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Os Assassinos
A trama ficcional de Os Assassinos tem lugar na América nos finais dos anos 60 e início da década de 70, nos anos dos assassínios políticos, dos homicídios rituais, da morte de estudantes pela polícia e de polícias por delinquentes, numa espiral de violência balizada pelo fim da utopia hippie e pelo pesadelo da guerra do Vietname.
Os Assassinos relata duas mortes violentas, uma no início do livro, outra no fim. Contudo, o núcleo dramático do romance não reside nestes homicídios, mas sim num modo de vida violento. E se o "american dream" é assim gravemente atingido, as força naturais da sociedade americana, os seus heróis positivos e redentores encontram neste romance, e na própria história mais recente dos EUA, uma oportunidade nova de salvação moral individual e colectiva… como nos filmes de Elia Kazan.
Os Assassinos relata duas mortes violentas, uma no início do livro, outra no fim. Contudo, o núcleo dramático do romance não reside nestes homicídios, mas sim num modo de vida violento. E se o "american dream" é assim gravemente atingido, as força naturais da sociedade americana, os seus heróis positivos e redentores encontram neste romance, e na própria história mais recente dos EUA, uma oportunidade nova de salvação moral individual e colectiva… como nos filmes de Elia Kazan.
392 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1972
11 people are currently reading
157 people want to read
About the author
Elia Kazan
49 books50 followersCredits of Turkish-born American stage and film director Elia Kazan include
A Streetcar Named Desire
(1947) of Tennessee Williams and the movies
On the Waterfront
(1954) and
East of Eden
(1955).
This award-winning theatrical producer, screenwriter, and novelist co-founded of the influential actors studio in New York in 1947. Kazan won Academy Award thrice, Tony Award five times, and Golden Globes four times and received numerous awards and nominations in other prestigious festivals as the Cannes film festival and the Venice film festival.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elia_Kazan
This award-winning theatrical producer, screenwriter, and novelist co-founded of the influential actors studio in New York in 1947. Kazan won Academy Award thrice, Tony Award five times, and Golden Globes four times and received numerous awards and nominations in other prestigious festivals as the Cannes film festival and the Venice film festival.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elia_Kazan
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
October 4, 2017
A rather irritating book about how drugs are bad
21 July 2010
I really did not think much of this book when I read it, and I guess I read it expecting it to be about hit men. It wasn't. It is interesting that the subtitle on Facebook refers to it as 'a shocking novel of today'. I do not think it is, but I write this now having just watched Easy Rider and I guess this book gives a more conservative view of the counter culture and I do not think Kazan is all that supportive of it.
Cesario Flores is member of the US Airforce, and a very conservative individual, and when his daughter, Juana, sleeps with one of the local counter cultural teenagers, he takes the law into his own hands and kills him. Most of the book is about his trial and the reaction of the leader of the teenagers, one Michael Winter, to the murder. Cesario is acquitted of the murder, despite the fact that he did it intentionally and in cold blood. He then goes on with his life.
The opposite happens to Michael Winter. While he is a member of the counter culture, Kazan portrays him as a loser whose life descends into a spiral of destruction, which results in him leaving the country. He is not portrayed in a pretty light and ends up wondering South America, lost and alone. He is unable to really fit in anywhere.
Kazan is probably right in portraying the drug culture as ultimately destructive. The truth is that nothing good really ever comes from such a culture, and to be blunt, alcohol is no better. While the difference between alcohol and drugs is that one can have a drink and be still in full control of their faculties, this is not the case with drugs, and many people who get caught up in the drug culture end up wasting their lives. It might seem fun for a while, but the after effects are not. As Michael says in the book when he drops acid 'I feel that I can be myself under this'. Well, you're not yourself, you are affected by drugs, and you will probably end up doing something you will regret.
However murder is still murder, and we simply cannot go and take the law into our own hands. If we did then society will simply collapse. We may not like the counter-culture, and yes it may hurt when our children drift over into it, but instead of meeting it with violence, we must accept that this is going to happen, and when they come running back to us, knowing that they have done wrong, then we must be there to take them back, much like the parable of the prodigal son. As Jesus says, we have all sinned and turned away from God, but God is standing there, waiting for us to return to him, and the offer is only open for a short time. We need to strike while the iron is hot.
21 July 2010
I really did not think much of this book when I read it, and I guess I read it expecting it to be about hit men. It wasn't. It is interesting that the subtitle on Facebook refers to it as 'a shocking novel of today'. I do not think it is, but I write this now having just watched Easy Rider and I guess this book gives a more conservative view of the counter culture and I do not think Kazan is all that supportive of it.
Cesario Flores is member of the US Airforce, and a very conservative individual, and when his daughter, Juana, sleeps with one of the local counter cultural teenagers, he takes the law into his own hands and kills him. Most of the book is about his trial and the reaction of the leader of the teenagers, one Michael Winter, to the murder. Cesario is acquitted of the murder, despite the fact that he did it intentionally and in cold blood. He then goes on with his life.
The opposite happens to Michael Winter. While he is a member of the counter culture, Kazan portrays him as a loser whose life descends into a spiral of destruction, which results in him leaving the country. He is not portrayed in a pretty light and ends up wondering South America, lost and alone. He is unable to really fit in anywhere.
Kazan is probably right in portraying the drug culture as ultimately destructive. The truth is that nothing good really ever comes from such a culture, and to be blunt, alcohol is no better. While the difference between alcohol and drugs is that one can have a drink and be still in full control of their faculties, this is not the case with drugs, and many people who get caught up in the drug culture end up wasting their lives. It might seem fun for a while, but the after effects are not. As Michael says in the book when he drops acid 'I feel that I can be myself under this'. Well, you're not yourself, you are affected by drugs, and you will probably end up doing something you will regret.
