While I'd intended to reread Bartleby y compañia [Bartleby & Co.] and possibly even write a new post about it for this weekend's Spanish Lit Month group read, I eventually decided to cast my lot in with the "artists of the no" and just link to my 2009 post on the work here instead. No thanks, as ever, are necessary for my lack of effort or direction! Since I am interested in rereading Vila-Matas' antinovel at some point, though, I look forward to reading your reactions to Bartleby and will link to your posts as I become aware of them. Until then, let the "art is a stupidity" games begin!
Bartlebymania
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Enrique Vila-Matas
Vila-Matasmania
Entradas
Well, I became a Bartleby of sorts too. I said no (more for now) at page 38. I decided that it's not the sort of book to be rushed for a deadline, but a book to be meandered through, wandering off to other titles mentioned that are lying on my book shelves and wandering back again. I will finish it but I suspect it will take me a good few months ....
ResponderBorrarI remember tearing through the book when I first read it because I was so excited about it, Lizzy, but more than a few people seem to have had similar reactions to yours. Most (complex) works are probably better when you take them slowly anyway, but blogging seems to have given all of us complexes about reading to a deadline or whatnot. Anyway, hope you enjoy it when you get back to it!
BorrarHaving read this last year, obviously I'm not reading it again. But what I am reading is Borges and Bioy-Casares's Chronicles of Bustos Domecq, which seems to me much the same thing - just without the tedious framing story (and, I'm presuming, all made up).
ResponderBorrarI suspect you might be a "crypto-fan" of Bartleby given how many posts you wrote on it, Obooki, but no worries, your secret's safe with me! Interesting to hear about the Bioy Casares/Borges collaboration; I feel like I've read at least one of their stories before, but if it's true that I did, it's also true that I have no recollection of it. If it's really "much the same thing," I suppose I might like it more than you--in any event, thanks for doing the "research."
BorrarI quite enjoyed this manic ride. Like Lizzy, I first set it aside after a few pages but determined to read it this time from cover to cover. For me a slow read will be more rewarding but one could get stuck in it indefinitely.
ResponderBorrarThis is one of my Spanish-language favorites from the last few years, Rise, so I'm glad you at least really appreciated the "manic ride." I'm glad Stu's the one who proposed this particular group read, though, because otherwise I might be inclined to accuse the Vila-Matas haters of being total Isabel Allende fans out of wounded pride or something, ha ha!
BorrarAck, I had forgotten it was this weekend! Many apologies, this summer has got the better of me in so many ways. However! I will pick it up and read it next, so there will be a review from me forthcoming...
ResponderBorrarWe're on what my wife used to call "Latino time" all month long, Litlove, so no worries about being late to Bartlebymania! I do hope you and Frances enjoy this more than some of the others have, though (and I predict you will). Cheers!
BorrarBartleby y compañía almost made me want to join the ranks of the artists of the no myself. But I did get a few lines together and posted them earlier today. Thanks for hosting, Richard!
ResponderBorrarThanks for reading along, Bettina--glad to have your input on the work! I only skimmed your review earlier because I was headed out of the house for a while, but I'll be back over once I recover from my jealousy at hearing that you were enjoying Basque Country delicacies in Spain not too long ago. Cheers!
BorrarHola, Richard, este es el único libro que le he leído a Vila-Matas pero no me gustó mucho que digamos: lo encontré bastante irregular y sólo pude mantener el interés en él gracias a algunas páginas un poco más relevantes.
ResponderBorrar¡Un saludo! :D
¡Hola Andrómeda! Vila-Matas parece tener un efecto divisivo sobre sus lectores, pero a mí me gustaron los toques "irregulares" del español en los dos libros suyos que he leído. En todo caso, me alegra decirte que yo vaya a leer más escritores mexicanos en lo que queda del año (estoy encantado con el descubrimiento de Sergio Pitol, por ejemplo). ¡Saludos!
Borrar