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Ptasiek #1
Ptasiek
An inventive, hypnotic novel about friendship and family, love and war, madness and beauty, and, above all, "birdness." Wharton crafts an unforgettable tale--one that suggests another notion of sanity in a world that is manifestly insane.
372 pages, Paperback
First published December 12, 1978
211 people are currently reading
7498 people want to read
About the author
William Wharton
39 books262 followersWilliam Wharton (7 November 1925 - 29 October 2008), the pen name of the author Albert William Du Aime (pronounced as doo-EM), was an American-born author best known for his first novel Birdy, which was also successful as a film.
Wharton was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Upper Darby High School in 1943, and was inducted into the school's Wall of Fame in 1997. He volunteered to serve in the United States Army during World War II, and was assigned to serve in a unit to be trained as engineers. He ended up being assigned to serve in the infantry and was severely wounded in the Battle of the Bulge. After his discharge, he attended the University of California, Los Angeles and received a undergraduate degree in art and a doctorate in psychology, later teaching art in the Los Angeles Unified School District.
His first novel Birdy was published in 1978 when he was more than 50 years old. Birdy was a critical and popular success, and Alan Parker directed a film version starring Nicolas Cage and Matthew Modine. After the publication of Birdy and through the early 1990s, Du Aime published eight novels, including Dad and A Midnight Clear, both of which were also filmed, the former starring Jack Lemmon.
Many of the protagonists of Wharton's novels, despite having different names and backgrounds, have similar experiences, attitudes, and traits that lead one to presume that they are partly autobiographical[citation needed]. There is precious little certifiable biography available about Wharton / Du Aime. He served in France and Germany in World War II in the 87th Infantry Division, was a painter, spent part of his adult life living on a houseboat as an artist in France, raised several children (not all of whom appreciated his philosophy of child-rearing), is a reasonably skilled carpenter and handyman, and has suffered from profound gastrointestinal problems.
In 1988, Wharton's daughter, Kate; his son-in-law, Bert; and their two children, two-year-old Dayiel and eight-month-old Mia, were killed in a horrific 23-car motor vehicle accident near Albany, Oregon, that was caused by the smoke generated by grass-burning on nearby farmland. In 1995, Wharton wrote a (mostly) non-fiction book, Ever After: A Father's True Story, in which he recounts the incidents leading up to the accident, his family's subsequent grief, and the three years he devoted to pursuing redress in the Oregon court system for the field-burning that caused the accident. Houseboat on Seine, a memoir, was published in 1996, about Wharton's purchase and renovation of a houseboat.
It is worth to be noted that he gained an enormous and very hard to be explained popularity in Poland, which was followed by many editions as well as meetings and, eventually, some works prepared and edited only in Polish.
Wharton died on October 29, 2008 of an infection he contracted while being hospitalized for blood-pressure problems.
Wharton was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Upper Darby High School in 1943, and was inducted into the school's Wall of Fame in 1997. He volunteered to serve in the United States Army during World War II, and was assigned to serve in a unit to be trained as engineers. He ended up being assigned to serve in the infantry and was severely wounded in the Battle of the Bulge. After his discharge, he attended the University of California, Los Angeles and received a undergraduate degree in art and a doctorate in psychology, later teaching art in the Los Angeles Unified School District.
His first novel Birdy was published in 1978 when he was more than 50 years old. Birdy was a critical and popular success, and Alan Parker directed a film version starring Nicolas Cage and Matthew Modine. After the publication of Birdy and through the early 1990s, Du Aime published eight novels, including Dad and A Midnight Clear, both of which were also filmed, the former starring Jack Lemmon.
Many of the protagonists of Wharton's novels, despite having different names and backgrounds, have similar experiences, attitudes, and traits that lead one to presume that they are partly autobiographical[citation needed]. There is precious little certifiable biography available about Wharton / Du Aime. He served in France and Germany in World War II in the 87th Infantry Division, was a painter, spent part of his adult life living on a houseboat as an artist in France, raised several children (not all of whom appreciated his philosophy of child-rearing), is a reasonably skilled carpenter and handyman, and has suffered from profound gastrointestinal problems.
In 1988, Wharton's daughter, Kate; his son-in-law, Bert; and their two children, two-year-old Dayiel and eight-month-old Mia, were killed in a horrific 23-car motor vehicle accident near Albany, Oregon, that was caused by the smoke generated by grass-burning on nearby farmland. In 1995, Wharton wrote a (mostly) non-fiction book, Ever After: A Father's True Story, in which he recounts the incidents leading up to the accident, his family's subsequent grief, and the three years he devoted to pursuing redress in the Oregon court system for the field-burning that caused the accident. Houseboat on Seine, a memoir, was published in 1996, about Wharton's purchase and renovation of a houseboat.
It is worth to be noted that he gained an enormous and very hard to be explained popularity in Poland, which was followed by many editions as well as meetings and, eventually, some works prepared and edited only in Polish.
Wharton died on October 29, 2008 of an infection he contracted while being hospitalized for blood-pressure problems.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 473 reviews
January 2, 2018
In my teens William Wharton was very popular in Poland. I believe it’s all started with Birdy. At least for me. I read then quite a number of his novels and even though I didn’t think much of him for years but only for Birdy and A Midnight Clear, and maybe Dad he had and still has a very special place in my heart. Not sure what prompted me to reread that one but here I was, with a flush on my cheeks, like a teenager I used to be, once again fascinated and totally preoccupied with the story.
You may read Birdy, at least at first, like a wonderful and adventurous tale about friendship and boyhood, a tribute to dreamers and escapists. Believe me, it’s hard not to laugh reading about all these silly boyish things or dangerous at times antics. But slowly as the story unfolds before your eyes dark and more disturbing things are revealing. The whole story starts in mental hospital when Al, crippled by the war, not only physically but also mentally, visits his childhood friend, the strange, skinny boy called Birdy. Narration is divided into two sections. The first one create memoirs of Al trying to remind events from the past to reach Birdy, to touch something hidden deeper inside him, to shake him out of catatonic state he seems to be immersed. The second voice belongs to Birdy and is a kind of inner monologue as he describes his fascination with birds and flying and freedom. And birdness. And from now it reads more like a report of illness.
There is such a fine line between creativity and inventiveness, need for own inner world and imaginary friend and falling into abyss and mental disorder. Between things that exist here and now and states we experience only in our heads, in our dreams. I thought the story was well written, without sentimentality or winking to the reader. I would object if someone looks at Birdy only as a tale about misfits or people no adapted to the world. I do not know if it mirrors any war experiences of the author but I found it reliable and rather real. I’ve learned quite a lot about birdness too but also about frailty of the mind and power of imagination and human spirit. I can’t do the justice to Birdy and for I don’t want to reveal too much I’ll say nothing more.
May 22, 2019
'Birdy' was author William Wharton's first novel, written at age 50. It is a story of two boys growing up in a poor suburb of Philadelphia who have one of those puzzling friendships, due to the boys' different natures, that somehow works. Birdy is a gifted youth obsessed with birds and flying and raises pigeons and canaries. Alfonso, his best friend, is a child abused by a gruff father. He channels his anger into playing sports, at which he excels, and beating people up, at which he also excels. Both share a strict Catholic school upbringing that neither seems to take too seriously.
