Seeing

Blindness was one of the most powerful books i have ever read. a disaggregation of human nature, and of the thinness of the civilizing context that all our faculties produces. This is no less a brilliant deconstruction, of democracy, of the validity of the electoral system, and the willingness of governments of all stripes, including ostensibly rights-loving freedom-embracing democracies, to do...more

Blindness was one of the most powerful books i have ever read. a disaggregation of human nature, and of the thinness of the civilizing context that all our faculties produces. This is no less a brilliant deconstruction, of democracy, of the validity of the electoral system, and the willingness of governments of all stripes, including ostensibly rights-loving freedom-embracing democracies, to do horrible wrongs to individuals and groups deemed to threaten them. As with Blindness, the sheet is lifted through the use of a rhetorical devise, in that case, what would happen if everyone went blind, in this case, what would happen if the majority of citizens cast blank votes. Saramago delivers for most of the book, brilliant political satire- the absence of substance in political speeches, and the empty use instead of different notes played on the stylistic lute (not sure i will ever forget that phrase). In the end, Saramago does not spare us. There are no happy endings. And that sadly, seems to be his point.   hide

Not quite as absorbing like "Blindness." The story is too self-aware.

This is, like Blindness, a thoroughly original book. Unlike Blindness, the ending was not satisfying. Despite that it is well worth a read.

Not nearly as good as Blindness or his other masterpiece The Gospel According to Jesus Christ. This political fable starts off as an intriguing idea but kind of falls apart by the end. I was struggling to finish it and I've never struggled through a Saramago book before. I was tempted to re-read Gospel as soon as I'd finished it. But I had to take a break part way through this one. It's okay but...more

Not nearly as good as Blindness or his other masterpiece The Gospel According to Jesus Christ. This political fable starts off as an intriguing idea but kind of falls apart by the end. I was struggling to finish it and I've never struggled through a Saramago book before. I was tempted to re-read Gospel as soon as I'd finished it. But I had to take a break part way through this one. It's okay but certainly not great.   hide

This rating should say "Hated It". How did this book get a 3.5 stars rating? It is literally the worst book I have ever read in my entire life! Albeit I hate political books, but this was just stupid and horrible. I wanted to stop reading after the first 20 pages, but I enjoyed Blindness and thought this was a credible author, so I kept hoping that it would have a deep...more

This rating should say "Hated It". How did this book get a 3.5 stars rating? It is literally the worst book I have ever read in my entire life! Albeit I hate political books, but this was just stupid and horrible. I wanted to stop reading after the first 20 pages, but I enjoyed Blindness and thought this was a credible author, so I kept hoping that it would have a deep ending...NOPE... that put the nails in the coffin, HORRIBLE! I get that he is trying to write a dry comedy about the ridiculous aspects of politics and the people that chose it as a profession. It was just stupid, not insightful. Reading other reviews, people either hate it or love it. Boo to those who love it. ick!   hide

Captivating satire on the American government and frightening tale about what it means to see the truth.

It's the sequel to 'Blindness' and lacks some of that book's power. The focus is politics which leads to a lighter, more satirical take than the previous novel. But in the end Saramago is -very- pessimistic about politics and governments. (most Portuguese Communist atheists are) Somewhere between Kafka and "Catch-22". But read "Blindness" first. That book will...more

It's the sequel to 'Blindness' and lacks some of that book's power. The focus is politics which leads to a lighter, more satirical take than the previous novel. But in the end Saramago is -very- pessimistic about politics and governments. (most Portuguese Communist atheists are) Somewhere between Kafka and "Catch-22". But read "Blindness" first. That book will rock your world! And you can act all superior whe the movie comes out...   hide

"As I've learned in this job, not only are the people in government never put off by what we judge to be absurd, they make use of absurdities to dull consciences and to destroy reason." Unusual writing style but astute insights into governments.

I didn't find it as good as "Blindness"...except of course for the last few pages, which make "Blindness" even more powerful a read than it was before (a sort of Chekhovesque Seagull thing, like being slapped in the face). Actually makes me emotional just thinking back on it, and evoked a similar reaction to what I had when I finished reading "The Idiot": A strange desire to hurl the book away...more

I didn't find it as good as "Blindness"...except of course for the last few pages, which make "Blindness" even more powerful a read than it was before (a sort of Chekhovesque Seagull thing, like being slapped in the face). Actually makes me emotional just thinking back on it, and evoked a similar reaction to what I had when I finished reading "The Idiot": A strange desire to hurl the book away from me, not because it was bad but because it was good.   hide