Jose' Saramago Trilogy: The Year of the Death of Ricardo Reis, The Gospel According to Jesus Christ, Blindness Translated by Giovanni Pontiero

by José Saramago

Includes 3 of the author's best The Year of the Death of Ricardo Reis; The Gospel According to Jesus Christ; Blindness

Genres: Fiction

Unknown Binding

About the author

José de Sousa Saramago (16 November 1922 – 18 June 2010) was a Portuguese novelist and recipient of the 1998 Nobel Prize in Literature, for his "parables sustained by imagination, compassion and irony [with which he] continually enables us once again to apprehend an elusory reality." His works, some of which have been seen as allegories, commonly present subversive perspectives on historic events, emphasizing the theopoetic. In 2003 Harold Bloom described Saramago as "the most gifted novelist alive in the world today."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%...

Reviews

[Caitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have so far only read the last novel in the anthology "Blindness." I figure I will just add to the review if and when I read the other two. I finished this book a few weeks ago for a book club but have delayed in reviewing it because it so confounded me that I feel I don't know where to start.

I will start with what I like about it. Saramago's writing style is all his own. It has a lovely cadence and is idiosyncratic in that dialogue of more than one person will be in the same paragraph with no quotation marks, and often no differentiation comments such as "he said." There is just enough of them though so that as a reader you can follow who is saying what. This is a book that demands full attention so you don't miss anything.

I like that the narrator makes sardonic comments about the situation that the characters are in. And he is not fully omniscient. He doesn't know why the tragedy that has ensued took place, or what is ultimately to be done. He makes a lot of assumptions about the characters and their reasoning (or lack thereof). A narrator like that keeps you on your toes.

Now the confounding part: the book is disgusting and violent and full of depravity from beginning to end. A mysterious plague of "white blindness" has struck an unnamed city. It isn't even stated if the disease has gone through the whole country. It starts out innocently enough where a man stops his car in the middle of the street because he has been stricken blind. Suddenly it is an epidemic and the first groups of people get quarantined. The real bad guy in the book is fear. Fear (naturally) takes over the town and everyone responds to it in their own self-serving way. It is terrifying how quickly people become monsters, I was going to say animals, but animals don't suffer from the moral depravity that quickly settles over this town. I can't say much more because it would spoil the plot, which is the only thing that drives you to keep reading: you just have to know how this ends!

The book is thought provoking in it's social satire/commentary, but it is hard to figure out just what Saramago is suggesting. I ultimately recommend the book because it is so interesting and different. It even seems to be making fun of dystopian literature. But there are definitely little jewels of wisdom to be gleaned. I didn't enjoy reading it but I think it is going to stay with me for a long time.

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is for the book "Blindness". I am finally done with it. It is the winner of the Pulitzer so that says something for it. Its chilling, scary and really makes you think about humanity and humans and their interactions and limits and fears and cruelties and how they will react or act when put in a 'certain' situation, not to spoil the books plot. Its gripping and definitely an 'eye-opener' no pun intended on the books title. Actually if it was a movie, I probably would have wanted to close my eyes at times or be blind like some of the characters. I can see why the author won a Pulitzer although I'm not sure if it was for this book or not. It is a noirish, dark and scary story that examines humans basic primordial insticts and habits as well as fears. I believe some of the best fiction, that I have read, comes from authors who write about something that is very feasible therefore easy to relate to and this book sucks you in and really makes you try to put yourself in the shoes or of the characters. Overall one of the darker novels i've read in my life. Right up there with Cormac McCarthy's 'The Road', which I highly recommend especially if you've read 'Blindness'.

[Edmond Yomtoob · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the most interesting disturbing book Ive read ever. I remember reading it at a coffee house and this woman stopped me to asked me whare I was in the book. She couldnt decide if the book was about to get better or worse. The plot got more and more disturbing, but the book's message about abject conformity to authority became more and more crystal clear.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

The edition I read included only The Gospel According to JC. This was recommended by a friend and it's been lying around the house for a couple of years. Finally Paul read it and was bowled over. The title is daunting but I'd say that this is probably one of the most profound books I've read in years. Also funny. And very moving. Ack! What a world we live in. Can't wait to read Blindness.

[Pro]

5/9/2007