bmazzoni's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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
3.5
hannaem's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
pokolila's review against another edition
2.0
The theme of this book, as far as I can decipher it, seems to be “the art of living”: meaning the difficulty and perhaps the impossibility of mastering it. I cannot say that the writing technique has fascinated me or the story for that matter. After reading the book I proceeded to read upon the author. It was with no surprise that I learned that he has studied philosophy, since most of his characters are more than in any other way defined by their ideas, ideals and impressions of themselves rather than their actions. Like an over-protective parent, Oz left little room for the reader to "interfere", to offer their own interpretation of the characters. I found this rigidity annoying since by contrast, the characters changed their own minds a lot in the course of 4 months the story takes place, so much so, that the reader can infer no pattern or detect any consistency from which to draw a conclusion or other message. Such can neither be drawn from the ending of the book, it being is more ambiguous and cryptic even than religious scriptures so often quoted. I chose instead, by exercising a lot of latitude, to take away the following lesson from this reading experience: living is an act made difficult to man, by the very same nature that separates and makes him superior to other animals, even without the self-imposed obstacles of religious morality, and the pressures of social conformity, in any way that those elements may factor into each ones’ own philosophy.
avitalgadcykman's review against another edition
4.0
Letters betwen a woman, ex-husband, their son, current husband, and lawyer. I wasn't crazy about the voices, but they are meant to play and lie, so they accomplished irritating me...A well-told story.
thebobsphere's review
4.0
Sometimes events do have a way of coinciding at the same time. When I was reading ‘Black Box’ there was a huge fracas about the divorce bill being passed in parliament and whether or not if it was going to go through despite the fact that 52% of the Maltese population wanted it (there was a referendum in May 2012) Black Box touches upon the subject of divorce, and this being Amos Oz, much more.
It’s a simple story. Through various letters and telegrams and estranged wife is asking for her husband for funds as their wayward son has caused more problems than the wife and her new husband can handle. From then onwards we discover the couple’s past and the role other characters – mainly the new husband, Michel and the ex’s lawyer, Manfred , and the son Boaz – had to play in the shaping of their destinies. Both parties have not acted as they should and yet it seems that love is being rekindled. This is further emphasised in the final letter when the ex husband undertakes a decision that affects everyone. It is also one of the most melancholy uplifting pieces I’ve read so far.
Incidentally the Black Box is Boaz. Although the couple’s marriage was like a plane crash there was one surviving feature that has remained indestructible.
Black Box is a brilliant novel. I loved every bit of it. If I could describe it in one word it would have to be ‘Poignant’
It’s a simple story. Through various letters and telegrams and estranged wife is asking for her husband for funds as their wayward son has caused more problems than the wife and her new husband can handle. From then onwards we discover the couple’s past and the role other characters – mainly the new husband, Michel and the ex’s lawyer, Manfred , and the son Boaz – had to play in the shaping of their destinies. Both parties have not acted as they should and yet it seems that love is being rekindled. This is further emphasised in the final letter when the ex husband undertakes a decision that affects everyone. It is also one of the most melancholy uplifting pieces I’ve read so far.
Incidentally the Black Box is Boaz. Although the couple’s marriage was like a plane crash there was one surviving feature that has remained indestructible.
Black Box is a brilliant novel. I loved every bit of it. If I could describe it in one word it would have to be ‘Poignant’
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