jola_g's review against another edition
4.0
Aphasia (2020) by Mauro Javier Cárdenas is like an oxymoron. Simultaneously exhausting and unputdownable, repelling and engrossing, obscene and cathartical, depressing and amusing. Yes, I know, it sounds bizarre and crazy but so is this novel.
My guess is that if you do not like Antonio, the neurotic narrator of Aphasia — and he may get on your nerves right from the start — reading this book might be a frustrating experience. Please, do not give up as chances are you will warm up to him gradually. I did.
Why aphasia? Judging by the title, you might wrongly suspect that it is a non-fiction study on the impairment of language. Sounds ironic, given the fact that Antonio is interested in literature and creative writing. He keeps juggling with words for 208 pages. You will find the interpretation in the novel: 'aphasia is a metaphor for expressive paralysis'. Communication skills and expressing feelings are not Antonio's forte. Real aphasia is often caused by stroke or head trauma. In the narrator's case, it was an emotional injury.
No wonder words and literature play such an important part in Aphasia. The narrator’s stream of consciousness feels like an unstoppable logorrhoea which oftentimes drives you mad. Besides, there are many literary allusions.
Do not let an eccentric disguise of Aphasia deceive you. Behind the literary extravagance, there is a disturbing, emotionally draining story of child abuse and family trauma. Cárdenas depicts how such experiences shape our life and who we are.
As it seems, sometimes it is better to embark on a book not knowing exactly what is awaiting you. Had I known before how heart-breaking Aphasia is, despite dark humour and sarcasm, most probably I would have shied away from it. That would have been a mistake: two weeks have passed since I read this novel and it is still circulating in my thoughts.
When you read this book, be careful not to get drowned in Cárdenas' endless, meandering sentences. Most probably, you will need a moment to get used to his overwhelming narration and excess is its second name. After a while, you will notice that Antonio's chaotic rant often has an addictive rhythm, musical cadence and poetic aspect.
I liked the experimental quality of Aphasia however two things annoyed me. It felt awkward when the author was trying to impress the readers by all means and his efforts to shock and amaze were not seamless. Personally, I prefer to be enchanted not being aware that it is happening. Besides, Antonio’s verbosity was sometimes insufferable. I needed a few breaks but felt so worried about Estela, Antonio's sister, that had to go on, despite the irritating flood of words I was floating in.
Aphasia is like a rapid river. Numerous digressions and subplots made me think of bifurcating tributaries and dark pools. Sometimes you breathlessly dive headfirst, sometimes you drearily wade in the shallows, but the voyage is memorable anyway.
Jacek Yerka, Bibliodam.
My guess is that if you do not like Antonio, the neurotic narrator of Aphasia — and he may get on your nerves right from the start — reading this book might be a frustrating experience. Please, do not give up as chances are you will warm up to him gradually. I did.
Why aphasia? Judging by the title, you might wrongly suspect that it is a non-fiction study on the impairment of language. Sounds ironic, given the fact that Antonio is interested in literature and creative writing. He keeps juggling with words for 208 pages. You will find the interpretation in the novel: 'aphasia is a metaphor for expressive paralysis'. Communication skills and expressing feelings are not Antonio's forte. Real aphasia is often caused by stroke or head trauma. In the narrator's case, it was an emotional injury.
No wonder words and literature play such an important part in Aphasia. The narrator’s stream of consciousness feels like an unstoppable logorrhoea which oftentimes drives you mad. Besides, there are many literary allusions.
Do not let an eccentric disguise of Aphasia deceive you. Behind the literary extravagance, there is a disturbing, emotionally draining story of child abuse and family trauma. Cárdenas depicts how such experiences shape our life and who we are.
As it seems, sometimes it is better to embark on a book not knowing exactly what is awaiting you. Had I known before how heart-breaking Aphasia is, despite dark humour and sarcasm, most probably I would have shied away from it. That would have been a mistake: two weeks have passed since I read this novel and it is still circulating in my thoughts.
When you read this book, be careful not to get drowned in Cárdenas' endless, meandering sentences. Most probably, you will need a moment to get used to his overwhelming narration and excess is its second name. After a while, you will notice that Antonio's chaotic rant often has an addictive rhythm, musical cadence and poetic aspect.
I liked the experimental quality of Aphasia however two things annoyed me. It felt awkward when the author was trying to impress the readers by all means and his efforts to shock and amaze were not seamless. Personally, I prefer to be enchanted not being aware that it is happening. Besides, Antonio’s verbosity was sometimes insufferable. I needed a few breaks but felt so worried about Estela, Antonio's sister, that had to go on, despite the irritating flood of words I was floating in.
Aphasia is like a rapid river. Numerous digressions and subplots made me think of bifurcating tributaries and dark pools. Sometimes you breathlessly dive headfirst, sometimes you drearily wade in the shallows, but the voyage is memorable anyway.
Jacek Yerka, Bibliodam.
_dunno_'s review against another edition
2.0
(2.5*) Unfortunately, to me, the book ended up being more experimental and ambitious than interesting. I felt it tries too hard and the interesting bits end up buried beneath intellectual mumbo jumbo.
amtoya's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
samantha's review against another edition
5.0
‘My objective is to peel myself like an artichoke and become who I am in a year.’
robinwme's review against another edition
5.0
Incredible. Cárdenas peppers this novel with literary references and wears his influences on his sleeve—Sebald, Bernhard, Saramago, Woolf, Krasznahorkai, to name a few—but he takes their innovations and creates new forms of expression. Experimental but full of heart. Surprised it isn't more well known. Hope more people will read this or his next work will bring him to a broader audience. I have plenty more thoughts so may come back to this review.
lucy_lg's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
ruthie_'s review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
stefanraoza's review against another edition
4.25
In amongst the at times incomprehensible stream of consciousness is a gripping narrative that is alarmingly fast paced and filled with many memorable moments. It's hard to keep up with your own thoughts let alone the narrators at times, but wow what a read.
rebeccaloosli's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I picked this up originally because I fell in love with the cover and then I read the first page or so and was intrigued. This was a challenging read for sure but it was impressive and surprisingly effective. The long, stream of consciousness style sentences are what made it a challenge and it’s not a book to just pick up casually. There are also several references to literature, writers, films and music that are made in this book; some I got and some I didn’t. At first I found this pretentious but by the end I felt it was authentic to the character’s development. The main character analyzes himself and others through the things he reads and the art he experiences. Which I found very realistic - I imagine most of us use the things we read, art, and entertainment to interpret life around us. We’re all looking for examples of how to be. Once I was able to get into the flow of the writing style I found it to be a very raw portrayal of anxiety and worry and desperate attempts of distraction from those things. The main character struggles to come to terms with what is happening to his sister and to truly reflect on himself. I found the conversations he had with various people throughout the book to be compelling and very real. Cardenas is an incredibly skillful writer. I’m glad I read this book and I feel like a smarter person having done so.
dreesreads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Man tries to rationalize his past bad behavior a la Gilead and Sense of an Ending. This man is younger, though, and may be growing up. Also some interesting side storylines. And stream of consciousness.