In the novel, both are narrators and the setting is a military mental hospital in Kentucky where Birdy has been confined after suffering trauma fighting in the Pacific Theater in WW II. Alfonso is brought to the hospital by Birdy's psychiatrist because Birdy's trauma has caused him to act like a bird. He doesn't talk and squats and has to be fed like a bird by his attendant and has the "thousand-yard stare" common to traumatized war victims.
Alfonzo has his own psychological issues and is at Fort Dix undergoing reconstructive surgeries after being shot up in a skirmish in Germany. He visits Birdy daily and talks about the old days they spent together. Alfonzo is not a person of deep psychological insight but does realize that Birdy is acting like a bird to get away from whatever bad things happened to him in the war.
Several reviewers have speculated that this novel was a way for author Wharton to work out his own "issues" from trauma he suffered in World War II. Here's a line from Wikipedia that seems to support this:
"Wharton was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. From "a poor, hard-working, Catholic family",[1] he graduated from Upper Darby High School in 1943, and was inducted into the school's Wall of Fame in 1997. During World War II, Wharton served in the United States Army and was first assigned to an engineering unit. He was transferred to the infantry, and was severely wounded in the Battle of the Bulge. His memoirs included an account of his role in the killing of German prisoners during the war - "War for me, though brief, had been a soul-shaking trauma. I was scared, miserable, and I lost confidence in human beings, especially myself."
His war experiences seem to be a combination of Alfonzo's and Birdy's, as Birdy was also originally assigned to an engineering unit and Alfonzo was an infantry soldier fighting in Europe. He is not wounded in the Ardennes, as Wharton was, but he is severely wounded and has a long recovery.
Wharton became a psychologist after returning from the war and waited over twenty years to write this book. By the time he wrote it, much more was known about PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), but men (and women) of Wharton's generation were not encouraged to talk about what happened in the war, especially if they saw hard combat, and those veterans unable to function in society were labeled as "shell-shocked" and looked down upon by some peers and many civilians. I think, in part, that this book is Wharton's way of exorcising his own demons about the war while showing the sorts of psychological problems that arise from severe trauma. He succeeds admirably in doing this.
That said, 'Birdy' was not always an easy book to read. At its best, the book's narratives are balanced and equal time is given to Birdy's reminisces about his bird-obsessed past and Alfonzo's attempts to bring Birdy out of his shell, so to speak, by rehashing childhood exploits. About two-thirds through the book, however, Birdy riffs on a lengthy explication of the intricacies of raising canaries that somewhat resembles the divagations on whales in 'Moby Dick,' though with a bit less gravitas. I found this section "readable" but it was slow-going for a person as neurotic and addled as I am :).
'Birdy' is one of those books that I'd been meaning to read for years, after watching the excellent movie version starring Matthew Modine as Birdy and Nicholas Cage (back in the days when he still played roles for art's sake) as Alfonzo. Somehow, thirty years passed between the time I first saw the movie and read the book. It is a flawed but beautiful book that humanizes trauma and shows the power of friendship as a bulwark to help us deal with the things that can break us.
In the novel, both are narrators and the setting is a military mental hospital in Kentucky where Birdy has been confined after suffering trauma fighting in the Pacific Theater in WW II. Alfonso is brought to the hospital by Birdy's psychiatrist because Birdy's trauma has caused him to act like a bird. He doesn't talk and squats and has to be fed like a bird by his attendant and has the "thousand-yard stare" common to traumatized war victims.
Alfonzo has his own psychological issues and is at Fort Dix undergoing reconstructive surgeries after being shot up in a skirmish in Germany. He visits Birdy daily and talks about the old days they spent together. Alfonzo is not a person of deep psychological insight but does realize that Birdy is acting like a bird to get away from whatever bad things happened to him in the war.
Several reviewers have speculated that this novel was a way for author Wharton to work out his own "issues" from trauma he suffered in World War II. Here's a line from Wikipedia that seems to support this:
"Wharton was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. From "a poor, hard-working, Catholic family",[1] he graduated from Upper Darby High School in 1943, and was inducted into the school's Wall of Fame in 1997. During World War II, Wharton served in the United States Army and was first assigned to an engineering unit. He was transferred to the infantry, and was severely wounded in the Battle of the Bulge. His memoirs included an account of his role in the killing of German prisoners during the war - "War for me, though brief, had been a soul-shaking trauma. I was scared, miserable, and I lost confidence in human beings, especially myself."
His war experiences seem to be a combination of Alfonzo's and Birdy's, as Birdy was also originally assigned to an engineering unit and Alfonzo was an infantry soldier fighting in Europe. He is not wounded in the Ardennes, as Wharton was, but he is severely wounded and has a long recovery.
Wharton became a psychologist after returning from the war and waited over twenty years to write this book. By the time he wrote it, much more was known about PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), but men (and women) of Wharton's generation were not encouraged to talk about what happened in the war, especially if they saw hard combat, and those veterans unable to function in society were labeled as "shell-shocked" and looked down upon by some peers and many civilians. I think, in part, that this book is Wharton's way of exorcising his own demons about the war while showing the sorts of psychological problems that arise from severe trauma. He succeeds admirably in doing this.
That said, 'Birdy' was not always an easy book to read. At its best, the book's narratives are balanced and equal time is given to Birdy's reminisces about his bird-obsessed past and Alfonzo's attempts to bring Birdy out of his shell, so to speak, by rehashing childhood exploits. About two-thirds through the book, however, Birdy riffs on a lengthy explication of the intricacies of raising canaries that somewhat resembles the divagations on whales in 'Moby Dick,' though with a bit less gravitas. I found this section "readable" but it was slow-going for a person as neurotic and addled as I am :).
'Birdy' is one of those books that I'd been meaning to read for years, after watching the excellent movie version starring Matthew Modine as Birdy and Nicholas Cage (back in the days when he still played roles for art's sake) as Alfonzo. Somehow, thirty years passed between the time I first saw the movie and read the book. It is a flawed but beautiful book that humanizes trauma and shows the power of friendship as a bulwark to help us deal with the things that can break us.
May 21, 2025
This review contains spoilers.
June 19, 2024
I break inside my aloneness to knowledge, the end of knowing; a billowing of an air current; a movement toward necessity.
*
I stop talking. What’s the use? What’s the use of anything? Nobody really talks to anybody else anyway, even if they aren’t crazy. Everybody’s only strutting around, pecking and picking.
*
. How’re we going to work our way out of this one? Can we possibly kid ourselves into thinking all this makes sense, has some reason?
*
The whole thing has to end somewhere. Don’t you know, time pins everybody anyway.
*
I stop talking. What’s the use? What’s the use of anything? Nobody really talks to anybody else anyway, even if they aren’t crazy. Everybody’s only strutting around, pecking and picking.
*
. How’re we going to work our way out of this one? Can we possibly kid ourselves into thinking all this makes sense, has some reason?
*
The whole thing has to end somewhere. Don’t you know, time pins everybody anyway.
July 12, 2014
Between my teens and my early twenties I'd pick my friends, according to weather they loved this book or not. Maybe I should start doing it again these days.
October 5, 2017
"Аз едно зная: да се скъсаш, не можеш да надвиеш живота."
Една от най-хубавите, меланхолични, философски и смислени книги, които съм чел! Литературен брилянт описващ невъзможния опит за летене на човека, който ме накара да изживея още веднъж детските си години!
