Finished Jose Saramago's The Cave last night. It was difficult to read, although to be fair that's partly because I read mostly before falling asleep and that doesn't jibe well with a book that barely breaks up sentences, let alone paragraphs. When I had time to plow through large chunks at once it sailed along.
It was ultimately unsatisfyingly (if quite consciously on Saramago's part) blunt and heavy-handed -- the cave is such a classic allegory and in the end he absolutely beats you over the head with it, as he does with all the main metaphors -- but I'm glad I fought my way through it. The characters are deep and beautifully drawn, especially the dog, if you can believe that, and there is something fulfilling about finishing a book that's rich but that you don't especially like while you're reading it.
Actually, the more I think about it the more I'm glad I read it and the more positive things I find to think about. I will probably remember it pretty well, which says something. Anyway, on to the beach and therefore on to something(s) lighter.
It was ultimately unsatisfyingly (if quite consciously on Saramago's part) blunt and heavy-handed -- the cave is such a classic allegory and in the end he absolutely beats you over the head with it, as he does with all the main metaphors -- but I'm glad I fought my way through it. The characters are deep and beautifully drawn, especially the dog, if you can believe that, and there is something fulfilling about finishing a book that's rich but that you don't especially like while you're reading it.
Actually, the more I think about it the more I'm glad I read it and the more positive things I find to think about. I will probably remember it pretty well, which says something. Anyway, on to the beach and therefore on to something(s) lighter.
