Wikipedia i know, lazy research sums up the style thusly. Ensaio sobre a cegueira, meaning essay on blindness is a novel by portuguese author jose saramago. What do you think are the main reasons for the novelists adoption of the stream of consciousness technique in. Ive never read any saramago, but my copy of blindness mooched over a year ago has been sitting in my tbr for over a year. Blindness free pdf, doc, fb2, rtf free download ebook. Think about what kinds of blindness we might have in our own lives, as well as what blindness symbolized in this book. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 326 pages and is available in paperback format. Blindness harvest book by jose saramago reading guide.
This allegorical story had different meanings to each of our members. A driver stalled at a busy intersection suddenly suffers an attack of white blindness no other color, or any shape, is. Here is the link to buy it on amazon but there were also 6 used copies at the strand when we bought ours this week. Jose saramago was awarded a nobel prize for literature in 1998.
Here is the link to buy it on amazon but there were also 6 used copies at. In 1998 he was awarded the nobel prize for literature. The title of this book is blindness harvest book and it was written by jose saramago, giovanni pontiero translator. Saramago s chilling thriller about an epidemic of white blindness that affects everyone in its path is a truly remarkable tale of loss and a metaphor for the horrors of humankind. Discussion questions a pocalyptic stories are always in demand. What exactly it is we should see, what saramago with all his years as a man and a writer and having lived through dictatorship and revolution fears we cannot see, is present in the writing, present abundantly, but it is not to be paraphrased. Jose saramagos writing style is unique and, at times, very dense given that he largely dispenes with paragraphs and character names, but well worth persevering with.
Blindness, a novel by portuguese author jose saramago, depicts the dystopian outcome of a plague of white blindness, clunky a mysterious disease that eventually becomes known among the novels characters as the white evil. Saramagos experimental style often features long sentences, at times more than a page long. Our book club had one of our best discussions ever with this book. The first edition of the novel was published in 1995, and was written by jose saramago. In blindness by jose saramago, authortells us the story of a mysterious. Pdf blindness book by jose saramago free download 326. One thing i go through during the experience of reading a book, is that in the times of the day when i am not actually reading i catch myself thinking about the kind of person that writes such a book, while reading blindness i thought about what a visionary and sensitive person saramago must be, but on a vanal side i kept thinking he must have. What do you think are the main reasons for the novelists adoption of the stream of consciousness technique in blindness. Blindness, by jose saramago, can cross cultures, and was an amazing personal experience. I found this book hard emotionally to read, but harder mentally and physically to put down.
Free download or read online blindness pdf epub book. This is a book that uses blindness as a parable about society. Myla goldberg says saramago vividly illustrates disasters potential to bring out both the best and the worst in. An opthamologist tries to diagnose his distinctive white blindness, but is affected before he can read the textbooks. Jose saramago was a nobellaureate portuguese novelist, playwright and journalist. Thoughtprovoking quotes by nobel laureate jose saramago. Alix wilber absurd to say it, but the blindness in saramagos novel is an allegory for not being able to see. Saramago quickly introduces the malady, recounting the first infection within the first few pages of the novel. Some years ago a reliable friend told me i should read jose saramagos blindness.
Visa, mastercard, american express paypal, diners club and discover. Blindness, a book about the consequences of a whole population suddenly losing its sight, is harrowing, but only too easy to believe. Here is a compilation of quotations and thoughts by the renowned writer whose writings emphasize human factor. I knew some of my book club friends count this book as one of their favorites, and ive been told this particular novel is a good starting point for saramago, but i put off reading it because i wanted a fresh reading for the scheduled book discussion in other words. Surely, saramago is in a league that requires comparison with such writers, on the basis not only of skill but subject matter, too. What exactly it is we should see, what saramago with all his. The case of saramagos blindness disability studies quarterly. Jose saramago three novels the year of the death of ricardo ries the gospel according to jesus christ blindness jose saramago published by quality paperback book club 1999. However once i became accustomed to it i felt it helped immerse me in the story.
Saramagos blindness is an excellent source of discussion for a book club. I gave it 2 stars on account of 3 people in my book club liked it and i tend to respect. Blindness is a novel by portuguese author jose saramago. Blindness is in many ways a horrific novel, detailing as it does the total breakdown in society that follows upon this most unnatural disaster.
The main characters of this fiction, science fiction story are the doctor blindness, the doctors wife. To prevent a pandemic, the government quarantines the first stricken, including the doctor an optometrist and the doctors wife, the latter of whom is obviously immune to the disease. Blindness jose saramago, 1995 houghton mifflin harcourt 352 pp. Blindness by jose saramago bookbub book club books, book lists, good books. When i first started reading saramago i struggled with it a bit. Blindness harvest book by jose saramago, giovanni pontiero. The following questions are intended to help readers better grasp the varied layers of the work. Blindness is the darkest and most concentrated of saramago s books. Blindness t his months book is blindness by the portuguese nobel prize winner jose saramago.
Blindness book edmonton public library bibliocommons. I would suggest that the leader of the discussion find a study guide. Jose saramago 19222010 was the author of many novels, among them. Saramagos chilling thriller about an epidemic of white blindness that affects everyone in its path is a truly remarkable tale of loss and a metaphor for the horrors of humankind. Apr 14, 2006 seeing by jose saramago, translated by margaret jull costa 352pp, harvill secker. All content included on our site, such as text, images, digital downloads and other, is the property of its content suppliers and protected by us and international laws.