Тези дни ревю, много ми хареса, много! Пиле, пиле... :(
Една от най-хубавите, меланхолични, философски и смислени книги, които съм чел! Литературен брилянт описващ невъзможния опит за летене на човека, който ме накара да изживея още веднъж детските си години!
Тези дни ревю, много ми хареса, много! Пиле, пиле... :(
July 26, 2011
What a book. It forces you to think about some interesting questions. Who is really crazy? Am I crazy for trying to mold the world into my perception of "normal"? Are crazy people really sane and just using insanity as a protection for their "humaness". We are de-humanized every day. Scary. Makes you want to fly away--or at least buy a canary.
January 3, 2015
Това е още една книга на Уортън, в която направих връзка с „Франки Фърбо” (другата беше „Илюзии”). И изобщо сякаш всичките му книги са някак свързани...
Въпреки акцента върху общуването на Пилето с птиците, за мен най-вълнуващо беше приятелството между Пилето и Ал, типичните моменти от юношеството, дори в проявите, обикновено неодобрявани от възрастните ( "Като тръгнем на училище, ще има да разправяме. Е, тук-таме ще послъгваме, за да звучи по-интересно, и всеки разказ ще допълваме с нови неща. Правим това автоматично, без дори да се наговаряме предварително, Пилето съчинява лъжите, а пък аз ги украсявам с подробности, за да изглежда всичко по-истинско. Страшен е екип сме.” )
Но не можах да дам 5 звезди, а само 4, не заради недостатъци на книгата, а заради неща, които не исках да приема. Явно всичко се пречупва през личността и живота на четящия (естествено). Представих си моя младеж (и подобна отчужденост и разочарование от хората и живота) и разбира се това никак не ми хареса. По същия начин в „Спасителят в ръжта” въпреки „моите” идеи по отношение на фалша в обществото, недоволството „на едро” не ми допадаше. И именно защото аз също понякога клоня към изолация от хората и отлитане в други светове, все пак оставам някак свързана с живота тук и сега и не мога да заменя общуването с хората, колкото и трудно да ми изглежда на моменти...
Затова редуването на мислите на Пилето и Ал ми хареса, но огромната глава само за Пилето (изцяло посветена на канарчетата) ми дотежа - не заради досада от подробностите за птиците (изненадващо за мен – не особен любител на животинския свят), а заради все по-голямото затъване на Пилето (дори още преди войната), макар да съм почитател на полетите на фантазията. От друга страна естественото отживяване на периода с птиците ми допадна, разумен завършек му даде Уортън – пак с типичното за него спокойствие.
И това: "Много е трудно да вбесиш Пилето. Обикновено той не се впряга за нищо. Най-често съм го чувал да казва: „Няма значение.“ За него нищо няма значение. Аз се назлобя за нещо в училище, за майка му или за баща ми, а той ще каже: „Няма значение.“ )
Като стигнах до стр. 145 (текстът от нормален шрифт премина към italic - т.е. "говори" Пилето),се запитах: има ли някой да не е трепнал в този момент – в една и съща глава да се „чуе” гласът и на Ал, и на Пилето! Началото на пробуждането?
Някак спокойно минах през книгата въпреки всичко драматично. От филма май повече се разстройвам. Като гледам лицата на Н. Кейдж и Матю Модайн, ми е по-мъчително... Освен това от филма преди бях останала с впечатление за много по-силен акцент върху войната, но явно и краткото й присъствие дава своя отпечатък като нещо всепомитащо.
Винаги в книгите (и в живота) ми доставя огромно удоволствие взаимното измъкване на сродни души от различен вид затъване. Тук Пилето също беше нужен на Ал, нали...? :) Между другото, разбирам „чувствата” на Ал към психиатъра...
Как е подредено всичко в творчеството на Уортън, а аз да прочета първата му книга почти последна?! Сега мисля, че е хубаво да се започне от „Пилето” и да се продължи към другите почти хронологически.
Въпреки акцента върху общуването на Пилето с птиците, за мен най-вълнуващо беше приятелството между Пилето и Ал, типичните моменти от юношеството, дори в проявите, обикновено неодобрявани от възрастните ( "Като тръгнем на училище, ще има да разправяме. Е, тук-таме ще послъгваме, за да звучи по-интересно, и всеки разказ ще допълваме с нови неща. Правим това автоматично, без дори да се наговаряме предварително, Пилето съчинява лъжите, а пък аз ги украсявам с подробности, за да изглежда всичко по-истинско. Страшен е екип сме.” )
Но не можах да дам 5 звезди, а само 4, не заради недостатъци на книгата, а заради неща, които не исках да приема. Явно всичко се пречупва през личността и живота на четящия (естествено). Представих си моя младеж (и подобна отчужденост и разочарование от хората и живота) и разбира се това никак не ми хареса. По същия начин в „Спасителят в ръжта” въпреки „моите” идеи по отношение на фалша в обществото, недоволството „на едро” не ми допадаше. И именно защото аз също понякога клоня към изолация от хората и отлитане в други светове, все пак оставам някак свързана с живота тук и сега и не мога да заменя общуването с хората, колкото и трудно да ми изглежда на моменти...
Затова редуването на мислите на Пилето и Ал ми хареса, но огромната глава само за Пилето (изцяло посветена на канарчетата) ми дотежа - не заради досада от подробностите за птиците (изненадващо за мен – не особен любител на животинския свят), а заради все по-голямото затъване на Пилето (дори още преди войната), макар да съм почитател на полетите на фантазията. От друга страна естественото отживяване на периода с птиците ми допадна, разумен завършек му даде Уортън – пак с типичното за него спокойствие.
И това: "Много е трудно да вбесиш Пилето. Обикновено той не се впряга за нищо. Най-често съм го чувал да казва: „Няма значение.“ За него нищо няма значение. Аз се назлобя за нещо в училище, за майка му или за баща ми, а той ще каже: „Няма значение.“ )
Като стигнах до стр. 145 (текстът от нормален шрифт премина към italic - т.е. "говори" Пилето),се запитах: има ли някой да не е трепнал в този момент – в една и съща глава да се „чуе” гласът и на Ал, и на Пилето! Началото на пробуждането?
Някак спокойно минах през книгата въпреки всичко драматично. От филма май повече се разстройвам. Като гледам лицата на Н. Кейдж и Матю Модайн, ми е по-мъчително... Освен това от филма преди бях останала с впечатление за много по-силен акцент върху войната, но явно и краткото й присъствие дава своя отпечатък като нещо всепомитащо.
Винаги в книгите (и в живота) ми доставя огромно удоволствие взаимното измъкване на сродни души от различен вид затъване. Тук Пилето също беше нужен на Ал, нали...? :) Между другото, разбирам „чувствата” на Ал към психиатъра...
Как е подредено всичко в творчеството на Уортън, а аз да прочета първата му книга почти последна?! Сега мисля, че е хубаво да се започне от „Пилето” и да се продължи към другите почти хронологически.
August 9, 2019
"Пилето" е своеобразен полет на ума, освобождаване на съзнанието от оковите и разширяване на мирогледа( на героите) . Фокусът на тази книга е насочен не толкова към развитието на сюжета или разгръщане на фабулата, а по- скоро замисълът е бил да се обърне внимание на онези малки неща, които те карат да се чувстваш жив и те изпълват с емоции и топлина(поне моето усещане беше такова). Донякъде ми напомни на " Полет над кукувиче гнездо", но тук няма онези строги правила, които да се нарушават. Тук има взаимоотношения, които се разпростират отвъд собствените ни рамки, бариери и ограничения.
