mickenchilk's review against another edition
5.0
One of the best books I've ever read; amazing insight into the psyche of a mentally disturbed italian.
sinerak's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
bkish's review against another edition
5.0
Svevo in Trieste wrote this in 1919 and it was his last book. It was just before WW I. It was of course in Italian. This translation by Wm Weaver was finished in 1940. In Italy this book is a Classic. Its a long book to read and sometimes I considered returning it unfinished to my library.
Since I finished it yesterday I have a view now I lacked when I was reading it. First - Ettore or Italo Svevo is Italian tho he was born Jewish in Bavaria. this is the writing of an italian man 100y ago. It is his memoir and some of it is fictional or from his conscience rather than of reality. It is a man's journey somewhat like in Proust Remembrance... Everything is from the perspective of this man Svevo the one who penned it and Zeno his alterego and his character in Zenos Conscience.
Only at the end for me does this come together. there are chapters and one of the last is about his psychoanalysis from Dr S.
Zeno is a man who struggles with his sense of himself and his health. He has weaknesses and comes across as a weak man who bends with the tide. Others seem to control him. Only at the very end does he appear to experience what he has sought - Health.
The end of the book (1919) he warns the readers about the danger of "devices" that appear to benefit and yet really harm. He also warns the readers about the danger of a horrendous explosion which will wipe out everyone...
Superb book
Judy
Since I finished it yesterday I have a view now I lacked when I was reading it. First - Ettore or Italo Svevo is Italian tho he was born Jewish in Bavaria. this is the writing of an italian man 100y ago. It is his memoir and some of it is fictional or from his conscience rather than of reality. It is a man's journey somewhat like in Proust Remembrance... Everything is from the perspective of this man Svevo the one who penned it and Zeno his alterego and his character in Zenos Conscience.
Only at the end for me does this come together. there are chapters and one of the last is about his psychoanalysis from Dr S.
Zeno is a man who struggles with his sense of himself and his health. He has weaknesses and comes across as a weak man who bends with the tide. Others seem to control him. Only at the very end does he appear to experience what he has sought - Health.
The end of the book (1919) he warns the readers about the danger of "devices" that appear to benefit and yet really harm. He also warns the readers about the danger of a horrendous explosion which will wipe out everyone...
Superb book
Judy
afaithu's review against another edition
informative
reflective
tense
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
1.0
bamdad's review against another edition
3.0
در مجموع کتاب خیلی خوبی بود و خیلی خوشم اومد. کتاب به صورت کلی به پنج قسمت تقسیم میشه که این قسمت ها عبارت اند از: آخرین سیگار, ماجرای ازدواج من, همسر و معشوقه, داستان یک شرکت تجاری و روانکاوی که در هر قسمت ماجرایی از زندگی زنو طبق همون تیتر از زبان خود زنو تعریف میشه و از نظر زمانی به ترتیب نیستند و میشه گفت در جاهایی با هم تلاقی دارند.
درباره خود کتاب باید بگم که انگار نویسنده خیلی شخصیت اصلی کتابش رو دوست داشته برای اسپویل نشدن بیشتر توضیح نمیدم ولی بعضی جاها واقعا دوست نداشتم و آزار دهنده بود و همینطور خود شخصیت زنو به شدت آدم رو اعصابی بود برای من که این ویژگی داستان خیلی برام جالب بود و خوشم اومد تا حالا فکر نکنم داستانی خونده باشم که از زبان همچین شخصیت رو اعصابی روایت بشه یه جورایی موقع مطالعه کتاب همیشه یه کشمکشی با شخصیت اصلی داستان داشتم که علاوه بر اینکه همونطور گفتم برام جالب بود یه جورایی خیلی متمرکزم می کرد رو داستان کتاب. و فصل آخر کتاب مخصوصا چند صفحه پایانی به نظرم بهترین قسمت کتاب بود.
یه مورد دیگه که باعث خیلی کتاب بهم نچسبه این بود که فصل های کتاب بعضی هاش به شدت طولانی بود و من عادت دارم همیشه یه فصل رو که شروع می کنم به انتها برسونم ولی برای این کتاب نمی شد این کارو کرد و مجبور بودم وسط فصل قطع کنم که اینطوری هم سرعت مطالعه ام رو کاهش میداد و هم باعث می شد نسبت به داستان یه ذره دور بشم ولی در عوض خب اون مزیت تمرکز رو که بالاتر گفتم رو داشت. در کل خیلی خوشایند نبود برام این طولانی بودن فصل ها اگر شما هم مثل من هستید شاید فعلا پیشنهاد خوندن این کتاب پیشنهاد خوبی نباشه.
درباره خود کتاب باید بگم که انگار نویسنده خیلی شخصیت اصلی کتابش رو دوست داشته برای اسپویل نشدن بیشتر توضیح نمیدم ولی بعضی جاها واقعا دوست نداشتم و آزار دهنده بود و همینطور خود شخصیت زنو به شدت آدم رو اعصابی بود برای من که این ویژگی داستان خیلی برام جالب بود و خوشم اومد تا حالا فکر نکنم داستانی خونده باشم که از زبان همچین شخصیت رو اعصابی روایت بشه یه جورایی موقع مطالعه کتاب همیشه یه کشمکشی با شخصیت اصلی داستان داشتم که علاوه بر اینکه همونطور گفتم برام جالب بود یه جورایی خیلی متمرکزم می کرد رو داستان کتاب. و فصل آخر کتاب مخصوصا چند صفحه پایانی به نظرم بهترین قسمت کتاب بود.
یه مورد دیگه که باعث خیلی کتاب بهم نچسبه این بود که فصل های کتاب بعضی هاش به شدت طولانی بود و من عادت دارم همیشه یه فصل رو که شروع می کنم به انتها برسونم ولی برای این کتاب نمی شد این کارو کرد و مجبور بودم وسط فصل قطع کنم که اینطوری هم سرعت مطالعه ام رو کاهش میداد و هم باعث می شد نسبت به داستان یه ذره دور بشم ولی در عوض خب اون مزیت تمرکز رو که بالاتر گفتم رو داشت. در کل خیلی خوشایند نبود برام این طولانی بودن فصل ها اگر شما هم مثل من هستید شاید فعلا پیشنهاد خوندن این کتاب پیشنهاد خوبی نباشه.
giselnotgiselle's review against another edition
challenging
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
2.75
kirstenfindlay's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
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
heinzluiza's review against another edition
funny
reflective
medium-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? Yes
4.5
aonowaltz's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5