What do you think?
Rate this book
Portrait of a Hollow Man
“Slowly his eyes open. He struggles to separate his eyelids which have been sealed shut by the crust that has formed overnight.” With these words begins our journey through a day in the life of a nameless protagonist. On a dreary Monday in January, he faces the soul-draining monotony of his 9-to-5 job, all the while becoming more entangled in the seductive grip of technology. His battle with melancholy, apathy, and disconnection leads him on a profound quest to find meaning in a world where true empathy and depth are increasingly scarce.Set against a backdrop that vividly captures the cold, mechanized rhythm of modern life, Portrait of a Hollow Man delves deep into the human psyche. It challenges readers to ponder what it truly means to be human in the twenty-first century. This narrative is not just a story; it’s a mirror reflecting our technology-driven existence and a beacon of hope for finding salvation in our increasingly superficial world. Join him on this thought-provoking journey to uncover the essence of humanity beneath the shallow facade of our digital age.
236 pages, Hardcover
Published January 15, 2024
2 people are currently reading
2 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
December 31, 2023
A nameless protagonist recounts his dreadfully tedious 9-5 job, the monotony and the pointlessness of daily existence, the fight against digital addiction. He battles most of all though with himself, with his apathy towards everything he is forced to do, the disconnection to the things that matter to him. He attempts to seek professional help, is horrified at the need to speak for longer than he ever has, to open up, to put into words the feelings he experiences. His day is broken up occasionally with his writing, similar character portraits, psychological pictures of cashiers at supermarkets, dogs, drivers…
Portrait of a Hollow Man truly pushes the reader to examine ourselves, in the absurdity of the Hollow Man, to see the absurdity of us and our emotions, recognize that in the Hollow Man, who reaches constantly for his phone, we see pieces of ourself, who too cling to these metal blocks as if our life depends on us. This short literary fiction, with its limited and mostly emotionally empty plot, mirrors the spiritual and the social disconnect we increasingly feel. It’s a necessary work, there to prompt us to comparison, urge us towards change.
At times the pacing and the structuring of the novel is lacking, only the bits of writing the Hollow Man turns to, serve as a sort of connecting piece to bring the story together, to gain further insight into his thoughts. Perhaps because he is “hollow”, the reader never truly connects with the protagonist completely. More so than a novel to be enjoyed, it is a novel to read with reflection. What the novel lacks in literary merits, it makes up for in the themes explored and topics raised. 3/5.
Portrait of a Hollow Man truly pushes the reader to examine ourselves, in the absurdity of the Hollow Man, to see the absurdity of us and our emotions, recognize that in the Hollow Man, who reaches constantly for his phone, we see pieces of ourself, who too cling to these metal blocks as if our life depends on us. This short literary fiction, with its limited and mostly emotionally empty plot, mirrors the spiritual and the social disconnect we increasingly feel. It’s a necessary work, there to prompt us to comparison, urge us towards change.
At times the pacing and the structuring of the novel is lacking, only the bits of writing the Hollow Man turns to, serve as a sort of connecting piece to bring the story together, to gain further insight into his thoughts. Perhaps because he is “hollow”, the reader never truly connects with the protagonist completely. More so than a novel to be enjoyed, it is a novel to read with reflection. What the novel lacks in literary merits, it makes up for in the themes explored and topics raised. 3/5.
Displaying 1 of 1 review