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Βουδαπέστη
Ο Ζοζέ Κόστα μπορεί να αντιμετωπίζει ένα υπαρξιακό αδιέξοδο αλλά παραμένει ένας συγγραφέας-φάντασμα με μοναδικές ικανότητες, μια ιδιοφυΐα, σύμφωνα με τον συνεταίρο του, ο οποίος τον εκμεταλλεύεται στο καλλιτεχνικό πρακτορείο που μοιράζονται οι δυο τους στην Κοπακαμπάνα.
Ο πρωταγωνιστής, χωρίς να το επιζητήσει, θα περάσει από την απλή εντεταλμένη συγγραφή στην υψηλή δημιουργία. Και χωρίς να το επιδιώξει, θα βρεθεί στη Βουδαπέστη, όπου θα αναζητήσει την εξιλέωση στα ουγγρικά, τη μόνη γλώσσα που σέβεται ο διάβολος.
Η Βουδαπέστη είναι η ιστορία ενός άντρα νικημένου από το ίδιο του το ταλέντο, ο οποίος βλέπει τον εαυτό του αιχμάλωτο ανάμεσα σε δυο πόλεις, δυο γυναίκες, δυο βιβλία και δυο γλώσσες.
Γεμάτο ένταση, υψιπετές και καθημερινό, όμορφο και γκροτέσκο, το κείμενο αυτό καταξίωσε τον Σίκο Μπουάρκε ως έναν από τους σημαντικότερους συγγραφείς της σύγχρονης Βραζιλίας. Αυτό το μυθιστόρημα, συνδυάζοντας την αφηγηματική πυκνότητα με μια ιδιάζουσα αίσθηση του χιούμορ, αποτελεί ένα εύθυμο λογοτεχνικό επίτευγμα που μας οδηγεί από τις παραλίες της Ιπανέμα στις όχθες του Δούναβη, και κρύβει έναν πολύ πρωτότυπο στοχασμό για τα ζητήματα της ανθρώπινης ταυτότητας.
«Ο Σίκο Μπουάρκε τόλμησε τα μέγιστα, έγραψε διασχίζοντας την άβυσσο πάνω σε σύρμα κι έφτασε στην άλλη πλευρά. Στην πλευρά όπου βρίσκονται τα έργα που έχουν εκτελεστεί με δεξιοτεχνία ως προς τη γλώσσα, την αφηγηματική δομή, την απλότητα. Πιστεύω ότι δεν κάνω λάθος όταν λέω πως κάτι καινούριο συνέβη στη Βραζιλία μ’ αυτό το βιβλίο.»
ΖΟΖΕ ΣΑΡΑΜΑΓΚΟΥ
«Η Βουδαπέστη, το πιο ωραίο ίσως από τα τρία μυθιστορήματα της ωριμότητας του Σίκο, είναι ένας λαβύρινθος από καθρέφτες που το αίνιγμά του δεν βρίσκεται στην υπόθεση, αλλά στις λέξεις, όπως στα ποιήματα.»
ΚΑΕΤΑΝΟ ΒΕΛΟΣΟ, O Globo
Ο πρωταγωνιστής, χωρίς να το επιζητήσει, θα περάσει από την απλή εντεταλμένη συγγραφή στην υψηλή δημιουργία. Και χωρίς να το επιδιώξει, θα βρεθεί στη Βουδαπέστη, όπου θα αναζητήσει την εξιλέωση στα ουγγρικά, τη μόνη γλώσσα που σέβεται ο διάβολος.
Η Βουδαπέστη είναι η ιστορία ενός άντρα νικημένου από το ίδιο του το ταλέντο, ο οποίος βλέπει τον εαυτό του αιχμάλωτο ανάμεσα σε δυο πόλεις, δυο γυναίκες, δυο βιβλία και δυο γλώσσες.
Γεμάτο ένταση, υψιπετές και καθημερινό, όμορφο και γκροτέσκο, το κείμενο αυτό καταξίωσε τον Σίκο Μπουάρκε ως έναν από τους σημαντικότερους συγγραφείς της σύγχρονης Βραζιλίας. Αυτό το μυθιστόρημα, συνδυάζοντας την αφηγηματική πυκνότητα με μια ιδιάζουσα αίσθηση του χιούμορ, αποτελεί ένα εύθυμο λογοτεχνικό επίτευγμα που μας οδηγεί από τις παραλίες της Ιπανέμα στις όχθες του Δούναβη, και κρύβει έναν πολύ πρωτότυπο στοχασμό για τα ζητήματα της ανθρώπινης ταυτότητας.
«Ο Σίκο Μπουάρκε τόλμησε τα μέγιστα, έγραψε διασχίζοντας την άβυσσο πάνω σε σύρμα κι έφτασε στην άλλη πλευρά. Στην πλευρά όπου βρίσκονται τα έργα που έχουν εκτελεστεί με δεξιοτεχνία ως προς τη γλώσσα, την αφηγηματική δομή, την απλότητα. Πιστεύω ότι δεν κάνω λάθος όταν λέω πως κάτι καινούριο συνέβη στη Βραζιλία μ’ αυτό το βιβλίο.»
ΖΟΖΕ ΣΑΡΑΜΑΓΚΟΥ
«Η Βουδαπέστη, το πιο ωραίο ίσως από τα τρία μυθιστορήματα της ωριμότητας του Σίκο, είναι ένας λαβύρινθος από καθρέφτες που το αίνιγμά του δεν βρίσκεται στην υπόθεση, αλλά στις λέξεις, όπως στα ποιήματα.»
ΚΑΕΤΑΝΟ ΒΕΛΟΣΟ, O Globo
176 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
132 people are currently reading
3347 people want to read
About the author
Chico Buarque
36 books500 followersFrancisco Buarque de Hollanda is popularly known as Chico Buarque, is a singer, guitarist, composer, dramatist, writer and poet. He is best known for his music, which often includes social, economic and cultural commentary on Brazil and Rio de Janeiro in particular.
