Blindness by José SaramagoMy rating: 2 of 5 stars
This review is also found on Goodreads! :)
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Reading this gave me the
WORST
headaches. I am simply not smart enough for this book. It is most certainly jarring and disturbing, but not in a way I've enjoyed. Saramago's style is so complicated. There are probably a thousand nuggets of wisdom within this book, but most of them went over my head, or they simply did not make any impression on me because I was too confused and distracted with the "non-dialogue". It was a serious struggle for me to finish this book. I went on because I was genuinely curious about the epidemic and what will happen to the main characters, but I did not absorb nor appreciate the countless poorly punctuated philosophical ramblings. I think I would enjoy this more if it was written into a more conventional style.
The clinical voice with which Saramago had been known for is ever present in this narrative, and combined with the actions and dialogues running in together made me lose focus. I found myself zoning out a lot, and I had to repeat what I just read; and having to repeat what I just read was no easy task since the beginning of the sentences/thoughts run together, unclear and distracting.
The plot was an interesting glimpse to the human frailties. What little governance there was at the start of the epidemic soon withered and gave way to chaos and disarray. The circumstances in which the main characters found themselves in were as dire as it could get. They are blind, hungry, filthy, low in morale, and violated. It was as disturbing as he meant it to be. I think even with an ordinary style of writing, this novel will still stand out for being so disconcerting and uncomfortable. Despite it, however, the human spirit perseveres. A human being's resilience and will to live will always shine through. I realize that the book explored the deterioration of human values and virtues when tested, but I would be interested if more time were spent shaping up the "white blindness" (view spoiler on Goodreads). That comes conditional, of course--I would prefer it written in a normal way. I don't think the level of intellect I possess right now can endure another minute of his "unique" style of writing.
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Disclaimer: Excerpts below are from the book.
Copyright © 1995 by Jose Saramago;
English translation copyright © 1997 by Professor Juan Sager:
"Fear can cause blindness. Never a truer word, that could never be truer, we were already blind the moment we turn blind, fear struck us blind, fear will keep us blind."
"Just as the habit does not make the monk, the sceptre does not make the king."
"They go around like ghosts, this must be what it means to be a ghost, being certain that life exists, because your four senses say so, and yet unable to see it."
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