"Пилето" е непринудена история за приятелството и за една страст към птиците, превърнала се в лудост.
Обаче...
Харесва ми как пише Уортън, но с тази книга не можа да се получи химия. Повече я възприемам като наръчник за отглеждане на птици, отколкото като четиво, което наистина да накара душата ми и мисълта ми да летят.
И понеже си купих и продължението "Ал", се надявам поне там историята да излиза извън птичарството.
" Най-сигурният начин да загубиш е да се насилваш да победиш."
"Пол, възраст, раса, всички тия глупости разделят хората един от друг. Надпреварата е единственото, което ни свързва. Но случи ли се да победиш някого, после се чувстваш още по-самотен."
"Състезателните игри сме ги измислили, за да забравим, че сме забравили какво значи игра. Да играеш, то значи да вършиш нещо заради самото него. "
"Пилето" е непринудена история за приятелството и за една страст към птиците, превърнала се в лудост.
Обаче...
Харесва ми как пише Уортън, но с тази книга не можа да се получи химия. Повече я възприемам като наръчник за отглеждане на птици, отколкото като четиво, което наистина да накара душата ми и мисълта ми да летят.
И понеже си купих и продължението "Ал", се надявам поне там историята да излиза извън птичарството.
" Най-сигурният начин да загубиш е да се насилваш да победиш."
"Пол, възраст, раса, всички тия глупости разделят хората един от друг. Надпреварата е единственото, което ни свързва. Но случи ли се да победиш някого, после се чувстваш още по-самотен."
"Състезателните игри сме ги измислили, за да забравим, че сме забравили какво значи игра. Да играеш, то значи да вършиш нещо заради самото него. "
January 31, 2023
I remember watching this movie years ago and being fairly blown away. I hadn't read the book until now though and honestly, the book is very strong. It sort of reminded me of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest in that both protagonists are clearly suffering from PTSD which the army does not fully understand. Birdy and Al both come from impoverished, and in Al's case abusive, backgrounds and are put through hell after being drafted into WWII. However, we don't get the war narratives (both spine-tinglingly realistic, pulled from Wharton's own experience in that same war) but most of the book is about Birdy's obsession with raising canaries at home and Al's recounting their childhood together. We get the two perspectives in alternating chapters and slowly get to know and appreciate both of them. Lovely, powerful prose.
A few examples. Here is Al concluding the "bike" story:
Bird gives the bike a test ride and says its Ok but it'll never really be the same. He's like an old-fashioned Sicilian whose wife has been raped. Even if he knows it isn't even her fault, if she's beaten up from fighting back, he can never feel the same toward her. Birdy's like that about the bike. Its one of the reasons he's willing to sell it in Wildwood and why he never got a decent bike again after that. He loved that bile and after it was violated he didn't want another one. Somebody with a mind like that is hard to deal with.
I look at Birdy there, squatting, watching me, open, sot, empty-eyed. I begin to realize he's been violated himself somehow. And now he doesn't want himself anymore. (p. 162)
This is a wonderful passage demonstrating the affinity of the two protagonists. Love it! This exchange reminded me of the how Chief and Randall in Kelsey's masterpiece.
Birdy's watching me. He's giving me his "you must be crazy" look. I'm beginning to believe he's been right about that all the time. I can see them sending Birdy up to Dix in about two weeks. There I am hunkering around in the "altogether," throwing shit at anybody who comes near me. He's sitting with a garbage lid for a shield talking to me about raising pigeons and running away to Wildwood, and ice skating, all that crap.
God, it'd be great; just to let go and stop pretending; to let it all out; holler, scream, give Tarzan yells, run up walls or punch them; to spit or piss or shit at anybody who comes near! God, that'd be good What keeps me from doing it? I've been hurt enough; I could do it if I really wanted to. Nobody could blame me. (p. 199)
And one last one from towards the end.
"What's that mean, Birdy? You going back to squatting there in your cage, letting people feed you and I go back to leg pressing a thousand pounds and running around catching people so I can hold their shoulders to the ground for three seconds? I don't see it."
"Listen, Al. I think what I'm trying to say is, we really are loons. We're crazy because we can't accept the idea that things happen for no reason at all and that it doesn't mean anything. We can't see life as just a row of hurdles we have to get over somehow. It looks to me as if everybody who isn't crazy just keeps hacking away to get through. They live it out day by day because each day is there and then when they run out of days they close their eyes and call themselves dead."
[Birdy]
Al looks straight into my eyes. He's still not sure if I'm talking sense. I think I am, but I've been wrong so often lately. I can't hold back a smile. (p. 302)
Honestly, this was a more touching and more readable book than Pulitzer winner The Executioner's Song which beat this one out in 1980. I think it was also superior to the other runner-up, The Ghost Writer. But, I am not a professor at Columbia on that committee so what do I know?
A few examples. Here is Al concluding the "bike" story:
Bird gives the bike a test ride and says its Ok but it'll never really be the same. He's like an old-fashioned Sicilian whose wife has been raped. Even if he knows it isn't even her fault, if she's beaten up from fighting back, he can never feel the same toward her. Birdy's like that about the bike. Its one of the reasons he's willing to sell it in Wildwood and why he never got a decent bike again after that. He loved that bile and after it was violated he didn't want another one. Somebody with a mind like that is hard to deal with.
I look at Birdy there, squatting, watching me, open, sot, empty-eyed. I begin to realize he's been violated himself somehow. And now he doesn't want himself anymore. (p. 162)
This is a wonderful passage demonstrating the affinity of the two protagonists. Love it! This exchange reminded me of the how Chief and Randall in Kelsey's masterpiece.
Birdy's watching me. He's giving me his "you must be crazy" look. I'm beginning to believe he's been right about that all the time. I can see them sending Birdy up to Dix in about two weeks. There I am hunkering around in the "altogether," throwing shit at anybody who comes near me. He's sitting with a garbage lid for a shield talking to me about raising pigeons and running away to Wildwood, and ice skating, all that crap.
God, it'd be great; just to let go and stop pretending; to let it all out; holler, scream, give Tarzan yells, run up walls or punch them; to spit or piss or shit at anybody who comes near! God, that'd be good What keeps me from doing it? I've been hurt enough; I could do it if I really wanted to. Nobody could blame me. (p. 199)
And one last one from towards the end.
"What's that mean, Birdy? You going back to squatting there in your cage, letting people feed you and I go back to leg pressing a thousand pounds and running around catching people so I can hold their shoulders to the ground for three seconds? I don't see it."
"Listen, Al. I think what I'm trying to say is, we really are loons. We're crazy because we can't accept the idea that things happen for no reason at all and that it doesn't mean anything. We can't see life as just a row of hurdles we have to get over somehow. It looks to me as if everybody who isn't crazy just keeps hacking away to get through. They live it out day by day because each day is there and then when they run out of days they close their eyes and call themselves dead."
[Birdy]
Al looks straight into my eyes. He's still not sure if I'm talking sense. I think I am, but I've been wrong so often lately. I can't hold back a smile. (p. 302)
Honestly, this was a more touching and more readable book than Pulitzer winner The Executioner's Song which beat this one out in 1980. I think it was also superior to the other runner-up, The Ghost Writer. But, I am not a professor at Columbia on that committee so what do I know?
April 17, 2009
A good friend lent it to me, saying it was his favourite book. I gave it five stars because the structure is so original, the voice pitch perfect...he pulls off something that i would never imagine possible, it is brave, fascinating, funny. The best parts are where Birdy is trying to distinguish between his daytime life and his nighttime dream, between being a boy or a bird, it is delicious, the blending of reality and dream, you start to believe the dream more than the reality, to want him to fly. The writing is pared down, concise, the author never intrudes, he is utterly faithful to the characters voices. A wonderful experience.
May 1, 2023
A moving bildungsroman set during the Second World War.
Wharton's methods are unconventional but that gives them power.
We start towards the end with his two protagonists meeting each other in a psych ward, where one tries to rehabilitate the other. As the story progresses it starts to become clear that maybe the more disturbed character is the one outside the cage.
This is a great war novel, I put it right up there with All Quiet on The Western Front. Although Wharton's approach to war is to examine the effects of it rather than immerse the narrative in it. He dedicates less than 5% to an actual account of the war but the effects of it smother everything else.
Imagine watching people going into and coming out of a Haunted House. By observing them closely you can guess not only what the Haunted House is like but also what the people themselves are like.
I've read Wharton's biographical account of his time in the war, Shrapnel, which is much closer to All Quiet. It's another fantastic book and one of the only accounts that takes the US military to task for their poor conduct in Europe. In Birdy you can see Wharton's refusal to glorify war, and instead he examines the dark shadow it casts over society and individuals.
Birdy also examines love and obsession but above all else it is a book about the most important question of all; the meaning of life and how to keep seeking it despite formidable adversity.
Wharton's methods are unconventional but that gives them power.
We start towards the end with his two protagonists meeting each other in a psych ward, where one tries to rehabilitate the other. As the story progresses it starts to become clear that maybe the more disturbed character is the one outside the cage.
This is a great war novel, I put it right up there with All Quiet on The Western Front. Although Wharton's approach to war is to examine the effects of it rather than immerse the narrative in it. He dedicates less than 5% to an actual account of the war but the effects of it smother everything else.
Imagine watching people going into and coming out of a Haunted House. By observing them closely you can guess not only what the Haunted House is like but also what the people themselves are like.
I've read Wharton's biographical account of his time in the war, Shrapnel, which is much closer to All Quiet. It's another fantastic book and one of the only accounts that takes the US military to task for their poor conduct in Europe. In Birdy you can see Wharton's refusal to glorify war, and instead he examines the dark shadow it casts over society and individuals.
Birdy also examines love and obsession but above all else it is a book about the most important question of all; the meaning of life and how to keep seeking it despite formidable adversity.
May 9, 2023
Liczyłam na większe zaskoczenie lub chociażby zainteresowanie, rozczarowałam się.
January 21, 2022
"Be to, aš vis dar nesu tikras dėl pamišimo sąvokos. Kas yra beprotybė? Karai yra pati tikriausia beprotybė."
Pirmiausia nustebino tai, jog už šiuolaikiško ir ryškaus viršelio slėpėsi jau laiko patikrintas kūrinys. Ir kaip taikliai parinkta spalva, kuria subtiliai užkoduotas knygos turinys ir simbolizuojama viltis.
Romanas prasideda, kai vaikystės draugai susitinka psichiatrijos ligoninėje. Pasibaigęs Antrasis pasaulinis karas nusinešė daugybę gyvybių ir paliko daugybę sužalotų žmonių. Ne išimtis ir jie. Psichiatras, gydantis vaikiną, pravarde Paukštukas mano, kad susitikimas su vaikystės draugu gali teigiamai paveikti jo būklę.
Paukštuko palatoje Alas pradeda jį kalbinti ir pasakoti apie drauge patirtus dalykus. Kokia graži ir tikra iš pažiūros dviejų skirtingų berniukų: lieso keistuolio, susižavėjusio paukščiais ir raumeningo stipruolio draugysė. Kiek nuotykių, kvailysčių ir išbandymų jie patyrė. Autorius supynė abiejų veikėjų pasakojimus į vieną, o Paukštuko mintys tekste išskirtos kursyvu.
Neįmanoma nesižavėti Paukštuko užsidegimu, entuziazmu ir tuo, kiek jis darbo ir užsispyrimo įdėjo į savo pomėgį. Be to, labai daug sužinojau apie paukščius: nuo jų auginimo, priežiūros, veisimo iki plunksnos sandaros ir skraidymo. Ir manęs ši informacija visai neerzino, o kaip tik buvo įdomu.
Stebėjau kaip du berniukai pamažu tampa suaugusiais, kaip rutuliojasi jų draugystė ir kaip pamažu išsitrina riba tarp gyvenimo ir sapno, taip tikrovės ir svajonės, tarp normalumo ir pamišimo. Iš pradžių tikėjausi, kad pasakojime bus daugiau karo. Bet tik perskaičiusi visą knygą, lengviau atsikvėpiau, kad visgi karo nebuvo daug. Keistas, hipnotizuojantis, tačiau kartu ir lyriškas romanas apie draugystės galią.
Daugiau įspūdžių apie perskaitytas knygas: www.profesionalimama.wordpress.com
Pirmiausia nustebino tai, jog už šiuolaikiško ir ryškaus viršelio slėpėsi jau laiko patikrintas kūrinys. Ir kaip taikliai parinkta spalva, kuria subtiliai užkoduotas knygos turinys ir simbolizuojama viltis.
Romanas prasideda, kai vaikystės draugai susitinka psichiatrijos ligoninėje. Pasibaigęs Antrasis pasaulinis karas nusinešė daugybę gyvybių ir paliko daugybę sužalotų žmonių. Ne išimtis ir jie. Psichiatras, gydantis vaikiną, pravarde Paukštukas mano, kad susitikimas su vaikystės draugu gali teigiamai paveikti jo būklę.
Paukštuko palatoje Alas pradeda jį kalbinti ir pasakoti apie drauge patirtus dalykus. Kokia graži ir tikra iš pažiūros dviejų skirtingų berniukų: lieso keistuolio, susižavėjusio paukščiais ir raumeningo stipruolio draugysė. Kiek nuotykių, kvailysčių ir išbandymų jie patyrė. Autorius supynė abiejų veikėjų pasakojimus į vieną, o Paukštuko mintys tekste išskirtos kursyvu.
Neįmanoma nesižavėti Paukštuko užsidegimu, entuziazmu ir tuo, kiek jis darbo ir užsispyrimo įdėjo į savo pomėgį. Be to, labai daug sužinojau apie paukščius: nuo jų auginimo, priežiūros, veisimo iki plunksnos sandaros ir skraidymo. Ir manęs ši informacija visai neerzino, o kaip tik buvo įdomu.
Stebėjau kaip du berniukai pamažu tampa suaugusiais, kaip rutuliojasi jų draugystė ir kaip pamažu išsitrina riba tarp gyvenimo ir sapno, taip tikrovės ir svajonės, tarp normalumo ir pamišimo. Iš pradžių tikėjausi, kad pasakojime bus daugiau karo. Bet tik perskaičiusi visą knygą, lengviau atsikvėpiau, kad visgi karo nebuvo daug. Keistas, hipnotizuojantis, tačiau kartu ir lyriškas romanas apie draugystės galią.
Daugiau įspūdžių apie perskaitytas knygas: www.profesionalimama.wordpress.com
August 12, 2009
Who hasn’t at one time wanted to fly? When I was a kid I longed to be a seagull, soaring over the waves, riding the onshore uplift, sweeping over the shore. Birdy wants to be more, not only to fly, but to become a bird. His best friend Al wants to become a tough guy, to fend off his father’s physical abuse.
Birdy raises canaries, not for their song but for their flight. Along the way we learn an awful lot about canaries, but it never seems like a lecture. It’s just what Birdy is passionate about.
Birdy and Al are a mismatched pair, seemingly, but hang together through some terrific adventures, including the damage inflicted by World War II. As we might expect, it’s Birdy’s psyche that’s damaged while the hurt to Al is a physical wound.
This is one of the most unforgettable books I’ve read. Don’t let me tell you in a couple of years that I know I read it but I don’t remember what it’s about. I will remember. It’s about flight and fight, about freedom and responsibility, about love.
Birdy raises canaries, not for their song but for their flight. Along the way we learn an awful lot about canaries, but it never seems like a lecture. It’s just what Birdy is passionate about.
Birdy and Al are a mismatched pair, seemingly, but hang together through some terrific adventures, including the damage inflicted by World War II. As we might expect, it’s Birdy’s psyche that’s damaged while the hurt to Al is a physical wound.
This is one of the most unforgettable books I’ve read. Don’t let me tell you in a couple of years that I know I read it but I don’t remember what it’s about. I will remember. It’s about flight and fight, about freedom and responsibility, about love.
February 23, 2018
Предполагам, че ако бях я чела като тийн, щях да се впечатля още повече.
June 6, 2021
;-;
Ptasiek jest genialnie napisaną postacią, zresztą podobnie jak Al. Zespół stresu pourazowego został tutaj naprawdę dobrze przedstawiony.
Ale naprawdę nie mogłam zmordować całych stron opisów hodowania kanarków. Ta książka ma niecałe 300 stron, a męczyłam ją przez kilka dni.
Chciałabym odnaleźć w twórczości Whartona to, co mój tata i dlatego będę na pewno czytać inne jego książki. Ta jest obiektywnie dobra, ale nie poruszyła mnie osobiście, personalnie (mam nadzieję, że rozumiecie, co mam na myśli).
Nie odradzam, przeczytajcie sami i zobaczcie, czy to do Was przemawia.
Ptasiek jest genialnie napisaną postacią, zresztą podobnie jak Al. Zespół stresu pourazowego został tutaj naprawdę dobrze przedstawiony.
Ale naprawdę nie mogłam zmordować całych stron opisów hodowania kanarków. Ta książka ma niecałe 300 stron, a męczyłam ją przez kilka dni.
Chciałabym odnaleźć w twórczości Whartona to, co mój tata i dlatego będę na pewno czytać inne jego książki. Ta jest obiektywnie dobra, ale nie poruszyła mnie osobiście, personalnie (mam nadzieję, że rozumiecie, co mam na myśli).
Nie odradzam, przeczytajcie sami i zobaczcie, czy to do Was przemawia.
February 25, 2017
Не съм очаквала да ми е интересно да чета за отглеждането на канарчета (но ми беше, много). В един момент книгата ми стана много тежка за четене (дългата глава на Пилето, "сънят в съня" и всичко останало). Но много харесах историите от детството и юношеството им.
Имаше много цитати, които исках да си запазя, но по някаква причина реших да запазя само този:
„Да нагласиш мачтата или да уловиш вятъра в платното, е нищо. Знание само, не умение. Птицата познава простора без знание.”
Имаше много цитати, които исках да си запазя, но по някаква причина реших да запазя само този:
„Да нагласиш мачтата или да уловиш вятъра в платното, е нищо. Знание само, не умение. Птицата познава простора без знание.”
January 27, 2023
Absolutnie nie wiem co mam myśleć o tej książce, ale chyba mi się podoba. To było coś zupełnie innego, dziwnego, chwilami obrzydliwego, ale też fascynującego.
March 11, 2017
Бих предпочела да изчуруликам впечатленията си от “Пилето”, но уви, ще се наложи да ги напиша. Макар че никой текст не е красив като птичата песен.
Не мога да кажа, че книгата е на някакво велико, невероятно, недостижимо литературно ниво. Но категорично мога да кажа, че е от онези романи, които ти оставят много за размисъл и те карат да съпреживееш историите на героите в тях. До такава степен, че сам започваш да се колебаеш кой живот е истински и сън ли е реалността.
За Пилето въображаемият свят се оказва много по-действителен от реалния такъв.
Човек има свобода единствено в мечтите и сънищата си, до момента, в който не се загуби някъде там на границата.
Точно за това е и този роман. За една страст, която води до бягството на един нормален от този луд, луд свят. Нормален - тук значи различен. За силата на приятелството, въпреки тези различия. За войната - като най-голямата от всички човешки лудости. За майчината и бащината любов, понякога невидими в ежедневието.
Животът в лудница е като този на канарчето в клетката. Стоиш на сигурно, гледайки небето през прозореца, оставен на грижите на някой друг. Мечтаеш за свобода, но си наясно, че нямаш идея какво да правиш с нея, ако я получиш. “Но си струва да се опита”, както и Уортън завършва книгата.
Не мога да кажа, че книгата е на някакво велико, невероятно, недостижимо литературно ниво. Но категорично мога да кажа, че е от онези романи, които ти оставят много за размисъл и те карат да съпреживееш историите на героите в тях. До такава степен, че сам започваш да се колебаеш кой живот е истински и сън ли е реалността.
За Пилето въображаемият свят се оказва много по-действителен от реалния такъв.
Човек има свобода единствено в мечтите и сънищата си, до момента, в който не се загуби някъде там на границата.
Точно за това е и този роман. За една страст, която води до бягството на един нормален от този луд, луд свят. Нормален - тук значи различен. За силата на приятелството, въпреки тези различия. За войната - като най-голямата от всички човешки лудости. За майчината и бащината любов, понякога невидими в ежедневието.
Животът в лудница е като този на канарчето в клетката. Стоиш на сигурно, гледайки небето през прозореца, оставен на грижите на някой друг. Мечтаеш за свобода, но си наясно, че нямаш идея какво да правиш с нея, ако я получиш. “Но си струва да се опита”, както и Уортън завършва книгата.
March 25, 2017
„Пилето“ от Уилям Уортън е „Спаситетелят в ръжта“, който е много по-интимен, много по-летежен. Години след първия прочит още е гъделичкащо онова усещане за бунт, за собствен полет без начертана карта и без предварително зададена посока.
http://knijno.blogspot.bg/2017/03/blo...
http://knijno.blogspot.bg/2017/03/blo...
July 22, 2017
Интересна, емоционална, завладяваща, караща те да се усмихваш и същевременно пълнеща очите със сълзи. Това е тя "Пилето" от Уилям Уортън. За силата на приятелството, мечтите и жестокостта на войната. Произведение събрало в себе си безброй качества. Радвам се за времето, което отделих за нея!