Son of the academic Sérgio Buarque de Hollanda, Buarque lived in several locations throughout his childhood, though mostly in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Italy. He wrote and studied literature as a child and came to music through the bossa nova compositions of João Gilberto. He performed music throughout the 1960s as well as writing a play that was deemed dangerous by the Brazilian military dictatorship of the time. Buarque, along with several of his fellow musicians, were threatened by the government and eventually left Brazil in 1970. He moved to Italy again. However, he came back to Brazil in 1971, one year before the others, and continued to record albums, perform, and write, though much of his material was not allowed by government censors. He released several more albums in the 1980s and published three novels in the 1990s and 2000s, all of which were acclaimed critically.
Buarque came from a privileged intellectual family background—his father Sérgio Buarque de Holanda was a well-known historian, sociologist and journalist and his mother Maria Amélia Cesário Alvim was a painter and pianist. He is also brother of the singer Miucha. As a child, he was impressed by the musical style of bossa nova, specifically the work of Tom Jobim and João Gilberto. He was also interested in writing, composing his first short story at 18 years old[1] and studying European literature, also at a young age.[2] One of his most consuming interests, however, was playing soccer, beginning at age four, which he still does today.[2] Though he was born in Rio de Janeiro, Buarque spent much of his childhood in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Italy.
Before becoming a musician, Buarque decided at one point to study architecture at the University of São Paulo, but this choice did not lead to a career in that field; for Buarque often skipped classes.
He made his public debut as musician and composer in 1964, rapidly building his reputation at music festivals and television variety shows when bossa nova rhythm came to light and Nara Leão recorded three of his songs.[3] His eponymous debut album exemplified his future work, with catchy sambas characterized by inventive wordplay and an undercurrent of nostalgic tragedy. Buarque had his first hit with "A Banda" in 1966, written about a marching band, and soon released several more singles. Although playing bossa nova, during his career, samba and Música Popular Brasileira would also be widely explored. Despite that, Buarque was criticized by two of the leading musicians at the time,Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil as they believed his musical style was overly conservative.[3] However, an existentially themed play that Buarque wrote and composed in 1968, Roda Viva ("Live Cycle"), was frowned upon by the military government and Buarque served a short prison sentence because of it.[3] He left Brazil for Italy for 18 months in 1970, returning to write his first novel in 1972, which was not targeted by censors.
http://www.jobim.org/chico/
Son of the academic Sérgio Buarque de Hollanda, Buarque lived in several locations throughout his childhood, though mostly in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Italy. He wrote and studied literature as a child and came to music through the bossa nova compositions of João Gilberto. He performed music throughout the 1960s as well as writing a play that was deemed dangerous by the Brazilian military dictatorship of the time. Buarque, along with several of his fellow musicians, were threatened by the government and eventually left Brazil in 1970. He moved to Italy again. However, he came back to Brazil in 1971, one year before the others, and continued to record albums, perform, and write, though much of his material was not allowed by government censors. He released several more albums in the 1980s and published three novels in the 1990s and 2000s, all of which were acclaimed critically.
Buarque came from a privileged intellectual family background—his father Sérgio Buarque de Holanda was a well-known historian, sociologist and journalist and his mother Maria Amélia Cesário Alvim was a painter and pianist. He is also brother of the singer Miucha. As a child, he was impressed by the musical style of bossa nova, specifically the work of Tom Jobim and João Gilberto. He was also interested in writing, composing his first short story at 18 years old[1] and studying European literature, also at a young age.[2] One of his most consuming interests, however, was playing soccer, beginning at age four, which he still does today.[2] Though he was born in Rio de Janeiro, Buarque spent much of his childhood in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Italy.
Before becoming a musician, Buarque decided at one point to study architecture at the University of São Paulo, but this choice did not lead to a career in that field; for Buarque often skipped classes.
He made his public debut as musician and composer in 1964, rapidly building his reputation at music festivals and television variety shows when bossa nova rhythm came to light and Nara Leão recorded three of his songs.[3] His eponymous debut album exemplified his future work, with catchy sambas characterized by inventive wordplay and an undercurrent of nostalgic tragedy. Buarque had his first hit with "A Banda" in 1966, written about a marching band, and soon released several more singles. Although playing bossa nova, during his career, samba and Música Popular Brasileira would also be widely explored. Despite that, Buarque was criticized by two of the leading musicians at the time,Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil as they believed his musical style was overly conservative.[3] However, an existentially themed play that Buarque wrote and composed in 1968, Roda Viva ("Live Cycle"), was frowned upon by the military government and Buarque served a short prison sentence because of it.[3] He left Brazil for Italy for 18 months in 1970, returning to write his first novel in 1972, which was not targeted by censors.
http://www.jobim.org/chico/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 365 reviews
June 4, 2022
"The whole thing was beginning to remind me of an alcoholics anonymous meeting whose participants suffered not from alcoholism, but anonymity.”
Chico Buarque’s Budapest engages the senses and immerses the reader in the protagonist ghost writer’s surreal world. Buarque is perhaps better known as a composer and musician (in addition to being a playwright, poet and novelist). These talents are on full display here. The musicality of language and storytelling is intertwined in this tale of ghostwriter Jose Costa. His imposed anonymity is explored in terms of relationships to others as well as to his mental state. During a strange conference of these anonymous individuals at a ghostwriters conference, Jose Costa/narrator observes, “The whole thing was beginning to remind me of an alcoholics anonymous meeting whose participants suffered not from alcoholism, but anonymity.”
While on a trip to Hungary, Jose falls in love with the Magyar language, “the only tongue the devil respects.” The hallucinogenic quality of Jose’s world mirrors his immersion into Budapest. The other worldly quality of his walks through the city and interactions with the city’s inhabitants marks the fuzzy boundaries between his world in Rio and this new city. This juxtaposition of place is exemplified on the cover which emblazons the title over an iconic image of Rio. Not everything moved the plot forward and the story dragged a bit in the middle, but otherwise I really enjoyed Budapest! 4.25 stars.
Chico Buarque’s Budapest engages the senses and immerses the reader in the protagonist ghost writer’s surreal world. Buarque is perhaps better known as a composer and musician (in addition to being a playwright, poet and novelist). These talents are on full display here. The musicality of language and storytelling is intertwined in this tale of ghostwriter Jose Costa. His imposed anonymity is explored in terms of relationships to others as well as to his mental state. During a strange conference of these anonymous individuals at a ghostwriters conference, Jose Costa/narrator observes, “The whole thing was beginning to remind me of an alcoholics anonymous meeting whose participants suffered not from alcoholism, but anonymity.”
