Scan barcode
A review by zhoujj
Satantango by László Krasznahorkai
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I finished reading Satantango on a rainy day. It's been raining almost every day for weeks. My dehumidifier at home has been working extra hard; I have to empty its tank thrice a day. January in Singapore isn't supposed to be this rainy. (Climate change is real.) But it provided the perfect setting for me. The story takes place in a Hungarian village occupied by a bunch of drunk, perverted and honestly dull-witted characters. They kind of love and hate each other. And I kind of love and hate them. The ambiance is as depressing as it can get, but I loved every bit of it. Constant rain, lots of mildew and spiderwebs. It's heavy and airless. And very, very bleak.
This is not an easy read. I started on this almost 2 weeks ago and almost DNF'ed it, pausing and moving on to other books at 50%. The prose was beautifully written, but I was completely lost in the plot. Surely, after plowing through half the book, I must have a general idea of the story? What was I missing? Am I too dumb for this? Throughout the book, I felt like I was trying to get a vague outline of the narrative through a pair of smeary glasses dirtied with rainwater, mould and splatters of mud. The more I try to wipe the lenses, the blurrier my vision gets. But here's the thing – that is Krasznahorkai's very intention. Things will only begin to make sense towards the end, when he presents you with a potent detergent to finally wash all the grime away. Once you can see clearly, you'll be stunned.
I revisited some chapters at the front and they read much more freely, much more gloriously. For me this definitely deserves a reread sometime down the road.
If you're struggling with this book, it's understandable. But my suggestion is to really study the naming of the chapters as an overarching guide, and then approach every chapter as an individual short story. Don't try to piece them together. Don't even try to understand it. Don't expect a linear narrative to be spoon-fed to you because you're not getting any of that. Instead, enjoy his meandering sentences and flow along with it. Relax and appreciate the scenery along the way... yes, all the scenery that is fetid and decaying. This masterpiece is, as quoted from the book, all about the "triumphant, mad and contrary" nature of the world. All the trudging through the mud was worth it for me.
This is not an easy read. I started on this almost 2 weeks ago and almost DNF'ed it, pausing and moving on to other books at 50%. The prose was beautifully written, but I was completely lost in the plot. Surely, after plowing through half the book, I must have a general idea of the story? What was I missing? Am I too dumb for this? Throughout the book, I felt like I was trying to get a vague outline of the narrative through a pair of smeary glasses dirtied with rainwater, mould and splatters of mud. The more I try to wipe the lenses, the blurrier my vision gets. But here's the thing – that is Krasznahorkai's very intention. Things will only begin to make sense towards the end, when he presents you with a potent detergent to finally wash all the grime away. Once you can see clearly, you'll be stunned.
I revisited some chapters at the front and they read much more freely, much more gloriously. For me this definitely deserves a reread sometime down the road.
If you're struggling with this book, it's understandable. But my suggestion is to really study the naming of the chapters as an overarching guide, and then approach every chapter as an individual short story. Don't try to piece them together. Don't even try to understand it. Don't expect a linear narrative to be spoon-fed to you because you're not getting any of that. Instead, enjoy his meandering sentences and flow along with it. Relax and appreciate the scenery along the way... yes, all the scenery that is fetid and decaying. This masterpiece is, as quoted from the book, all about the "triumphant, mad and contrary" nature of the world. All the trudging through the mud was worth it for me.