What an engaging work! The analogy to life is obvious right away, but it's the details that really get one thinking. Beckett's description of an incessant, hopeless (or perhaps pointless) life is apt and his details about rules, procedures and time-honored practices effectively underscore the arbitrariness of so much of the social structure of our world. But, while I share his perspective on the essential meaninglessness of life (i.e., that there is no particular point or purpose in life other than to live each day), my own view is capacious enough to include joy and hope for a larger set of experiences such as enjoyment, pleasure, satisfaction, and love than this slim volume wants to accommodate. Still, I found the book completely absorbing and would highly recommend it.

An extra thought--this work seems highly influenced by Borges' "[b:The Library of Babel|172366|The Library of Babel|Jorge Luis Borges|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1213638002s/172366.jpg|2235183]. ( )

Concise and claustrophobic: This is a very short work, but meaningful. I won't try to give a description of it, for that would be thoroughly useless and not do justice to the work. I will say that it is a must for fans of Kafka, and even existentialist writing in general.

This is a work by Beckett that has never seemed to have gotten a lot of attention. The almost humanoid like creatures in this book are examined almost in the terms of a scientist examining an ant colony under a microscope. Inside of a metal like container--(a tube?, a garbage can?) these creatures are running around looking for a way out of their universe. Some believe that the way out of their world can be found by climbing the ladders (that are set here and there) and by pushing on the ceiling which they are just able to reach if they stand on tiptoe on the top rung. Others think that by exploring the same caves and tunnels that are contained in this same cylindrical apparatus that a way will all of a sudden appear even though they've been in and out of these tunnels and caves over and over again. Sometimes some of the ladder climbers try their luck with the caves and tunnels and vice-versa for the tunnel explorers and the ladders. Some just give up all hope and shrivel up upon themselves on the ground or floor. Everyone though is expected to stay in line or trouble ensues. And once in a while a lid is lifted--a bright light shines in and blinds and stuns them. Then the lid is replaced and they go back to their normal activities. This is written pretty much in classic Beckett fashion--an understated almost unemotional and terse prose with elements of farce and humor. Those who do not like Beckett will probably not like this. For those who do and haven't read it though--I think they'll like it a lot when they do--as I did. ( )