While on a trip to Hungary, Jose falls in love with the Magyar language, “the only tongue the devil respects.” The hallucinogenic quality of Jose’s world mirrors his immersion into Budapest. The other worldly quality of his walks through the city and interactions with the city’s inhabitants marks the fuzzy boundaries between his world in Rio and this new city. This juxtaposition of place is exemplified on the cover which emblazons the title over an iconic image of Rio. Not everything moved the plot forward and the story dragged a bit in the middle, but otherwise I really enjoyed Budapest! 4.25 stars.
September 28, 2025
That's an essay in the form of a novel on romantic mystification.
Whoever writes is a liar; he presents his story as the truth but deceives us, becoming the dupe of his own story.
It is a powerful evocation of literary creation, the fantasies that haunt writers, the multiple identities that inhabit them, and their ability to conceive a kind of reality augmented by the imagination.
For me, this book takes place alongside Snow, set in an imaginary city; the hero lives a story out of time, whether in Turkey or Hungary.
The hero is a poet wounded by exile, the harsh climate, and a crushing love.
He has to choose and decide who he will become, what woman, and what child will be his. And him, what man will he be?
Budapest, Mittel-Europa, a homecoming for this Brazilian with blue eyes bathed in tropical waters?
Whoever writes is a liar; he presents his story as the truth but deceives us, becoming the dupe of his own story.
It is a powerful evocation of literary creation, the fantasies that haunt writers, the multiple identities that inhabit them, and their ability to conceive a kind of reality augmented by the imagination.
For me, this book takes place alongside Snow, set in an imaginary city; the hero lives a story out of time, whether in Turkey or Hungary.
The hero is a poet wounded by exile, the harsh climate, and a crushing love.
He has to choose and decide who he will become, what woman, and what child will be his. And him, what man will he be?
Budapest, Mittel-Europa, a homecoming for this Brazilian with blue eyes bathed in tropical waters?
June 8, 2008
On the recommendation of our Portuguese language editor, several of us at Global Voices have been reading Budapest ahead of our trip to the eponymous city for our annual summit. I'll confess that in spite of being a huge fan of Chico Buarque's music, I wasn't aware that he was also a novelist, and one of considerable talent.
A meditation on the pleasures and pains of writing, of foreignness, of learning a foreign language and the maddening complexities of that thing called love, Budapest follows the talented ghostwriter (and existential antihero) José Costa as he zigzags back and forth (mentally as much as physically) between his home city of Rio de Janeiro and Budapest, seat of his fascination with the Hungarian language, said to be "the only language the devil respects". It's quite a feat that Buarque never loses the thread of this wild, fragmented and completely engaging narrative, which is rendered in a rhythmic prose at once spare and layered, littered with semi-colons and commas where others would put fullstops (or periods, as you Yankees like to say).
My comments refer, of course, to the English translation of the novel, by Alison Entrekin. Translating a novel is already a feat in and of itself; translating a Portuguese-language novel whose subject is the Hungarian language is something else altogether. Entrekin's translation flows nevertheless like the waters of the Danube and Guanabara Bay combined.
A meditation on the pleasures and pains of writing, of foreignness, of learning a foreign language and the maddening complexities of that thing called love, Budapest follows the talented ghostwriter (and existential antihero) José Costa as he zigzags back and forth (mentally as much as physically) between his home city of Rio de Janeiro and Budapest, seat of his fascination with the Hungarian language, said to be "the only language the devil respects". It's quite a feat that Buarque never loses the thread of this wild, fragmented and completely engaging narrative, which is rendered in a rhythmic prose at once spare and layered, littered with semi-colons and commas where others would put fullstops (or periods, as you Yankees like to say).
My comments refer, of course, to the English translation of the novel, by Alison Entrekin. Translating a novel is already a feat in and of itself; translating a Portuguese-language novel whose subject is the Hungarian language is something else altogether. Entrekin's translation flows nevertheless like the waters of the Danube and Guanabara Bay combined.
August 20, 2017
What falling in love with a country, with a language can make with a man? Can he one day forget about the words which softly entered his ears lodging inside his heart? Budapest is a book precisely about this subject.
Chico Buarque, one of the most notable names of Brazilian Popular Music, shows us that his brightness goes beyond music. In this book, Jose Costa, the main character, is a ghostwriter - he writes books for other people, remaining in the shadows while the proclaimed authors are recognized. That, however, is not a problem to him. Not now, at least.
All his life changes after a ghostwriters' meeting in Budapest. While his stay in Hungary, Hungarian takes root so deeply in his soul that he can't go back to his life. He must learn and immerse himself completely in this language which starts to feel like home.
An outstanding story about an unconventional love. For those who want to know more about Chico Buarque's work on Brazilian Popular Music (highly recommended!), here are some links to his songs:
- João e Maria
- Construção
- Cálice
Chico Buarque, one of the most notable names of Brazilian Popular Music, shows us that his brightness goes beyond music. In this book, Jose Costa, the main character, is a ghostwriter - he writes books for other people, remaining in the shadows while the proclaimed authors are recognized. That, however, is not a problem to him. Not now, at least.
All his life changes after a ghostwriters' meeting in Budapest. While his stay in Hungary, Hungarian takes root so deeply in his soul that he can't go back to his life. He must learn and immerse himself completely in this language which starts to feel like home.
An outstanding story about an unconventional love. For those who want to know more about Chico Buarque's work on Brazilian Popular Music (highly recommended!), here are some links to his songs:
- João e Maria
- Construção
- Cálice
November 23, 2022
Um experimento em torno da língua, da linguagem e da aprendizagem de uma lingua.
Um tom divertido em torno de escritores fantasmas.
Um texto e uma narração criativa que me encantou ler.
Xico Buarque continua a me encantar.
Um tom divertido em torno de escritores fantasmas.
Um texto e uma narração criativa que me encantou ler.
Xico Buarque continua a me encantar.
March 21, 2012
Question:
What an Italian reading the English translation of a book written in Portuguese and by a Brazilian author pretending to be the ghost writer of a German guy and dedicated to the study of the Hungarian language is up to?
Answer:
Writing a few impressions on "Budapest" by Chico Buarque.
