What do you think?
Rate this book
Compositions
A four-movement book project, Compositions by Carissa Pobre sets out to explore the limits of poetic and essayistic languages in translating music—and it lands on something more intriguing in the process. Pobre herself doubts the feasibility of her project, quoting German philosopher and theorist Walter Benjamin in the prologue: “Music needs no translation.”
It is only through this act of letting go so early on, of course, that Compositions finds its voice. “When we write, we want to know. Of course we cannot ‘know,’” Pobre writes in the notes to the prologue. “In the event, we can write how we are trying to know.”
While Compositions starts with music, it touches on writing, history, memory, and more, inasmuch as music begins as one thing then starts permeating all of life. Pobre’s words are equal parts abstract and arrestingly physical. You’ll have the most fun just holding her hand and letting her take you where she takes you. (from an article published on CNN Life, 2023)
It is only through this act of letting go so early on, of course, that Compositions finds its voice. “When we write, we want to know. Of course we cannot ‘know,’” Pobre writes in the notes to the prologue. “In the event, we can write how we are trying to know.”
While Compositions starts with music, it touches on writing, history, memory, and more, inasmuch as music begins as one thing then starts permeating all of life. Pobre’s words are equal parts abstract and arrestingly physical. You’ll have the most fun just holding her hand and letting her take you where she takes you. (from an article published on CNN Life, 2023)
- GenresEssays
121 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2023
2 people are currently reading
14 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 of 1 review
July 27, 2024
I've been looking into reading more creative non-fiction books written by Filipino authors and I stumbled upon this book while in Everything's Fine. The premise sounded interesting but I didn't feel as connected with the author while reading the book. I felt like she was talking to me about a topic I don't appreciate or understand, try as I might. The first essay from this book stood out and it was my favorite among the other essays in this book.
Displaying 1 of 1 review