Blindness isn't very much like any other book I've read. It does have a 3rd person omniscient narrator, and it has a very clear and descriptive setting. However, unlike other books I've read, José Saramago doesn't give a name to a single character. Along with this affect, none of the dialog is split into a clear organization. It takes some more energy to think about whether it's a character's inner dialog, who is saying it, and who is around to hear it. This makes the book very interesting right off the bat.
The first part of the plot depicts a blindness epidemic that strikes a city, and how it bounces from person to person to anyone in contact with any of those people, very quickly. Time moves very quickly in the beginning. Despite the horror that is described from the sudden white engulfing blindness, I love reading this book. The characters are well-described to make up for a lack of a name, and although they have no name they each have a a distinguishing title.
What I don't like about this book so far, is how paranoid it has made me. It puts me in another place from simply reading and analyzing. Throughout my day I catch myself thinking, "what if I go blind right now?" and I start to freak out a little bit. I get that that is pretty irrational, but the blindness in the book has no explanation and it breaks down a government in a matter of weeks.
So far so good though, I'm not physically blind and I really like this book.
I agree about the effect of this book; it left me thinking for a long time after. For those who haven't read the book, it might be nice to provide an example of the style, as it is very unique.
ReplyDeleteYour blog is beautiful :)
ReplyDeleteSooooo the way you describe the structure of the book seems very unique, unlike my book which is written quite simply. Other than being interesting right off the bat, why do you think Saramago chose to write Blindness this way?
Do you think the lack of organization is a symbol of the confusion produced from becoming blind?
Madeline,
Deletethanks girl! Yea, my book is written straight up wicked weird.
I don't know why he wrote such a morbid book, in the way he did, but from what I get from the theme and tone I think it was because if we read a book a different way right from the start we have to be paying complete attention. If that makes any sense... What I mean is that when we are unfamiliar we are attentive to a lot more, so I felt really involved in reading the book.
As far as the 'lack of organization' it does add to the blindness because of not knowing how to organize thoughts.
Does the story have certain characters that it focuses on, despite not giving them any names? What does the story describe most, if not the characters?
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