Composition:
This novel caught me by surprise. Of course I knew that Mr Buarque has talent, being considered one of the finest interpreters of bossanova today. A man, this Chico, who gets a high consideration in a country - Brazil - where another successful musician like Gilberto Gil spent five years playing the minister of Culture (and did some good things).
And yet, I didn't know Buarque as a novelist. To tell you the truth, the only Brazilian writer name I remember by heart is the sepia pictured, pointy bearded Machado De Asis although I have never read anything by him.
Let's talk about Chico and his "Budapest".
This is a very clever novel written in a very personal style and I'm glad I picked up this book pretty much by choice in one of my usual Saturday expeditions scouring the second hand bookshops.
An unusual novel, yes, but nonetheless related to other things I read in the past combining the introspection of Nooteboom with the magical realism of Borges in a plot that reminded me the "Ringmaster's Daughter" by Gaarder.
Whereas Gaarder wrote about a guy getting his living by selling to famous novelists beginnings and whole first chapters of stories to develop in successful books, Buarque's Josè Costa is a ghost writer or - as he puts it - "an anonymous writer".
Quiet. Be quiet. Josè Costa is not the kind of man wearing a Guy Fawkes mask and thinking about blowing up the parliament in Brasilia at the frenzy chimes of "Bat Macumba" by the Os Mutantes. And Josè Costa is neither a hacker, or the supporter of some Brazilian Pirate Party asking for the freedom from copyright and crying against Sopa.
In fact, Josè he's quite the opposite. And yet the copyright and royalties play a key note and a key role in his daily life of anonymous ghost writer. He gets the money without showing his face. He's happy, he's content of standing in the shadow while his associate Alvaro works on enlarging the portfolio of politicians, bishops, professors interested in having Josè writing their public speeches and essays.
Then, Josè Costa spends one night in Budapest on his way back from an anonymous writers world congress in Istanbul.
From that moment on his own identity will be divided into the anonymous ghost writer Josè Costa in Rio de Janeiro and the wandering Zsoze (surname) Kòsta (name) in Budapest.
And now I will say no more.
For this is a novel open to more than a single interpretation and the almost impossible meeting of a Brazilian mind with the Hungarian mentality.
Those who spent many hours of their lives studying on their own unusual half-forgotten languages for the sake of it (I did it), will find in "Budapest" a book to enshrine.
What an Italian reading the English translation of a book written in Portuguese and by a Brazilian author pretending to be the ghost writer of a German guy and dedicated to the study of the Hungarian language is up to?
Answer:
Writing a few impressions on "Budapest" by Chico Buarque.
Composition:
This novel caught me by surprise. Of course I knew that Mr Buarque has talent, being considered one of the finest interpreters of bossanova today. A man, this Chico, who gets a high consideration in a country - Brazil - where another successful musician like Gilberto Gil spent five years playing the minister of Culture (and did some good things).
And yet, I didn't know Buarque as a novelist. To tell you the truth, the only Brazilian writer name I remember by heart is the sepia pictured, pointy bearded Machado De Asis although I have never read anything by him.
Let's talk about Chico and his "Budapest".
This is a very clever novel written in a very personal style and I'm glad I picked up this book pretty much by choice in one of my usual Saturday expeditions scouring the second hand bookshops.
An unusual novel, yes, but nonetheless related to other things I read in the past combining the introspection of Nooteboom with the magical realism of Borges in a plot that reminded me the "Ringmaster's Daughter" by Gaarder.
Whereas Gaarder wrote about a guy getting his living by selling to famous novelists beginnings and whole first chapters of stories to develop in successful books, Buarque's Josè Costa is a ghost writer or - as he puts it - "an anonymous writer".
Quiet. Be quiet. Josè Costa is not the kind of man wearing a Guy Fawkes mask and thinking about blowing up the parliament in Brasilia at the frenzy chimes of "Bat Macumba" by the Os Mutantes. And Josè Costa is neither a hacker, or the supporter of some Brazilian Pirate Party asking for the freedom from copyright and crying against Sopa.
In fact, Josè he's quite the opposite. And yet the copyright and royalties play a key note and a key role in his daily life of anonymous ghost writer. He gets the money without showing his face. He's happy, he's content of standing in the shadow while his associate Alvaro works on enlarging the portfolio of politicians, bishops, professors interested in having Josè writing their public speeches and essays.
Then, Josè Costa spends one night in Budapest on his way back from an anonymous writers world congress in Istanbul.
From that moment on his own identity will be divided into the anonymous ghost writer Josè Costa in Rio de Janeiro and the wandering Zsoze (surname) Kòsta (name) in Budapest.
And now I will say no more.
For this is a novel open to more than a single interpretation and the almost impossible meeting of a Brazilian mind with the Hungarian mentality.
Those who spent many hours of their lives studying on their own unusual half-forgotten languages for the sake of it (I did it), will find in "Budapest" a book to enshrine.
January 3, 2019
Αγώνας για την κατάκτηση της γλώσσας και τη δημιουργία λογοτεχνικής ταυτότητας.
May 13, 2020
Θα είμαι ειλικρινής. Πήρα το βιβλίο μόνο και μόνο για τον τίτλο. Εντάξει και η περίληψη του ήταν ιντριγκαδορικη. Έχω μεγάλο άχτι Βουδαπέστη και Ουγγρική γλώσσα.
Περίεργο βιβλίο. Φαντάζομαι πως υπάρχει λόγος που ο "γραπτός λόγος" λέγεται γραπτός, και ο "προφορικός", προφορικός. Ε λοιπόν, όλη η γραφή αυτού του βιβλίου είναι εντελώς προφορική. Ίσως συμβολίζει και το χάος των γλωσσών.
Για το αν περιμένετε να μάθετε αν είναι η αγαπημένη γλώσσα του Βελζεβούλη, θα πρέπει να ρωτήσετε τον ίδιο. Ή αλλιώς να κάτσουμε να εντρυφήσουμε σε μια από τις πιο δύσκολες γλώσσες του κόσμου...
Περίεργο βιβλίο. Φαντάζομαι πως υπάρχει λόγος που ο "γραπτός λόγος" λέγεται γραπτός, και ο "προφορικός", προφορικός. Ε λοιπόν, όλη η γραφή αυτού του βιβλίου είναι εντελώς προφορική. Ίσως συμβολίζει και το χάος των γλωσσών.
Για το αν περιμένετε να μάθετε αν είναι η αγαπημένη γλώσσα του Βελζεβούλη, θα πρέπει να ρωτήσετε τον ίδιο. Ή αλλιώς να κάτσουμε να εντρυφήσουμε σε μια από τις πιο δύσκολες γλώσσες του κόσμου...
July 7, 2018
Ma anche no...
August 27, 2008
It was Chico Buarque's first sentence; "It should be against the law to mock someone who tries his luck in a foreign language," that really sucked me in. As a language learner, I know all too well the life-sucking frustration and humiliation that comes with being mocked for your efforts. It is with this honesty and candor that "Budapest," written in prose, layers the story of a Brazillian "ghost writer," José Costa. As a "ghost writer," this native of São Paulo is employed by an agency to namelessly write commentaries, biographies and autobiographies for the presumed author. As book sales begin to inflate, so does José's ego, which leaves his wife and obese child to bear the brunt of his arrogant attitude. Jose's wife Vanda and he decide to go to Budapest for a quick vacation. But while in the airport Vanda decides at the last minute that she'd rather go to England instead of Budapest giving Jose the freedom to travel alone. Going solo opens up some pretty wide doors to a whole new set of passions and loves which grab hold of him and keep him hypnotized by their beauty. "Budapest" is an illustration of language, love, and self interest and how these dynamics blend together to form us, and destroy us. Chico Buarque puts a new twist on language commentary and travel writing to give us an extremely contagious read.
December 26, 2020
Uma história engraçada sobre um homem que escreve sob anonimato.
Foi a minha estreia nos livros de Chico Buarque.
Será que ele também tem um Ghost-writer?
De qualquer forma, está bem escrito, tem forma, conflito e gera expetativa.
Foi a minha estreia nos livros de Chico Buarque.
Será que ele também tem um Ghost-writer?
De qualquer forma, está bem escrito, tem forma, conflito e gera expetativa.
January 28, 2013
Una gran confusione, in due parole ecco ciò che mi ha trasmesso il libro. I temi trattati sono molteplici: per primo la tematica del doppio, che mi ha fatto pensare a Pessoa, essendo il protagonista, Joao Costa, un ghost writer brasiliano, uno scrittore che scrive romanzi di cui assume la paternità qualcun altro. Joao Costa è sposato con Vanda, che ha una gemella. Joao Costa per caso passa una notte a Budapest, a causa di uno scalo aereo forzato mentre sta tornando a casa dalla Turchia, da un congresso di scrittori anonimi. La lingua ungherese lo affascina. Joao Costa diventa Kosta per la donna ungherese che lo accoglie e gli insegna la lingua. Da qui prende il via un susseguirsi confuso di eventi che lo riguardano, passando da Budapest a Rio, senza una logica, che sembrano sogni, a volte incubi. L’atmosfera onirica pervade tutto il libro, ad ogni pagina mi domandavo “sarà vero o sarà un sogno?” Ci ho trovato spunti da altri scrittori, come la cecità da Saramago (anche il tema del doppio è stato trattato da Saramago quando ha scritto quel meraviglioso romanzo che è L’anno della morte di Ricardo Reis): il fatto è che Chico Buarque non è Pessoa né Saramago, il risultato è deludente ed il romanzo non mi ha mai coinvolto.
July 4, 2018
Romanzo molto particolare ambientato tra Brasile e Ungheria con due storie d'amore una per sponda dell'Atlantico, ma soprattutto con una grandissima dichiarazione d'amore nei confronti della parola, della lingua e della letteratura. È un libro spiazzante, che non si capisce dove voglia arrivare fino alle ultimissime pagine. Se l'idea del finale è veramente carina, la storia fin lì mi ha convinta solo parzialmente.
September 23, 2012
«Budapeste: no exacto momento em que termina, transforma-se em poesia». Foi isto que li na badana do «Leite Derramado» a propósito do Budapeste e que me deixou de expectativas tão altas. Em consequência de ter lido um livro de autor brasileiro, estou novamente escrevendo a crítica nessa língua transatlântica. Devia ser proibido debochar de quem se aventura em língua estrangeira. Como eu adoro aventuras por língua estrangeira, e conheço bem os seus triunfos e embaraços, achei sublime esta primeira frase. Tendo gostado bastante do livro anterior, esperei apaixonar-me também por este outro, sobretudo debruçado sobre uma capital europeia na qual deposito bastante curiosidade. No entanto, o estilo corrido do livro, por vezes a desconexão dos acontecimentos, fez-me sentir meio perdida no meio do livro. Reconheci-lhe bastante mérito, porque quebrar com a lógica dos eventos é algo que eu não teria ainda coragem de fazer. Por enquanto vou explicando as cabeças daqueles sobre quem escrevo. Mas a qualidade da escrita do Chico Buarque é inegável. Tem reviravoltas que apreciei bastante, como um rosto reflectido numa lente de câmara fotográfica, ou mesmo um «jacaré com controle remoto» que me pôs a rir no voo. Não perdi a fé no talento deste autor por ter gostado um pouco menos deste segundo livro seu que li. Hei de ler o «Estorvo» também. Felizmente o livro é pequeno e, apesar dos parágrafos de três páginas, li-o em três fôlegos.
http://castelos-de-letras.blogspot.pt...
http://castelos-de-letras.blogspot.pt...
July 29, 2016
Eu poderia, mas não vou atribuir exclusivamente meu deleite com Budapeste ao fato de eu também estar às voltas com o aprendizado de uma língua estrangeira. Na história, José Costa, um ghost-writer que escreve textos sob encomenda para qualquer circunstância, a partir de um rascunho ou uma entrevista breve com o interessado, vai parar na capital da Hungria e se vê desafiado a aprender o idioma magiar. Sei exatamente o que ele, quando em terras húngaras, quer dizer com vocabulário pobre e impreciso, má tradução do pensamento e a sua preocupação com a prosódia. A identificação foi forte, mas não é o único motivo.