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December 7, 2018Уилям Уортън - "Пилето", изд. "Рата" 2006, прев. Тодор Вълчев
Отзив, написан след почти безсънна нощ. След като стоях снощи до 12.30, за да я дочета. След като после цяла нощ прехвърлях в ума си прочетеното. Мислих наум и на глас. Питах се: какво прочетох току-що? Разбрах ли го? а какво всъщност значи да го разбера? Дали понякога не е по-важно да почувстваме една книга, отколкото да я разберем? Дали "Пилето" беше "моята" книга? И какво значи "моята", в крайна сметка? Обикновено го казваме за книги, които много са ни харесали, но аз пък си мисля, че можем да наречем така всяка книга, която ни въздейства силно. Дори ако това не означава харесване. Щом не ни е оставила безразлични, значи в нея е имало нещо "за нас".
С тази книга се гледаме изпитателно от години. Появата й в живота ми не беше планирана. Просто на един панаир на книгата почти буквално ми я пъхнаха в ръцете. И оттогава все чакам, каня се, отлагам. Е, прочетох и нея.
Никога не съм обичала въпроса "За какво се разказва в тази книга"? Звучи ми някак несериозно, може би защото поне днешните книги няма нужда да се разказват - има си анотации за това. Но и защото понякога една книга поражда твърде много и различни чувства. А можеш ли да разкажеш чувствата?
И все пак. Може, разбира се, да се каже, че "Пилето" е история за едно приятелство. От онези, които започват неочаквано, най-често родени от общи интереси, и минават през какво ли не - и продължават с години, дори когато единият от приятелите вече е толкова променен, че вероятно и сам себе си не разбира, а какво остава да бъде разбран от другите.
Може да се каже и че това е история за едно "хоби", една страст, превърнала се в лудост. Но дали и това ще е съвсем вярно? Признавам, че при малкото неща, които знаех предварително за книгата, и аз бях склонна да го приемам така. Сега, след затварянето на последната страница и след часове мислене, ми се струва, че това е по-скоро "криза на самоличността", нежелание да се приемеш какъвто си, с всичките си човешки "спирачки", несъвършенства и ограничения, неприемане на собствената същност. И вживяване в страстта към птиците, до такава степен, че общуващ с тях и ги разбираш по-добре, отколкото общуваш и разбираш хората. Не знам дали и други са приели нещата така, но за мен "птичата страна" на Пилето беше много по-убедителна , отколкото човешката. Отношението му към / с/ птиците беше нещо, което - моля да ме извините за баналния израз - наистина ми стопляше сърцето.
"Пилето" е книга и за войната. И макар тя да не е описана толкова подробно, колкото би била в един изцяло военен роман, ясно е предадена цялата й грозна, нечовешка, кървава същност. Признавам, че четях свързаните с нея страници по-набързо и не с такова внимание, както останалата част от книгата.
Тази книга вероятно заслужава много повече от това, което пиша тук за нея. Но тя ме завари донякъде неподготвена - макар да отлагах прочитането й толкова години, - разбърка мислите ми, извади ме от "зоната ми на комфорт" /още един израз, който не обичам./ И в крайна сметка ми оста��и хубаво усещане и удовлетворение от прочетеното. Някъде сред бъдещите ми четива са "татко" и "Отбой в полунощ" - приготвени са и чакат реда си.
Отзив, написан след почти безсънна нощ. След като стоях снощи до 12.30, за да я дочета. След като после цяла нощ прехвърлях в ума си прочетеното. Мислих наум и на глас. Питах се: какво прочетох току-що? Разбрах ли го? а какво всъщност значи да го разбера? Дали понякога не е по-важно да почувстваме една книга, отколкото да я разберем? Дали "Пилето" беше "моята" книга? И какво значи "моята", в крайна сметка? Обикновено го казваме за книги, които много са ни харесали, но аз пък си мисля, че можем да наречем така всяка книга, която ни въздейства силно. Дори ако това не означава харесване. Щом не ни е оставила безразлични, значи в нея е имало нещо "за нас".
С тази книга се гледаме изпитателно от години. Появата й в живота ми не беше планирана. Просто на един панаир на книгата почти буквално ми я пъхнаха в ръцете. И оттогава все чакам, каня се, отлагам. Е, прочетох и нея.
Никога не съм обичала въпроса "За какво се разказва в тази книга"? Звучи ми някак несериозно, може би защото поне днешните книги няма нужда да се разказват - има си анотации за това. Но и защото понякога една книга поражда твърде много и различни чувства. А можеш ли да разкажеш чувствата?
И все пак. Може, разбира се, да се каже, че "Пилето" е история за едно приятелство. От онези, които започват неочаквано, най-често родени от общи интереси, и минават през какво ли не - и продължават с години, дори когато единият от приятелите вече е толкова променен, че вероятно и сам себе си не разбира, а какво остава да бъде разбран от другите.
Може да се каже и че това е история за едно "хоби", една страст, превърнала се в лудост. Но дали и това ще е съвсем вярно? Признавам, че при малкото неща, които знаех предварително за книгата, и аз бях склонна да го приемам така. Сега, след затварянето на последната страница и след часове мислене, ми се струва, че това е по-скоро "криза на самоличността", нежелание да се приемеш какъвто си, с всичките си човешки "спирачки", несъвършенства и ограничения, неприемане на собствената същност. И вживяване в страстта към птиците, до такава степен, че общуващ с тях и ги разбираш по-добре, отколкото общуваш и разбираш хората. Не знам дали и други са приели нещата така, но за мен "птичата страна" на Пилето беше много по-убедителна , отколкото човешката. Отношението му към / с/ птиците беше нещо, което - моля да ме извините за баналния израз - наистина ми стопляше сърцето.
"Пилето" е книга и за войната. И макар тя да не е описана толкова подробно, колкото би била в един изцяло военен роман, ясно е предадена цялата й грозна, нечовешка, кървава същност. Признавам, че четях свързаните с нея страници по-набързо и не с такова внимание, както останалата част от книгата.
Тази книга вероятно заслужава много повече от това, което пиша тук за нея. Но тя ме завари донякъде неподготвена - макар да отлагах прочитането й толкова години, - разбърка мислите ми, извади ме от "зоната ми на комфорт" /още един израз, който не обичам./ И в крайна сметка ми оста��и хубаво усещане и удовлетворение от прочетеното. Някъде сред бъдещите ми четива са "татко" и "Отбой в полунощ" - приготвени са и чакат реда си.
October 27, 2021
Ще ми се да поговоря малко по-сериозно за тази книга. Пилето е книга за хората, на които човечеството им е омръзнало, то им е чуждо и безинтересно. Хора, които гравитацията е враг придържащ ни затвора, който е земното.
Книгата представя паралелно животите на двамата протагониста - Ал и Пилето. Всеки с неговите проблеми и сблъсъци. Историята върви доста разпокъсано, като главното действие се развива в лудницата, където Пилето е пациент, но непрекъснато полита към предишни спомени от детството и юношеството на героите. Гледната точка прескача от тази на Ал, която разказва за живота си и приятелството си с Пилето, към тази на Пилето, който от своя страна се фокусира върхо другото Пиле(то) - женско канарче, на което той помага да си намери партньор и да свие гнездо.
Лично на мен в определени моменти ми бяха в повечко описанията на гнездото и живота на птиците, както и часта със сън в съня. Но общо книгата е едно дълбоко спускане в психическото "разстройство".
