Fun read! Saramago is always fun. An early work that he kept in a drawer, and you can sort of see why. It’s a little thin story wise: about painting aFun read! Saramago is always fun. An early work that he kept in a drawer, and you can sort of see why. It’s a little thin story wise: about painting and writing and the romantic escapades of the narrator. Not his best, but still a definite must for all Saramago fans!...more
“Our impression is of a writer, like Faulkner, so confident of his resources and ultimate destination that he can bring any impossibility to life by h“Our impression is of a writer, like Faulkner, so confident of his resources and ultimate destination that he can bring any impossibility to life by hurling words at it.” —John Updike, The New Yorker (from the back cover of a Harvest/Harourt 2005 English translation)...more
A pleasant life affirming read. Typical Saramago: a cataclysmic event, characters must cope, some philosophy, some foibles, some romance, a sagacious A pleasant life affirming read. Typical Saramago: a cataclysmic event, characters must cope, some philosophy, some foibles, some romance, a sagacious dog. We are a part of nature: the process of renewal. What’s the book about? Geography....more
This one was odd. Hardly a hero, hardly a story, bland. But Saramago wrote it so it was fun to read, really. “All the lonely people, where do they all cThis one was odd. Hardly a hero, hardly a story, bland. But Saramago wrote it so it was fun to read, really. “All the lonely people, where do they all come from. All the lonely people, where do they all belong?”...more
Typical Saramago! As if typical could ever be the right word for describing the work of such a unique author. No names, no quotation marks, scant paraTypical Saramago! As if typical could ever be the right word for describing the work of such a unique author. No names, no quotation marks, scant paragraphing, a cataclysmic event forcing the protagonists into extreme and unfamiliar situations, and of course a sagacious dog sharing his thoughts. Certainly not for all audiences. (view spoiler)[There are some intensely disturbing multiple gang rape scenes. And without a single working toilet in the whole city there’s human feces covering almost every page. (hide spoiler)] On a personal note, the scene that introduces ‘the dog of tears’ is very realistic. Years ago sitting on the living room floor, feeling very sad because our crippled alpha dog, Zeno, was going to have to be put down, she was only seven, I started to cry. And just like in the story, she sat in front of me and licked the tears off my face. Not a single one ever reached the floor. And I cried for a long time. Five stars! Where’s my next Saramago....more
A most fantastic story portrayed in a most realistic way. Death, described as a beautiful woman about thirty-six years old, comes to the city to confrA most fantastic story portrayed in a most realistic way. Death, described as a beautiful woman about thirty-six years old, comes to the city to confront the principle cellist of the national symphony orchestra, a man who just turned fifty. The man has a dog who’s thoughts are recorded, and death has a scythe who manages her office while she is away. Violet colored stationery mailed by death and the music from J.S. Bach’s Suite #6 in d Major for Unaccompied Cello, particularly the Prelude, also play major roles. You either love Saramago or you can’t stand him. I cried when I got to the end of this one....more
This sad and familiar story makes for a challenging read. The relationship with Mary Magdalene is a nice addition. The conversation in the boat in theThis sad and familiar story makes for a challenging read. The relationship with Mary Magdalene is a nice addition. The conversation in the boat in the mist between God and Jesus and the devil is very bold. The devil gets the best line: “ ... I myself can see things in the future, but I’m not always certain if what I see there is true or false, in others words I can see my lies for what they are, my truths, but I don’t know to what extent the truths of others are their lies.”...more
A delightful, mature and sensitive love story surrounded by a bizarre fictionalized narrative of the bloody and violent expulsion by Portuguese ChristA delightful, mature and sensitive love story surrounded by a bizarre fictionalized narrative of the bloody and violent expulsion by Portuguese Christians of the Islamic Moors from Lisbon in 1174. A simple quiet 50 year old bachelor meets an attractive and successful 40 year old divorcé. She likes him and politely seduces him. He likes her. They’re happy together. The intimacy of the bedroom scenes is touching and sincere. A beautiful feel good story oddly surrounded by hatred and death, but also accomplishment, as Lisbon does become Portuguese. Cool book. Fun to read. My new favorite Saramago. Five stars!...more
A strange book. Who was the hero? What was the story about? How dissatisfying was the end? The author describes three worlds: the opulent wealth and pA strange book. Who was the hero? What was the story about? How dissatisfying was the end? The author describes three worlds: the opulent wealth and privilege of the king and his nobles, the manifest power and splendor of the church, and the dirty, stinky subsistence living of everyone else....more
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