Esse foi meu primeiro contato com Chico. Desde o começo a história me intrigou com sua cronologia confusa, fluxos de pensamentos e detalhes esquizofrênicos. Sua prosa me deixou encantada, tem umas sutilezas que a gente encontra aqui e ali, jeitos de narrar o mundo próprios de quem tem um olhar excepcional. Também me roubou risos inesperados e foi uma festa de verbetes novos.
O final é de dar um nó na cabeca. Um nó engenhoso, eu diria. Fruto do trabalho de um "mestre de juntar palavras", como disse dele Luis Fernando Veríssimo.
Esse foi meu primeiro contato com Chico. Desde o começo a história me intrigou com sua cronologia confusa, fluxos de pensamentos e detalhes esquizofrênicos. Sua prosa me deixou encantada, tem umas sutilezas que a gente encontra aqui e ali, jeitos de narrar o mundo próprios de quem tem um olhar excepcional. Também me roubou risos inesperados e foi uma festa de verbetes novos.
O final é de dar um nó na cabeca. Um nó engenhoso, eu diria. Fruto do trabalho de um "mestre de juntar palavras", como disse dele Luis Fernando Veríssimo.
August 11, 2024
Primeiro livro que li do Autor. Muito lírico. Esperava bastante mais face à qualidade das canções.
January 3, 2019
Di Chico Buarque avevo apprezzato molto "Il fratello tedesco", quindi speravo di trovare le stesse atmosfere: invece questo libro mi ha lasciato un po' perplessa, mi e' rimasto molto "distante" perche' non ne ho proprio colto il significato.
Caro Chico, dove volevi andare a parare? Alla potenza delle parole, straniere e non? Non mi pare che sia una storia d'amore (forse lo e' con Kriska, ma certo non con la moglie e tantomeno con il figlio, che poveretto viene affidato alle tate dalla mamma in carriera, mentre il padre non lo calcola proprio).
Nonostante non riesca proprio a capirne l'essenza, devo pero' dire che il libro non e' stato affatto spiacevole, Chico Buarque sa comunque scrivere e qualche passo mi ha anche ricordato Jodorowsky. Insomma non lo rileggerei ma sono contenta di averlo letto.
Caro Chico, dove volevi andare a parare? Alla potenza delle parole, straniere e non? Non mi pare che sia una storia d'amore (forse lo e' con Kriska, ma certo non con la moglie e tantomeno con il figlio, che poveretto viene affidato alle tate dalla mamma in carriera, mentre il padre non lo calcola proprio).
Nonostante non riesca proprio a capirne l'essenza, devo pero' dire che il libro non e' stato affatto spiacevole, Chico Buarque sa comunque scrivere e qualche passo mi ha anche ricordato Jodorowsky. Insomma non lo rileggerei ma sono contenta di averlo letto.
December 26, 2025
Falo desta leitura neste vídeo, a partir do minuto 5:
https://youtu.be/GBa96maVrzM?si=jJvxp...
https://youtu.be/GBa96maVrzM?si=jJvxp...
December 20, 2015
Ya amaba a Chico Buarque. Ya me parecía un genio con sus maravillosas canciones. Ahora me queda claro que esa genialidad se extiende de una manera completamente distinta a su literatura. Algo en este libro me resuena, con historias mías supongo, tiene algo de musical, a lo que llevo años dedicándome, pero tiene algo emocional, te mueve por lugares extraños, por el reconocimiento, el desconocimiento, las vidas paralelas, las lenguas, el amor, en fin, se mueve por aguas que disfruto mucho. Te amo Chico!
January 13, 2021
“Disse ela que, quando era nova no emprego, já advertia dona Vanda: bebê que se vê refletido no espelho fica com a fala empatada.”
Um bebê com a fala empatada: assim é José Costa, ghostwriter e anti-herói existencial dessa novela de Chico Buarque. Afinal, o protagonista atravessa em pouco mais de cem páginas uma enorme casa de espelhos. Espelhos que dividem Rio de Janeiro e Budapeste que dividem Buda e Pest que dividem autor e personagem que dividem cliente e escritor que dividem identidade e anonimato que dividem um livro em muitos. Mas, se vivemos em um mundo que representamos, então o primeiro e mais importante desses espelhos sempre haverá de ser a linguagem. É através da linguagem que navegamos pelo mundo. “Não me aborrecia caminhar assim num mapa, talvez porque sempre tive a vaga sensação de ser eu também o mapa de uma pessoa.” Toda língua é um mapa — para o mundo e para si mesmo.
Assim, José Costa se divide entre duas cidades, duas mulheres, duas vidas, dois mundos, duas línguas. Busca, “[…] da mesma forma que o ator se transveste em mil personagens, para poder ser mil vezes ele mesmo”, encontrar a si próprio — ou a um “outro próprio”. Mas, sejam diferentes ou sejam a mesma, “[…] duas pessoas não se equilibram muito tempo lado a lado, cada qual com seu silêncio; um dos silêncios acaba sugando o outro […].”
Em alguns momentos a leitura se tornou arrastada, com certos pontos pouco contribuindo à evolução da trama. Mas satisfeito termino “Budapeste” — onde o Danúbio desemboca na Baía de Guanabara. Nessas águas, deparo-me com meu reflexo. Com a minha fala empatada, recordo-me, então, dos dizeres de uma instalação do artista Tim Etchells: “All we have is words, all we have is worlds”.
Um bebê com a fala empatada: assim é José Costa, ghostwriter e anti-herói existencial dessa novela de Chico Buarque. Afinal, o protagonista atravessa em pouco mais de cem páginas uma enorme casa de espelhos. Espelhos que dividem Rio de Janeiro e Budapeste que dividem Buda e Pest que dividem autor e personagem que dividem cliente e escritor que dividem identidade e anonimato que dividem um livro em muitos. Mas, se vivemos em um mundo que representamos, então o primeiro e mais importante desses espelhos sempre haverá de ser a linguagem. É através da linguagem que navegamos pelo mundo. “Não me aborrecia caminhar assim num mapa, talvez porque sempre tive a vaga sensação de ser eu também o mapa de uma pessoa.” Toda língua é um mapa — para o mundo e para si mesmo.