Книгата представя паралелно животите на двамата протагониста - Ал и Пилето. Всеки с неговите проблеми и сблъсъци. Историята върви доста разпокъсано, като главното действие се развива в лудницата, където Пилето е пациент, но непрекъснато полита към предишни спомени от детството и юношеството на героите. Гледната точка прескача от тази на Ал, която разказва за живота си и приятелството си с Пилето, към тази на Пилето, който от своя страна се фокусира върхо другото Пиле(то) - женско канарче, на което той помага да си намери партньор и да свие гнездо.
Лично на мен в определени моменти ми бяха в повечко описанията на гнездото и живота на птиците, както и часта със сън в съня. Но общо книгата е едно дълбоко спускане в психическото "разстройство".
July 25, 2020
خوشبختانه یکی در این فرصت کوتاه از زمان توزیع زحمتشو کشیده و گذاشته اینجا. امیدوارم ترجمهی قابل قبولی باشه و هر کس میخونه لذت ببره
October 4, 2024
a lot of bird stuff
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July 23, 2021muszę to przetrawić zanim coś napiszę
August 27, 2021
Do „Ptaśka” wróciłam w ramach wspólnego czytania z moimi chłopcami (12,5 i 14 lat). Chciałam, by poznali moją kolejną młodzieńczą fascynację. Łoskot spadania piedestału był bardzo głośny. Nie wiem czy spadł tylko Wharton, czy mój autorytet w dziedzinie książkowych poleceń wraz z nim.
Ta książka jest przede wszystkim potwornie nudna i nie umiałam w niej znaleźć niczego, co kiedyś mogło mnie zachwycić. Jedynie scena wojenna dała radę, ale tylko, gdy nie postawi się jej obok Remarque’a, Hellera czy Herra.
Ta książka jest przede wszystkim potwornie nudna i nie umiałam w niej znaleźć niczego, co kiedyś mogło mnie zachwycić. Jedynie scena wojenna dała radę, ale tylko, gdy nie postawi się jej obok Remarque’a, Hellera czy Herra.
December 15, 2008
Birdy is a weird little novel which feels like something one would be forced to read in junior high or freshman year English class. That’s not to say it’s bad, though parts of it actually read a bit like an after school special (only if that after school special were on HBO).
The novel follows two disparate teenage boys who are close friends despite their stark differences. One is a jock/muscle-man and the other dreams of being a bird and living in a bird world. We follow them on their adventures through childhood, into World War II, and then getting out of the war and trying to find their sanity.
Most of the novel focuses on Birdy, his relationship with the canaries he raises, and his desire to be a canary. The anthropomorphism gets a bit creepy at times but I guess it works for what Wharton was trying to achieve.
I found parts of the novel to be a bit uneven, and while the graphic and horrific war experiences thrown in at the end are interesting and in a way Billy Pilgrimish, they are somewhat abrupt and disjointed.
I actually wanted to like this novel more than I did but I guess that’s what you get by picking out books by reading obituaries (I found this novel when reading William Wharton’s obituary a few weeks ago as he recently died. I had never heard of him before then).
In all, it’s not a bad novel. I didn’t find the writing/language to be anything spectacular, but the big picture thoughts are impressive and the detail around the birds is admirable.
The novel follows two disparate teenage boys who are close friends despite their stark differences. One is a jock/muscle-man and the other dreams of being a bird and living in a bird world. We follow them on their adventures through childhood, into World War II, and then getting out of the war and trying to find their sanity.
Most of the novel focuses on Birdy, his relationship with the canaries he raises, and his desire to be a canary. The anthropomorphism gets a bit creepy at times but I guess it works for what Wharton was trying to achieve.
I found parts of the novel to be a bit uneven, and while the graphic and horrific war experiences thrown in at the end are interesting and in a way Billy Pilgrimish, they are somewhat abrupt and disjointed.
I actually wanted to like this novel more than I did but I guess that’s what you get by picking out books by reading obituaries (I found this novel when reading William Wharton’s obituary a few weeks ago as he recently died. I had never heard of him before then).
In all, it’s not a bad novel. I didn’t find the writing/language to be anything spectacular, but the big picture thoughts are impressive and the detail around the birds is admirable.
November 29, 2022
Zamierzałam przeczytać tę książkę od którejś z ostatnich klas podstawówki. Stała na półce i czekała, ale jakoś nie mogłam się zebrać. Prawdopodobnie dlatego, że dawno, dawno temu mało czytałam, za to lubiłam o sobie myśleć, że jestem Wielką Czytelniczką. Cóż, byłam małą. Plot twist już znacie: w końcu w 2022 UDAŁO SIĘ.
I co? I... dziwnie ;). Pamiętam, że w latach 90. na „Ptaśka” i ogólnie na Whartona był prawdziwy szał. Czytali go wszyscy: koleżanka na koloniach, ludzie w autobusie, Piasek polecał w „Popcornie” – a dobrze wiemy, że polecenie Piaska to nie byle co! Spodziewałam się więc zupełnie innej książki niż ta, którą właśnie skończyłam. Obstawiałam, że będzie to chwytliwa, popowa historia, a tymczasem opowieść płynie wolno i ma w sobie trudny do uchwycenia ciężar, chyba głównie narracyjny (narracja dwuosobowa plus mnóstwo opisów ptasiego życia, co może nudzić, ale dla mnie akurat było ok).
Tym, co mocno obniżyło moją ocenę, jest fatalny początek. Z powodu trudnego do zniesienia otwarcia prawie porzuciłam tę historię. Środek nieźle się broni, ale ostatecznie czegoś mi zabrakło, a już na pewno zrozumienia, dlaczego ta historia jest aż tak znana. Czy to przepoczwarzający się w ptaka tytułowy Ptasiek został gwiazdą światowego formatu? Pewnie tak, bo pomysł na postać ciekawy.
To nie jest zła książka, ale do zachwytów daleko. No i na pewno nie poleciłabym „Ptaśka” czytelniczce „Popcornu” i „Bravo” ani nawet kolonistce. Dla ludzi w autobusie całkiem w porządku. Mocne 2,5/5.
I co? I... dziwnie ;). Pamiętam, że w latach 90. na „Ptaśka” i ogólnie na Whartona był prawdziwy szał. Czytali go wszyscy: koleżanka na koloniach, ludzie w autobusie, Piasek polecał w „Popcornie” – a dobrze wiemy, że polecenie Piaska to nie byle co! Spodziewałam się więc zupełnie innej książki niż ta, którą właśnie skończyłam. Obstawiałam, że będzie to chwytliwa, popowa historia, a tymczasem opowieść płynie wolno i ma w sobie trudny do uchwycenia ciężar, chyba głównie narracyjny (narracja dwuosobowa plus mnóstwo opisów ptasiego życia, co może nudzić, ale dla mnie akurat było ok).
Tym, co mocno obniżyło moją ocenę, jest fatalny początek. Z powodu trudnego do zniesienia otwarcia prawie porzuciłam tę historię. Środek nieźle się broni, ale ostatecznie czegoś mi zabrakło, a już na pewno zrozumienia, dlaczego ta historia jest aż tak znana. Czy to przepoczwarzający się w ptaka tytułowy Ptasiek został gwiazdą światowego formatu? Pewnie tak, bo pomysł na postać ciekawy.
To nie jest zła książka, ale do zachwytów daleko. No i na pewno nie poleciłabym „Ptaśka” czytelniczce „Popcornu” i „Bravo” ani nawet kolonistce. Dla ludzi w autobusie całkiem w porządku. Mocne 2,5/5.
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