The embattled relationships among the people of a city mysteriously struck by an epidemic of blindness form the core of this superb novel by the internationally acclaimed saramago, the portugese author of, most recently, the history of the siege of lisbon 1997. Blindness, as a multidimensional novel, is rich in philosophical, social, and political implications. Authorities confine the blind to an empty mental hospital, but there the criminal element holds everyone captive, stealing food rations and raping women. Jose saramago 19222010 was the author of many novels, among them blindness, all the names, baltasar and blimunda, and the year of the death of ricardo reis. Blindness book san francisco public library bibliocommons. Saramago takes his characters to the very edge of humanity and then pushes them over the precipice. Eventually, the doctors group escapes and returns to his house, where the world starts to return to normal. After lengthy and traumatic quarantine in an asylum, the group bands together in. The famous portuguese author jose saramago paints a cold and halting portrait of what it would be like were blindness suddenly contagious. It is one of his most famous novels, along with the gospel according to jesus christ and baltasar and blimunda. Jose saramago tells the grim tale of a city devastated by an epidemic of blindness. Jun 29, 2009 dont get me wrong, blindness is a compelling story and an affecting allegory, but the style tends to gets in the way. The novel is hugely rewarding and saramago tells us much about the dangers we face today and the facile political assumptions, such as democracy and law and order, that so many of us take for granted.
Jose saramago portuguese writer, 1998 nobel prize in literature book. The author reveals a keen understanding of the human condition and presents his insight in a most unconventional way. Ursula k le guin acclaims jose saramagos seeing, a nobel laureates. Authorities confine the blind to an empty mental hospital, but there the criminal element holds everyone captive, stealing food rations, and assaulting women. We follow this microcosm of society for the duration of the book. This, on the face of it, is an odd description of blindness, for in that book it is. Authorities confine the blind to a vacant mental hospital secured by armed guards.
The template infobox book is being considered for merging. A city is hit by an epidemic of white blindness which spares no one. Analysis of blindness by jose saramago english literature essay. Blindness by jose saramago a city is hit by an epidemic of white blindness that spares no one. From nobel prizewinning author jose saramago, a magnificent, mesmeri. Jose saramagos blindness and the endless darkness of the. His works, some of which can be seen as allegories, commonly present subversive perspectives on historic events, emphasizing the human factor. Blindness harvest book by jose saramago reading guidebook. Authorities confine the blind to an empty mental hospital, but there the criminal element holds. Our book club was considering reading blindness for our once a year. Go through the famous quotes and sayings by jose saramago on writing, regrets, sincerity, soul, perception, literature, order, acceptance, books, reading, religion and life. Analysis of blindness by jose saramago english literature. Blindness comprises the first half of a two part series of essays the original portuguese title translates as essay on blindness.
Jun 05, 2017 in fact, it is fitting that camus and kafka come to mind in considering this book, if only as a kind of speed rating. There is one eyewitness to this nightmare who guides seven strangersamong them a boy with no mother, a girl with dark glasses, a dog of tearsthrough the barren. This book has been saramago s most widely read book, partly because of the 2008 release of the movie, directed by brazilian director fernando meirelles, based on novel. Saramago was a proponent of anarchocommunism, failed verification and a member of the communist party of portugal, however, in his. The way the group in the hospital interact initially is fascinating, but the. Blindness is abounding in the perseverance and hope and absurdity and horror of everyday lives, blindness is of the ages. Fiction this nobel prizewinning author delivers a compelling story of survival during a modern day plague, and although haunting, the main message is one of the human spirit full of strength and survival. Dec 20, 2015 blindness by jose saramago in doc, fb2, rtf download ebook. In 1998, saramago received the nobel prize for literature, and blindness was one of his works noted by the committee when announcing the award. Jul 20, 2007 blindness by jose saramago what do you think his writing style symbolizes look at the text, the punctuation, the indentations. Lori recommended reading the followup book to blindness, so i added it to my toread list only because of the plot. Blindness is the account of an epidemic in which people lose their sight.
My book club is meeting on tuesday to discuss this book. Translated from the portuguese by giovanni pontiero. In 1998, saramago received the nobel prize for literature, and blindness was one of his works noted by the. This book is about the chaos that ensues when a city is struck with an epidemic of blindness in which its victims see only white. Inside, the criminal element among the blind hold the rest captive. With such a large and varying cast of characters including young children, a mother and an elderly man, narrator jonathan davis gives a truly rousing performance. A city is hit by an epidemic of white blindness that spares no one. A stunningly powerful novel of mans will to survive against all odds, by the winner of the 1998 nobel prize for literature. Absurd to say it, but the blindness in saramago s novel is an allegory for not being able to see. In this installment, ted gioia focuses on blindness by jose saramago. This book has been saramagos most widely read book, partly because of the 2008 release of the movie, directed by brazilian director fernando meirelles, based on novel.
619 1272 579 405 1243 11 720 810 1062 629 1480 1293 538 1593 843 1027 467 1292 1026 1653 1250 1270 675 962 341 1201 276 192 175 1616 879 892 402 616 1138 1073 736 1663 1028 1248 292 285 1332 222 911 292 1481 523 1466