However murder is still murder, and we simply cannot go and take the law into our own hands. If we did then society will simply collapse. We may not like the counter-culture, and yes it may hurt when our children drift over into it, but instead of meeting it with violence, we must accept that this is going to happen, and when they come running back to us, knowing that they have done wrong, then we must be there to take them back, much like the parable of the prodigal son. As Jesus says, we have all sinned and turned away from God, but God is standing there, waiting for us to return to him, and the offer is only open for a short time. We need to strike while the iron is hot.
February 5, 2018
I have rather mixed opinions about this book. The plot itself wasn't all that gripping, however it served as a background to the social conflict between the hippies and the military. And that was quite interesting. I've also liked how the trial had nothing to do with justice and how everyone involved were just puppets of various groups of interest.
I am torn about the characters themselves - on one hand they are beautifully flawed, on the other they seemed a bit... exaggerated and their interactions didn't really seem that realistic.
I am torn about the characters themselves - on one hand they are beautifully flawed, on the other they seemed a bit... exaggerated and their interactions didn't really seem that realistic.
June 4, 2023
Es un libro que me ha enganchado desde el principio y que te hace comprobar como el mundo sigue igual cincuenta años después. En primer lugar denuncia clara de la sociedad manipulada, primeramente por los medios que deciden qué noticia es importante y cómo deben contarla para seguir manteniendo todo como siempre, igual que ocurre ahora, creando, a través de su relato de los acontecimientos, los héroes y villanos, y cómo los demás actúan en base a cómo van a publicarse sus acciones, lo que hacen, pero también pueden observar cómo se tergiversa lo realmente ocurrido para que esos medios publiquen lo que ellos quieren, lo que les conviene a ellos. El ejemplo es Flores, le utilizan para no mache el nombre de la élite a la que pertenecen, le defienden, y una vez acabado el ruido mediático le darán de lado, ya no les importa su vida pues ya está fuera de su círculo a proteger.
Importante el vender que solo su modo de vida es aceptable, aunque sean unos violentos, asesinos, borrachos, infieles, maltratadores, da igual, van limpios, tiene dinero, y no se dejan ver drogados como esos "hippies". La cultura del aparentar y vender una mentira. Pues ellos son también parte del problema, sobre todo de las drogas y del descontento y desapego de esa sociedad hipócrita que nos intentan vender.
Dos juguetes rotos, Flores y Michael, cada uno de un círculo diferente. El Establishment destruirá a ambos.
Me ha resultado curioso que el tema del racismo pase de puntillas, pues Flores es un mexicano en las fuerzas aéreas, un grupo realmente ultraderechista, y se deje de lado.
Importante el vender que solo su modo de vida es aceptable, aunque sean unos violentos, asesinos, borrachos, infieles, maltratadores, da igual, van limpios, tiene dinero, y no se dejan ver drogados como esos "hippies". La cultura del aparentar y vender una mentira. Pues ellos son también parte del problema, sobre todo de las drogas y del descontento y desapego de esa sociedad hipócrita que nos intentan vender.
Dos juguetes rotos, Flores y Michael, cada uno de un círculo diferente. El Establishment destruirá a ambos.
Me ha resultado curioso que el tema del racismo pase de puntillas, pues Flores es un mexicano en las fuerzas aéreas, un grupo realmente ultraderechista, y se deje de lado.
January 26, 2022
Another golden oldie from Lucy's treasure box. This one is a bit dated but nonetheless interesting novel pitting the hippies versus the establishment in a courtroom drama. Lots of "balling" going on with them dirty long hairs. I imagine it was considered quite risque in the early 70s.
December 7, 2017
military man kills hippy protest trial good thru out but ending
May 4, 2020
Bit of a throwback, but it held up fairly well. A good read.
June 20, 2020
Read in 1974. Mystery drama by famed movie director.
March 23, 2021
THIS WAS SO GOOD !!!!
Read
September 11, 2021Read around 1.5 chapters and realized I couldn't go on. No regrets!
October 22, 2024
Dupy nie urywa, ale też nie boli
October 23, 2024
Novela que engancha, crítica con la sociedad EEUU y con los privilegios de ciertas clases, muestra lo manipulable de la sociedad y los prejuicios. Único punto en contra me decepcionó el final
November 30, 2017
Una storia della provincia americana degli anni '60, un assassino per cui parteggia un intero paese, a scapito del morto e di ciò che rappresenta, e cioè il mondo della contestazione al sistema e della conseguente emarginazione, il fenomeno nascente degli Hippy e della cultura della droga.
Questo libro ci immerge in quell'atmosfera, ma è nello stesso tempo avvincente per la sua trama, un intreccio da legal-thriller, che non tralascia gli aspeti psicologici dei vari personaggi.
Questo libro ci immerge in quell'atmosfera, ma è nello stesso tempo avvincente per la sua trama, un intreccio da legal-thriller, che non tralascia gli aspeti psicologici dei vari personaggi.
May 31, 2014
Totally NOT what I expected, but good none the less. It reminds me of the Zimmerman case in a sense. I do believe that when violence happens, though one person pulls the trigger, they're not the only one guilty (hence the title).
July 10, 2009
Uno de mis libros policíacos favoritos... ni modo
July 7, 2011
Not everything is what it seems. Bella thought that Wailkes is a good guy, but he killed the president.
July 8, 2012
É excelente! Um retrato impiedoso da América. A não perder!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews