A Special World

A Special World

A special world for you and me
A special bond one cannot see
It wraps us up in its cocoon
And holds us fiercely in its womb.

Its fingers spread like fine spun gold
Gently nestling us to the fold
Like silken thread it holds us fast
Bonds like this are meant to last.

And though at times a thread may break
A new one forms in its wake
To bind us closer and keep us strong
In a special world, where we belong.

- Sheelagh Lennon -

[Posted in: Utrecht, Netherlands]

Bookreview: Ensaio sobre a Cegueira, José Saramago

Too long nothing from me. So starting over (again). I’m going to make this blog more alternating; more different subject and stuff. And to start with that: Here’s my first book review.

De stad de Blinden (Ensaio sobre a Cegueira), José Saramago

The book
I’ve read the Dutch version of ‘Ensaio sobre a Cegueira’ translated by Harrie Lemmens.

The book is actually quite accessible. In Lisbon all inhabitants gradually lose their eyesight. What first occurred to be an exception turns out to become a common thing.. But the inhabitants organize themselves be it in another way then before. With the loss of their visual capabilities, also their ethical restrictions seem to perish: with the loss of their eyesight, there is something that becomes visible: The true heart of mankind.

My comments
This book doesn’t really aim a spotlight on the positive side of mankind; it rather sheds some light on our fundamental ideas. Nevertheless it’s not a negative or pessimistic book. Also trust and love of one’s fellow man, charity, the power of a human being to survive even the most exceptional conditions and the remarkable inventiveness to save one and their beloved ones in difficult times, are to be found in this book. Although I personally think that the book ends quite abrupt, it does end with a positive annotation, in new self-confidence, when people get their eyesight back.

The authors style of writing
I've never read one of Saramago’s books before, so the first thing I noticed when I opened the book was his way of writing. Not that I think that Saramago is a complicated author. His style has some, I think typical, characteristics where you get used to in a couple of pages. The pages are completely filled with text; almost none white spaces are to be found. The dialogues and multilateral conversations are written in a successively way, and only commas and capitals notify you that another person is about to speak.
Furthermore I like the ironic way the author used to write down the story. He writes from a distance. For example: On a certain moment there has to be voted. The leader of the group of blind people asks everybody to raise their hands. As a reader you know immediately that this doesn’t make sense as everybody is blind. But Saramago explains these automatisms of the characters into detail. And that makes you, being the reader, to be ‘above’ the whole story. In this way you’re not being dragged along the story, but it makes you think about the consequences as they are presented: an expanding blindness which doesn’t respect anyone.

Score
Sores from 1 to 10 (1 = abhorring, 10 = excellent)

Content: 8
Style: 8½

[Posted in: Utrecht, Netherlands]