duartecompanhia_'s review against another edition
5.0
An inconstant and broken maze of twisting think-pieces on how to (impossibly) live by abstention, this absurdness being systematically broken by the loudest screems of implicit help I ever witnessed in a work of fiction, until this very day. It will rock, anger, frustrate and disturb you, but your mouth will be broken of its hinges throughout.
katie_eliza's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
familiarwildflowers's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-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
5.0
minsulies's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
italo_carlvino's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
cinaedussinister's review against another edition
3.0
Did I actually read all of this? Lmao no I got abt halfway through. Was it good? Yes. Was it boring? Extremely. Should you read it? If you like listening to the musings/grumblings of a depressed man, yes. If you like a lively and engaging plot, no. I'd love to analyse this; there'd prob be a lot to say. I just can't bring myself to actually read the entire thing.
deardostoevsky's review
5.0
One of the most beautiful books I've ever read. Absolute favorite.
Poetic.
Mesmerised and in awe.
It made me so numb that I was able to feel. Pure liberation and pure art.
I don't think I'll be able to properly articulate the way this book resonated with me.
Such books are precious and rare, also why reading them, is perhaps, the solace of our existence.
In complete awe.
Would try to pen down more later, but I don't think I'll be able to properly express it because words aren't enough, so perhaps won't.
I could quote the entire book but for now this,
"I was a genius in more than dreams and in less than life. That is my tragedy. I was the runner who led the race until he fell, right before the finishing line."
Poetic.
Mesmerised and in awe.
It made me so numb that I was able to feel. Pure liberation and pure art.
I don't think I'll be able to properly articulate the way this book resonated with me.
Such books are precious and rare, also why reading them, is perhaps, the solace of our existence.
In complete awe.
Would try to pen down more later, but I don't think I'll be able to properly express it because words aren't enough, so perhaps won't.
I could quote the entire book but for now this,
"I was a genius in more than dreams and in less than life. That is my tragedy. I was the runner who led the race until he fell, right before the finishing line."
kisaly's review against another edition
5.0
This is a book that's not a book written by one or two nonexistent authors who are not the author, and is difficult to extricate from its origin story.
The first part (in the Costa translation) of the choose-your-own-adventure fragments reads like Proust joined an emo band and kept a Myspace page. The second part is like the diary of a depressed existential philosopher - if that diary were torn up into fragments and thrown into a tornado. Got it? Cool. Modernism!
It's worth mentioning that there are huge differences between various editions of this book. Not just the translations, though that's part of it, but also how the book is constructed and what's included. Costa's translation is roughly chronological and includes additional material from a second "author," while I believe Zenith's translation mostly pulls from the later content and is arranged more thematically. On balance, I think I like Zenith's version better for its prose quality, but they're both good.
Not a book for everyone, but boy oh boy is there a lot to chew on here.
The first part (in the Costa translation) of the choose-your-own-adventure fragments reads like Proust joined an emo band and kept a Myspace page. The second part is like the diary of a depressed existential philosopher - if that diary were torn up into fragments and thrown into a tornado. Got it? Cool. Modernism!
It's worth mentioning that there are huge differences between various editions of this book. Not just the translations, though that's part of it, but also how the book is constructed and what's included. Costa's translation is roughly chronological and includes additional material from a second "author," while I believe Zenith's translation mostly pulls from the later content and is arranged more thematically. On balance, I think I like Zenith's version better for its prose quality, but they're both good.
Not a book for everyone, but boy oh boy is there a lot to chew on here.
guinness74's review
3.0
This is a tough one to review. There were a few gems in this, but the book taken as a whole was a little disappointing. I'm not sure what I expected, but this was a little too "dream state philosophy" for my taste. But again, if you're willing to sit through some of the rambling, you'll occasionally stumble across work that is genuinely profound.