What happens in the mental hospital is sort of an Orwellian situation where things go from bad to worse. One of the big problems with Georgy, however, is how horrible human beings prove to be--for no particular reason. They just are. Which is strange in a book where everything else is thoroughly "explained." What makes Blindness actually good is, in part, how all this human horror is motivated by fear. Frightening as that is, it makes a good deal of sense to me.

(Thanks for the intro, Alex!)
  posted by jnuh @ 10:03:00 AM

 
Dear Kids,
I haven't left you and I've been checking the blog daily. But I'm not much of a professor in the summertime. Frankly, the bishop was slow going to his death so I haven't finished yet. I've been reading Julian Barnes' Starring at the Sun, which is phenomenal. I'm starting Blindness today. Thank you Mr. B. Butter for being such a punctual Read-American.
-The lesser Alex
  posted by Feliks @ 3:01:00 PM

 
I've been a Blogger slacker and unless you're Jenna, you have been too. But all that is about to change, cuz we're gonna read the best book of our summer list now: BLINDNESS.

Soon after publishing this book, Jose Saramago was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. Read just the opening pages, and you'll already understand why his writing deserves such honors. ...According to L'il Alex's pops, Saramago has gone on to write even better books, but he's still best known for Blindness.

What makes us human? What are the bases of society? Given all of mankind's technological advancements, how far have we progressed beyond the purely animal? How universal and basic is morality among humans? ...These are just some of the questions Saramago entertains in this novel.

This is a disgustingly easy book to read. Perhaps we bloggers might even want to ask why Saramago refuses to use quotation marks and such. But we certainly have need to question the brilliance of this book; it's all too apparent.

So start reading, and if you plan on participating in the discussion of this book, please post a little something. 'Cuz I'm afraid that everyone besides Jenna has fallen off the face of the earth. Or perhaps you've gone blind... So if you're joining us, please drop a little note on the blog so that we can all get a sense of the who's out there. Thanks
  posted by Alex @ 12:22:00 PM

 
Alright, the Archbishop is dead, now it's time for some Blindness. I hope Alex Pile plans to post, because I'm tired of reading my own posts. I also hope things are quiet around here because you people are doing something truly exciting with your summer. Over and out.
  posted by jnuh @ 7:00:00 PM