsch verfassen, entscheide mich jetzt aber doch dafür dies in Englisch zu tun:
First off, if your English is up to the task, I recommend picking up [b:Hopscotch|53413|Hopscotch|Julio Cortázar|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1367728486s/53413.jpg|1794732], since I was ultimately not happy with the German translation and the English one was done by [a:Gregory Rabassa|50060|Gregory Rabassa|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-d9f6a4a5badfda0f69e70cc94d962125.png] and awarded the National book award. I admit that I can not make out any mistakes in the German translation (just some minor things I'd have phrased differently, 'Cheshire Cat' vs. 'Grinsekatze', to name one example) but the German translation lacks a "flow" and, especially since Cortázar explicitly works with language as an element of style, it feels as if some of that style is lost in translation. Maybe the Spanish or French version is ultimately the way to go.
As usual, I will not bother to summarize the plot of the book, there are plenty of summaries just a google away. However do NOT got to the English wiki entry it is full of errors you might want to try the one over at Enotes.
Before continuing, let me just mention that I've read the book in the second 'way', hopscotching through the chapters.
Second, the rating of three stars is but a temporary one, all I can say that Rayuela deserves at least two stars for Cortázar attempts to encourage the reader to actively participate in reading the book instead of telling a linear story to a placid mind. The third star is for the conception being ahead of its time. I could not find an ebook version of the English or German translation, a real pity, because Rayuela could profit from it: I would have enjoyed it to be able to set up my own plot (e.g. select the order you want to read the book in at the beginning) and considering the great may themes that are touched upon, easy online access for looking up events I was unfamiliar with would also have added to my enjoyment.
The reason that I stick with 3 stars for the time being, is that I'm not sure whether he succeeded in his attempt to get away from the 'Leseweibchen' (I like this term in the German translation, obviously) to a more active reader who participates in the books with the author.
I consider myself decently well, read, in particular when it comes to the great many Philosophical and scientific themes touched upon by Cortázar throughout the novel, I freely admit that I lacked the knowledge to the multitude of Jazz references, but the point is, that I had, at times, difficulties to follow where the author was going: the "philosophizing" in the Serpent Club has struck some critics as "tedious and verbose" .
On the one hand, I have little doubt, that, with another reading, this book will quickly become one of my all time favorites, there are so many treasures: themes beautifully contrasted with one another (there is a reason for another German term "Doppelgänger"), the philosophizing I love, playing with (not against) language, style, and the reader, and everything wrapped into a journey into the self. On the other hand, I have also little doubt that reading the book in the first way, linearly, without active participation, it is but a tedious work many will simply shy away from. It would not encourage to read it a second time through, more actively, therefore, Rayuela might remain a work for the pretentious reader and not one that transforms people into an active one.
First off, if your English is up to the task, I recommend picking up [b:Hopscotch|53413|Hopscotch|Julio Cortázar|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1367728486s/53413.jpg|1794732], since I was ultimately not happy with the German translation and the English one was done by [a:Gregory Rabassa|50060|Gregory Rabassa|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-d9f6a4a5badfda0f69e70cc94d962125.png] and awarded the National book award. I admit that I can not make out any mistakes in the German translation (just some minor things I'd have phrased differently, 'Cheshire Cat' vs. 'Grinsekatze', to name one example) but the German translation lacks a "flow" and, especially since Cortázar explicitly works with language as an element of style, it feels as if some of that style is lost in translation. Maybe the Spanish or French version is ultimately the way to go.
As usual, I will not bother to summarize the plot of the book, there are plenty of summaries just a google away. However do NOT got to the English wiki entry it is full of errors you might want to try the one over at Enotes.
Before continuing, let me just mention that I've read the book in the second 'way', hopscotching through the chapters.
Second, the rating of three stars is but a temporary one, all I can say that Rayuela deserves at least two stars for Cortázar attempts to encourage the reader to actively participate in reading the book instead of telling a linear story to a placid mind. The third star is for the conception being ahead of its time. I could not find an ebook version of the English or German translation, a real pity, because Rayuela could profit from it: I would have enjoyed it to be able to set up my own plot (e.g. select the order you want to read the book in at the beginning) and considering the great may themes that are touched upon, easy online access for looking up events I was unfamiliar with would also have added to my enjoyment.
The reason that I stick with 3 stars for the time being, is that I'm not sure whether he succeeded in his attempt to get away from the 'Leseweibchen' (I like this term in the German translation, obviously) to a more active reader who participates in the books with the author.
I consider myself decently well, read, in particular when it comes to the great many Philosophical and scientific themes touched upon by Cortázar throughout the novel, I freely admit that I lacked the knowledge to the multitude of Jazz references, but the point is, that I had, at times, difficulties to follow where the author was going: the "philosophizing" in the Serpent Club has struck some critics as "tedious and verbose" .
On the one hand, I have little doubt, that, with another reading, this book will quickly become one of my all time favorites, there are so many treasures: themes beautifully contrasted with one another (there is a reason for another German term "Doppelgänger"), the philosophizing I love, playing with (not against) language, style, and the reader, and everything wrapped into a journey into the self. On the other hand, I have also little doubt that reading the book in the first way, linearly, without active participation, it is but a tedious work many will simply shy away from. It would not encourage to read it a second time through, more actively, therefore, Rayuela might remain a work for the pretentious reader and not one that transforms people into an active one.