Assim, José Costa se divide entre duas cidades, duas mulheres, duas vidas, dois mundos, duas línguas. Busca, “[…] da mesma forma que o ator se transveste em mil personagens, para poder ser mil vezes ele mesmo”, encontrar a si próprio — ou a um “outro próprio”. Mas, sejam diferentes ou sejam a mesma, “[…] duas pessoas não se equilibram muito tempo lado a lado, cada qual com seu silêncio; um dos silêncios acaba sugando o outro […].”
Em alguns momentos a leitura se tornou arrastada, com certos pontos pouco contribuindo à evolução da trama. Mas satisfeito termino “Budapeste” — onde o Danúbio desemboca na Baía de Guanabara. Nessas águas, deparo-me com meu reflexo. Com a minha fala empatada, recordo-me, então, dos dizeres de uma instalação do artista Tim Etchells: “All we have is words, all we have is worlds”.
August 28, 2016
Estranho, mas não de todo desinteressante. As imagens sobre escrever um livro no corpo de alguém - literalmente - são incríveis, geniais mesmo, mas tem muita ambiguidade e muito comportamento questionável no protagonista pra eu gostar de verdade.
July 25, 2017
Conoscevo Chico Buarque solo come cantante, sapevo anche che era impegnato politicamente, ma nient'altro. Ora leggerò tutti i suoi libri.
Il protagonista, Josè Costa, è un ghost writer che non si sente completamente integrato nella propria vita e nel proprio ambiente in una specie di "saudade" all' incontrario.
È talmente nauseato dallo scrivere nella propria lingua che si lascia tentare dalle sonorità aspre dell'ungherese, lingua ascoltata per caso, e da una vita che gli risulta, in modo assurdo e quasi morboso, diversa dalla sua.
È un' altalena che dondola tra Rio e Budapest e Josè si perde in sé stesso, fino all' eccellente finale che con un colpo di grazia ci lascia senza parole.
Sono pagine strane, sospese. Un libro da leggere. Un capolavoro.
"...la letteratura, secondo me, è l' unica delle arti a non aver bisogno di esibirsi..." quindi mi fermo qui, ma con la testa penserò ancora a lungo alla raffinatezza che mi ha lasciato dentro.
Il protagonista, Josè Costa, è un ghost writer che non si sente completamente integrato nella propria vita e nel proprio ambiente in una specie di "saudade" all' incontrario.
È talmente nauseato dallo scrivere nella propria lingua che si lascia tentare dalle sonorità aspre dell'ungherese, lingua ascoltata per caso, e da una vita che gli risulta, in modo assurdo e quasi morboso, diversa dalla sua.
È un' altalena che dondola tra Rio e Budapest e Josè si perde in sé stesso, fino all' eccellente finale che con un colpo di grazia ci lascia senza parole.
Sono pagine strane, sospese. Un libro da leggere. Un capolavoro.
"...la letteratura, secondo me, è l' unica delle arti a non aver bisogno di esibirsi..." quindi mi fermo qui, ma con la testa penserò ancora a lungo alla raffinatezza che mi ha lasciato dentro.
July 29, 2018
Esprimo il mio poco entusiasmo per questo piccolo confuso romanzo di un ottimo musicista in vena di sperimentazioni. Il racconto è un lungo monologo interiore metaletterario a cavallo tra due paesi e due donne nel quale la lingua e la scrittura sono i veri protagonisti. Un progetto ambizioso non del tutto riuscito con una prosa che vorrebbe essere poetica e risulta farraginosa ed una rivelazione finale che lascia più confusi che altro. Tutto sommato però non è da buttare e per quanto mi riguarda raggiunge (un po' a fatica) la sufficienza.
July 17, 2018
Si può scegliere dove vivere in base alla lingua parlata in un dato paese? Sembra di sì, almeno per il protagonista di questo romanzo che si innamora dell'ungherese ancora prima di capirlo, solo in base alla sua sonorità. Le parole, sia scritte che parlate, sono i veri protagonisti e con le parole scritte l'autore trova l'espediente che caratterizza il romanzo. Idea intrigante che trova il suo svelarsi solo nelle ultimissime pagine ma ciò comporta, nelle pagine precedenti, un intreccio di eventi quasi allucinanti e paradossali, sicuramente astrusi.
February 7, 2019
Não sendo para todos os gostos, na minha opinião este livro apresenta como ponto de interesse a provável profundidade de possíveis interpretações e sensações com que nos termina porque acho que nós terminamos exatamente com o personagem principal: o que realmente isto significa? Pois bem, com a duplacidade de um personagem que se desdobra em dois ghost-writers, trilhamos com interesse a existência de uma pessoa entre o Brasil e a Hungria.
Sem uma estrutura cronologicamente organizada, este livro é todo ele uma sucessão de ideias e de recordações de um escritor que parece nunca se encontrar a si mesmo. No entanto, sem mostras de procurar atribuir-se um significado existencial, este ghost-writer apresenta uma capacidade absoluta de explorar literariamente a beleza existencial a partir da pele de outras pessoas. Fazendo uma adequação a um excerto da obra podemos dizer que para a duplacidade do personagem escritor, “Não me aborrecia caminhar assim num mapa, talvez porque sempre tive a vaga sensação de ser eu também o mapa de uma pessoa.”.
Da minha parte fica a impressão que com a dupla faceta de ghost-writer, no Brasil identificamos a prosa de um personagem afeto à vida real, isto é, de um escritor competente e criativo mas não sonhador que, como ghost-writter, escreve teses, discursos políticos, autobiografias, etc., procurando assim alcançar mais daqueles sobre quem escreve do que de si próprio enquanto escritor; já na Hungria, a outra faceta do ghost-writer revela-se à descoberta de novas habilidades onde o seu ímpeto criador é autêntico e parece realmente se realizar como escritor através da poesia, ou seja, nesta faceta o ghost-writer vive uma vida mais sonhada e, embora “vítima” do seu próprio ofício na reta final da obra, sente o que ao longo da narrativa deste livro desde sempre pareceu desejar sentir como pessoa que é um escritor: o reconhecimento sentimental e artístico da sua obra por parte da mulher amada. Por esta mesma razão, recorrendo a outro excerto da obra, para este escritor fica a ideia de que, de facto, “Fora da Hungria não há vida” pois é neste país que, embora assente numa mentira, se sente realmente considerado.
Não achando um desassossêgo literário, na minha opinião este é um livro suficientemente justificado para ser lido.
