mariavazquezsolaun's review against another edition
1.0
Termino Manual de despedidas no sabiendo muy bien que quería contar Jana Beňová. He llegado al final por ver si todo hacía mágicamente click, pero no ha sido así, casi nunca es así.
Manual de despedidas es un grito de desesperanza, el de cuatro jóvenes de Bratislava con una vida errante muy diferente de la que esperaban y de la que han perdido la esperanza de escapar. Una historia de los suburbios, de jóvenes que se resisten a crecer y de cafés que se convierten en centro.
Esconde una historia interesante, pero la forma en la que está narrada hace que te pierdas. Entiendo que esas frases cortas, ese saltar a otro tema sin cerrar el anterior, ese pensar en todo y nada, no hace sino reforzar esa vida algo caótica de sus personajes, pero a mi me ha confundido, me ha agotado y me ha impedido implicarme con ellos.
Llevan una vida de mierda si, pero no he sentido pena por ellos, ni siquiera en aquellas situaciones en las que podría haberme visto reflejada. No he sentido nada. He pasado por encima tratando de entender aquello que se me escapaba.
Manual de despedidas es un grito de desesperanza, el de cuatro jóvenes de Bratislava con una vida errante muy diferente de la que esperaban y de la que han perdido la esperanza de escapar. Una historia de los suburbios, de jóvenes que se resisten a crecer y de cafés que se convierten en centro.
Esconde una historia interesante, pero la forma en la que está narrada hace que te pierdas. Entiendo que esas frases cortas, ese saltar a otro tema sin cerrar el anterior, ese pensar en todo y nada, no hace sino reforzar esa vida algo caótica de sus personajes, pero a mi me ha confundido, me ha agotado y me ha impedido implicarme con ellos.
Llevan una vida de mierda si, pero no he sentido pena por ellos, ni siquiera en aquellas situaciones en las que podría haberme visto reflejada. No he sentido nada. He pasado por encima tratando de entender aquello que se me escapaba.
servemethesky's review
3.0
This was a deeply strange book. I'd never read Slovakian literature before, but at least now I can say I have!
In this slim little volume, the prose style is experimental, and there are many nice turns of phrase that catch your eye and ear. A few things make you think. But for the most part, the city is overwhelmingly bleak, the characters don't do anything other than walk around and drink, and the random elements of unreality and magical realism are more perplexing than charming.
This book lost me when the girl either murdered the dog she had as a child OR had it put down at the vet's office... we don't know, because reality is so obscured.
I'm not sure I ever really *got* this book, but I do feel like I learned something new by trying something new! Now I know where Slovakia is on a map, and that's something.
In this slim little volume, the prose style is experimental, and there are many nice turns of phrase that catch your eye and ear. A few things make you think. But for the most part, the city is overwhelmingly bleak, the characters don't do anything other than walk around and drink, and the random elements of unreality and magical realism are more perplexing than charming.
This book lost me when the girl either murdered the dog she had as a child OR had it put down at the vet's office... we don't know, because reality is so obscured.
I'm not sure I ever really *got* this book, but I do feel like I learned something new by trying something new! Now I know where Slovakia is on a map, and that's something.
clem's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
annieinthearchives's review against another edition
challenging
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
lauren_endnotes's review
4.0
SEEING PEOPLE OFF by Jana Beňová, tr. from the Slovak by Janet Livingstone, 2008/2017 by @twodollarradio
#ReadtheWorld21
#ReadtheWorld21
dbuoih's review against another edition
3.0
A thoughtful, short read. Feel as though I'm peeking into a world I'm not familiar with; it's not quite accessible. However the feelings, relationships, and life events described in prose are universal enough to be used as a connective tissue. Beňová describes just the notes of what happens to the characters in the town, but all assembled, the greater picture can be pieced together. The moments are frequently bitter sweet, and occasionally comical.
According to Dr. Typhoon, CarlSolomon emerges mostly as an embryo within an embryo. And then gradually grows and matures until it decides it is grown up and becomes independent. That's when a person goes crazy.
According to Dr. Typhoon, CarlSolomon emerges mostly as an embryo within an embryo. And then gradually grows and matures until it decides it is grown up and becomes independent. That's when a person goes crazy.
ninkadp's review against another edition
from the moment i saw this book at the bookstore until a point about 3/4 of the way through reading it i was thinking of the title as "*telling* people off." for no reason. so, this is *not* a book about telling people off. it's also not *really* a book about seeing people off, or maybe it is, i don't know. this kind of read like a book of poetry. i *think*. i've never read a book of poetry. but i enjoyed reading this book.
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