Book Review: "Blindness"
I started reading José Saramago's Blindness around 9:00 p.m. on Friday and finished it about an hour ago (it's Sunday, about 3:30 p.m.). 326 pages in less than 48 hours. That's not exactly a speed-reading record, but it should be taken as an indication of the mesmerizing quality of this novel about what happens when an epidemic of blindness sweeps through the population of an unidentified nation.
This book was published eleven years ago and there's nothing I can add to the discussion about its message. Neither do I wish to reveal any additional details of the plot. All I want to do is share my reaction to the novel, since others have expressed an interest.
The author acts as an omniscient narrator, an observer and occasional interpreter of the events that unfold through the progression of the "disease" (if that's what it is). The writing style is almost stream of consciousness, but I found it not difficult at all to comprehend. (I did wonder how much, if any, of this style came from the fact that the novel was translated from Portuguese. There's a rather poignant publisher's footnote at the end informing the reader that the original translator died before completing the work, which was taken over by another person.) But the words and construction are just the delivery mechanism for a story with details that are by turns, incredibly disturbing and touching. Those details are so vividly described, so realistic, so brutal, that one might feel transported into the story...and that's often not a comfortable place to be.
One Gazette reader wanted to know if Blindness would cause nightmares, and my answer is that if one is prone to taking what they read into their subconscious then, yes, this is the stuff that nightmares are made of. But it would be unfair to leave it at that, because the diligent reader will find eventually find some redemption in the story.
Saramago is a Communist and an atheist, and I find some of his political views repugnant; his view of the world and humanity are colored by a lens that is very different from mine. But he has created a undeniably powerful novel, one that consumed my weekend, and I don't regret the investment of time.
Next up, Saramago's follow-up novel published this year: Seeing. I think I'll wait a few days, though...maybe just enjoy looking at things for a while.
From the little bit I've read about the book, you might like it if you felt that "The Last Temptation of Christ" was a documentary sponsored by Billy Graham Ministries.
Posted by: Eric at April 30, 2006 07:34 PMOh yeah, I should have commended you on the speed reading and nice review. When I said "read the book already," I really didn't expect such a speedy response!
Posted by: Gwynne at April 30, 2006 11:46 PMI'm still intrigued. I'll have to give it a shot, I think. Not sure when, my To Be Read pile has grown considerably this last week, but I've been known to bump things out of order and this looks like a good candidate. Thanks for the review!
Posted by: beth at May 1, 2006 07:55 AMGwynne, I'm not normally such a speedy reader, but this book really draws you in (as I'm sure you're experiencing).
Beth, don't say I didn't warn you. Saramago has succeeded in creating such a realistic narrative -- so detailed and true-ringing -- that it's a simple matter to find yourself living the story. And believe me when I say he doesn't pull any punches in describing the depravities that man is capable of in the absence of a greater power to rein him in.
Posted by: Eric at May 1, 2006 11:23 AMI have not read Gospel... but it is on my shelf, waiting. Yes, Saramago is quite the old school communist and atheist. Funny though, I knew that going into reading his books (the first one I read was called All The Names), but he seems mostly be telling human stories. I don't recall seeing anything in blindness that was there only to score a socio-political point. And if there was something like that, I probably dismissed it because I was so involved in Saramago's storytelling. He does seem to be intentionally reminding us of, as Eric said above, "the depravities that man is capable of in the absence of a greater power to rein him in." Though I'm not sure what Saramago's "greater power" would be, or even if he thinks there is one.
Posted by: Jim at May 1, 2006 07:13 PM"I think I'll wait a few days, though...maybe just enjoy looking at things for a while."
Well-put. :)
I didn't know that Saramago was a communist and atheist.. That kinda explains his attitude towards private property and the relation of the individual to the community though, especially in the last bit of the novel.
Gwynne, me too! me too! I worry about seeing only white whenever I open my eyes too.
I got another of Saramago's novels from the library "The History of the Fall of Lisbon" and was amused to realise that it is written in the same style as "Blindness". The entire first chapter is a single sentence! And you know what is hilarious? The first chapter was about proof-reading and following the "rules of grammar".
Posted by: ern at May 1, 2006 08:29 PMJim, I agree that Saramago's beliefs systems were somewhat veiled in Blindness, although, as Ern points out, the signs are there if we care to, um, see them.
I can state that this is not the case with Seeing (which I went ahead and started despite my resolve to wait a while), which thus far is turning out to be a political satire of the broadest kind, almost comedic. Very different than Blindness...but I'm only fifty pages into it, so there's time for things to descend into madness.
And, Ern, the same writing style continues to prevail!
Posted by: Eric at May 1, 2006 08:59 PMAbout the publisher
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I just started the book today...mesmerizing, indeed. And now, every time I blink, I wonder if I'll see only white when I open my eyes. Yes, this is the stuff of nightmares.
Hmmm, a communist and an atheist? I almost picked up another book by Saramego, The Gospel According to Jesus Christ. It looked interesting, but now I'm suspect. Maybe Jim has read that one too?
Posted by: Gwynne at April 30, 2006 07:24 PM