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Sto caricando le informazioni... The World of the End (2004)di Ofir Touché Gafla
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Iscriviti per consentire a LibraryThing di scoprire se ti piacerà questo libro. Attualmente non vi sono conversazioni su questo libro. This one is hard to review - on one hand, its a most lovely story, but on the other, its a bit pretentious. Its not written as a traditional fantasy story - but as a dream like stake of the other world, even though it is solid it has a beginning, a middle, and an end. Its a book about love, and obsession, and finding oneself. Who are you if your whole life revolves around your love. Its a book that will stick with you. But on the other hand, this book has a feel of hipster to it- that is to say it feels 'meta' and not really grounded. The story of Marian, and her family feels unnatural - like the author tried too hard to make it all fit. Science Fiction/Fantasy 6 Stars Every once in a while a book comes around that just floors me. (i.e. Dhalgren, More Than Human, Gateway, Perdido Street Station, Cloud Atlas) and I know that it'll be one of those books I will read over and over again. The World of he End is just such a book. It's a strange story of love, death, death again, life after death, cheating death, staying dead, and our perceptions of others. Did I mention death? If you're not bugged by the immediate premise (man blows brains out to follow wife into the after life, or "Other World") I want to know what you're smoking. Should I laugh? Should I groan? How about I just read and go along for the ride. Early recommendation: a central device is an actual device called a "godget" (not misspelled). The use of the godget was complex enough that I turned down the bottom of the page so that when things like "three pressed seven times" crops up I could refer to the godget glossary referenced early in the plot. This book has all the hallmarks of required reading in a "Contemporary Hebrew Literature" course at your local university. Additionally, it's entertaining as all heck. It even brought a totally unexpected tear to my eye at the end. Since the protagonist is an "epilogist," a new word for me which means a person who writes endings, it was no surprise that (at least for me) the ending was brilliant. I can't say how good the translation is other than noting that it didn't read like a translated book, rather, the English was natural and flowing and even injected appropriate puns (e.g., "righter" for "writer"). Though I can't recommend this book highly enough, I do have two caveats: (1) this might get classified as science fiction and fantasy but it's really a fine book beyond any genre assignment; and (2) the section on homosexuality seemed odd enough that I'll chalk it up to being more satirical in Hebrew than in English. Read this book. NOTE: I received a free copy of this book for review purposes.
Israeli novelist Ofir Touché Gafla answers the question, “Is this life all there is?” with a resounding “No” in The World of the End, a carefully braided novel that turns every apparent narrative dead-end into a brilliant plot twist. ... Defying genre expectations, Gafla’s debut novel (he’s since written several more, as yet untranslated) is a deep meditation on romantic love and two-fisted living. Premi e riconoscimenti
As an epilogist, Ben Mendelssohn appreciates an unexpected ending. But when that denouement is the untimely demise of his beloved wife, Ben is incapable of coping. Marian was more than his life partner; she was the fiber that held together all that he is. And Ben is willing to do anything, even enter the unknown beyond, if it means a chance to be with her again. One bullet to the brain later, Ben is in the Other World, where he discovers a vast and curiously secular existence utterly unlike anything he could have imagined: a realm of sprawling cities where the deceased of every age live an eternal second life, and where forests of family trees are tended by mysterious humans who never lived in the previous world. But Ben cannot find Marian. Desperate for a reunion, he enlists an unconventional afterlife investigator to track her down, little knowing that his search is entangled in events that continue to unfold in the world of the living. It is a search that confronts Ben with one heart-rending shock after another; with the best and worst of human nature; with the resilience and fragility of love; and with truths that will haunt him through eternity. Non sono state trovate descrizioni di biblioteche |
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Google Books — Sto caricando le informazioni... GeneriSistema Decimale Melvil (DDC)892.4Literature Literature of other languages Middle Eastern languages Jewish, Israeli, and HebrewClassificazione LCVotoMedia:
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As Ben tries to find Marion in "the Other World" life continues on in real life. The author introduces a cast of rich characters who's lives interact, in sometimes astonishing ways, with each other and with Ben's former life. This was the difficult part of the book. A new character would get introduced, and it might take pages to understand how this character fit into the overall picture.
There were times when, frankly, I wasn't sure what was going on, but I really wanted to know the mystery of Marion and why Ben couldn't find her. For long stretches of the book it seems as if Marion isn't really dead but surly she must be.
Ben does finally find Marion but the ending is nothing like I could have predicted. This very unconventional book stayed unconventional all the way to the end. It may have been unconventional but I was very satisfied with the ending.
If you're not afraid to read a book that may be frustrating at times I'd recommend this one. ( )