Sem uma estrutura cronologicamente organizada, este livro é todo ele uma sucessão de ideias e de recordações de um escritor que parece nunca se encontrar a si mesmo. No entanto, sem mostras de procurar atribuir-se um significado existencial, este ghost-writer apresenta uma capacidade absoluta de explorar literariamente a beleza existencial a partir da pele de outras pessoas. Fazendo uma adequação a um excerto da obra podemos dizer que para a duplacidade do personagem escritor, “Não me aborrecia caminhar assim num mapa, talvez porque sempre tive a vaga sensação de ser eu também o mapa de uma pessoa.”.
Da minha parte fica a impressão que com a dupla faceta de ghost-writer, no Brasil identificamos a prosa de um personagem afeto à vida real, isto é, de um escritor competente e criativo mas não sonhador que, como ghost-writter, escreve teses, discursos políticos, autobiografias, etc., procurando assim alcançar mais daqueles sobre quem escreve do que de si próprio enquanto escritor; já na Hungria, a outra faceta do ghost-writer revela-se à descoberta de novas habilidades onde o seu ímpeto criador é autêntico e parece realmente se realizar como escritor através da poesia, ou seja, nesta faceta o ghost-writer vive uma vida mais sonhada e, embora “vítima” do seu próprio ofício na reta final da obra, sente o que ao longo da narrativa deste livro desde sempre pareceu desejar sentir como pessoa que é um escritor: o reconhecimento sentimental e artístico da sua obra por parte da mulher amada. Por esta mesma razão, recorrendo a outro excerto da obra, para este escritor fica a ideia de que, de facto, “Fora da Hungria não há vida” pois é neste país que, embora assente numa mentira, se sente realmente considerado.
Não achando um desassossêgo literário, na minha opinião este é um livro suficientemente justificado para ser lido.
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September 26, 2017Not Quite Literature
By the Brazilian superstar ('composer and musician, highly praised poet, playwright, and novelist'). It is sharply and efficiently executed, and closely mimics good literature. In a number of places it is clear that Buarque has thought about the problems of translation, the ways literary novels are constructed, the kinds of plots that international fiction might have, the speed they need, the flash of images, the hints of depth. On some pages, in some strong images, with some sharp ideas, it is infinitesimally close to literature. It's like a mix of William Gibson (not the science fiction, but the chic details of 'Pattern Recognition') and Cees Nooteboom (not the Nooteboom of the occasional page of good prose, but the ridiculously over-rated author, who flutters through simplistic cultural cliches).
For an introduction to Buarque, in English, see 'The Boston Review,' July/August 2007, 35.
By the Brazilian superstar ('composer and musician, highly praised poet, playwright, and novelist'). It is sharply and efficiently executed, and closely mimics good literature. In a number of places it is clear that Buarque has thought about the problems of translation, the ways literary novels are constructed, the kinds of plots that international fiction might have, the speed they need, the flash of images, the hints of depth. On some pages, in some strong images, with some sharp ideas, it is infinitesimally close to literature. It's like a mix of William Gibson (not the science fiction, but the chic details of 'Pattern Recognition') and Cees Nooteboom (not the Nooteboom of the occasional page of good prose, but the ridiculously over-rated author, who flutters through simplistic cultural cliches).
For an introduction to Buarque, in English, see 'The Boston Review,' July/August 2007, 35.
July 24, 2014
Hmm, how do I describe this book?
I decided that I would take on the challenge of reading the World Cup of Literature presented by Three Percent, because I love soccer, I love books and hey, why not?
This was book number one hailing from Brazil. It is short, I'd even call it a novella and the translation loses nothing. The issue at hand is the book is about nothing really and the narrator is a total d-bag. I take this quote from Pseudo-intellectual reviews: "http://pseudointellectualreviews.word...
"Costa is a remarkably unreflective narrator, an individual so abominably self-centered it doesn’t even occur to him to moralize about his actions." It's hard to get behind a guy like that. Though the subject manner--a ghost writer obsessed with his own work and obsessed with the Hungarian language--was somewhat interesting. It's definitely not one I'd read again.
I decided that I would take on the challenge of reading the World Cup of Literature presented by Three Percent, because I love soccer, I love books and hey, why not?
This was book number one hailing from Brazil. It is short, I'd even call it a novella and the translation loses nothing. The issue at hand is the book is about nothing really and the narrator is a total d-bag. I take this quote from Pseudo-intellectual reviews: "http://pseudointellectualreviews.word...
"Costa is a remarkably unreflective narrator, an individual so abominably self-centered it doesn’t even occur to him to moralize about his actions." It's hard to get behind a guy like that. Though the subject manner--a ghost writer obsessed with his own work and obsessed with the Hungarian language--was somewhat interesting. It's definitely not one I'd read again.
February 23, 2020
Que leitura incrível! Me proporcionou vários estados de espírito diferentes, amei! A prosa parece um labirinto de espelhos, um jogo duplo de personagens e lugares e situações, que é acentuada pelo objeto meta-metalinguistico do texto. A linguagem usada é bastante sedutora, fui envolvida completamente até, por fim, cair na armadilha e ser aprisionada pelo autor. Eu, que desde a primeira infância era fan do Chico, não havia lido nenhum de seus livros, estou atônita, estupefata, após a leitura.
“Para esquecer aquelas palavras, talvez fosse necessário esquecer a própria língua em que foram ditas, como nos mudamos da casa que nos lembra um morto. Talvez fosse possível substituir na cabeça uma língua por outra, paulatinamente, descartando uma palavra a cada palavra adquirida.”
“Para esquecer aquelas palavras, talvez fosse necessário esquecer a própria língua em que foram ditas, como nos mudamos da casa que nos lembra um morto. Talvez fosse possível substituir na cabeça uma língua por outra, paulatinamente, descartando uma palavra a cada palavra adquirida.”
November 25, 2017
Not unlike Hesse's Steppenwolf or some of Murakami's early works, Budapest begins in an unassuming though intriguing way and, subtly and hardly noticeably, progresses into confusion, otherworldliness and delirium. A baffling short novel of language and identity. Disorienting, exhilerating and terrifying!
July 22, 2011
O Chico tem a manha das palavras, das encadeações, das frases bem fornidas, mas nem por isso caio de amores por ele.
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