novashi's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
brannigan's review against another edition
5.0
Oh what a gorgeous novel. This was my first foray into Marías' work, and I was suitably blown away by his fascinating use of language and grammar (yes, grammar! Read it, you'll know what I mean). It's odd how a book can induce a sort of disembodied, transcendental state in the reader, but time and again I found myself feeling a little inebriated by the prose: long, meandering sentences oddly reminiscent of Julius Caesar's style, hypnotic rhythms and cadences. This book should come with a warning label.
The narrative has a dreamlike quality - scene transitions that often seem like non-sequiturs, somehow disjointed yet fluid. The stream-of-consciousness style enables Marías to seamlessly blend narrative and essay, so you can't really tel where the one style begins and the other ends. The book can even be read as a group of essays skilfully strung together by a gripping narrative. I know some people may view this as a negative, that the book doesn't know what it wants to be. As for me, i don't care. This is the future of the novel format as far as I'm concerned.
Marías explores many themes in the novel, most prominently that of truth (and the need to know, or rather the need not to know) and how our relationships shape us as individuals. It is his sensitive analysis of the latter that really makes this book a winner for me. It really is an existential novel, but a mature and accessible existential novel.
If there's any criticism I can muster, it is the conversation between the Spanish and British politicians around halfway through. It seems a little forced and artificial - would politicians really be making small talk about the nature and shortcomings of democracy? - but of course, I'm open to accept that this is how politicians act in Marías' universe, and that he has intentionally made them seem like out of touch caricatures.
I'm a bit upset that this novel had to end, but I am so glad I bought it on a whim. It is the first novel in a long time that I really savoured, and I am sure that it will haunt me for a long time yet.
The narrative has a dreamlike quality - scene transitions that often seem like non-sequiturs, somehow disjointed yet fluid. The stream-of-consciousness style enables Marías to seamlessly blend narrative and essay, so you can't really tel where the one style begins and the other ends. The book can even be read as a group of essays skilfully strung together by a gripping narrative. I know some people may view this as a negative, that the book doesn't know what it wants to be. As for me, i don't care. This is the future of the novel format as far as I'm concerned.
Marías explores many themes in the novel, most prominently that of truth (and the need to know, or rather the need not to know) and how our relationships shape us as individuals. It is his sensitive analysis of the latter that really makes this book a winner for me. It really is an existential novel, but a mature and accessible existential novel.
If there's any criticism I can muster, it is the conversation between the Spanish and British politicians around halfway through. It seems a little forced and artificial - would politicians really be making small talk about the nature and shortcomings of democracy? - but of course, I'm open to accept that this is how politicians act in Marías' universe, and that he has intentionally made them seem like out of touch caricatures.
I'm a bit upset that this novel had to end, but I am so glad I bought it on a whim. It is the first novel in a long time that I really savoured, and I am sure that it will haunt me for a long time yet.
emilija_kava's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
ellenplum's review against another edition
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
ximeee0207's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
cynthiak's review against another edition
5.0
Un chef-d'oeuvre. De la littérature avec un grand L. Quelle éloquence ! Quel style ! Quelle merveille... J'en suis encore toute retournée que je n'arrive pas à trouver les mots. Un comble !
klimts15thchild's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
friedrich_gwn's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
mysterious
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
juani83's review against another edition
3.0
3,5 ★★★
O que mais gostei no livro de Javier Marías, lido na língua original, foi da escrita do autor. Gostei ao ponto de querer ler mais livros do escritor. Só pelo tipo de escrita peculiar do autor deveria de atribuir 4★ ao livro.
Não consigo, no entanto, dar mais do que 3★ a este "Corazón tan blanco" porque começou de forma brilhante a agarrar-me nos primeiros parágrafos e depois seguiram-se muitas páginas em que desesperadamente queria chegar ao final. Foi o livro (de poucas páginas) que mais tempo demorei a ler nos últimos anos porque a certa altura deixou de me interessar. Senti que perdi a concentração em vários momentos do livro. Voltei a ler com ritmo no final, não sei se por querer saber o final do enredo ou se apenas por querer acabá-lo. Achei um livro difícil de ler, mas não me arrependo de o ter feito.
Livro físico, em espanhol
O que mais gostei no livro de Javier Marías, lido na língua original, foi da escrita do autor. Gostei ao ponto de querer ler mais livros do escritor. Só pelo tipo de escrita peculiar do autor deveria de atribuir 4★ ao livro.
Não consigo, no entanto, dar mais do que 3★ a este "Corazón tan blanco" porque começou de forma brilhante a agarrar-me nos primeiros parágrafos e depois seguiram-se muitas páginas em que desesperadamente queria chegar ao final. Foi o livro (de poucas páginas) que mais tempo demorei a ler nos últimos anos porque a certa altura deixou de me interessar. Senti que perdi a concentração em vários momentos do livro. Voltei a ler com ritmo no final, não sei se por querer saber o final do enredo ou se apenas por querer acabá-lo. Achei um livro difícil de ler, mas não me arrependo de o ter feito.
Livro físico, em espanhol