posted morning of Sunday, August 24th, 2008
➳ More posts about The Year of the Death of Ricardo Reis
➳ More posts about José Saramago
➳ More posts about Readings
➳ More posts about The Passionate War
You've read Homage to Catalonia, right?
posted morning of August 24th, 2008 by Randolph
Actually I have not, and I blush to say that... I am consistently less interested than I feel is right or proper, in reading Orwell. Isn't H to C more along the lines of a memoir than a history?
They did not have that book at the used book store (dialogue: Me -- "Do you have Homage to Catalonia?" Youngish punk-rocker clerk -- "Who's that by?" Me -- "George Orwell." Clerk, after busying herself with the computer for a bit -- "Uh, are you sure it's not 'Home-age to Catalonia'?" Me -- "Yeah, that's it!" Clerk -- "No, I think we're sold out of that."), but they did have The Passionate War by Peter Wyden, which looks like it will do the trick.
posted afternoon of August 24th, 2008 by Jeremy
A very journalistic memoir, however; it is more about the failure of the revolution than about Orwell. And there's a version available online, at http://www.george-orwell.org/Homage_to_Catalonia.
posted evening of August 24th, 2008 by Randolph
Thanks, I'll check it out.
posted morning of August 25th, 2008 by Jeremy
I read the book, and I thought it was very interesting not only because it is a novel, but also because you can actually learn something about what was going on in Portugal and Spain in 1936, when the Fascist system was getting stronger not only in Europe, but also on these two countries. But I must say that the theme "Spanish Civil War" doesn't appear directly, because the action takes place in Lisbon, Portugal but there's still a reference to it, from which you can learn, at the same time you are enjoying the novel.
I am portuguese myself, and eventhough I knew already something about the subject, I thought it was a nice book to read, altough, not easy for those who aren't used to José Saramago's writing. Still, I think you'll be pleased with the book, if history is something you are interested in.
Good reading
posted morning of January 10th, 2009 by Joana
Oops, I didn't realize that you were asking for opinions about other book, rather than "The year of death of Ricardo Reis"
Sorry for that, but at least you have my opinion
posted morning of January 10th, 2009 by Joana
Thanks for the input, Joana -- you're right, The Year of the Death of Ricardo Reis was interesting for its use of Portuguese and Spanish history -- it might be the most explicitly historical of Saramago's novels, among those I've read so far anyway. I was using "Spanish Civil War" broadly, to refer not just to the war itself but to the historical context this novel is taking place in. What did you think about The Stone Raft? -- I saw your name Joana on a comment about Saramago and did a double-take thinking of Joana Carda...
posted morning of January 10th, 2009 by Jeremy
