tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5916640680794365241.post5252549448789585009..comments2023-09-10T19:29:28.614+10:00Comments on Bait For Bookworms: The Infatuations by Javier Marias: The Best Book Dostoevsky Didn't WriteThe Bookwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09438661852327001822noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5916640680794365241.post-32482878994086216872013-05-21T23:03:22.645+10:002013-05-21T23:03:22.645+10:00Sorry for not replying to your reply sooner! I'...Sorry for not replying to your reply sooner! I'm glad you enjoyed my review, I certainly enjoyed writing it.<br /><br />Glad you mentioned Death at Intervals. It was the first book of Saramago's that I read, and as I wrote in my first few blog posts, it has had a profound impact on my life. Without it I probably wouldn't be writing this comment here, for example.<br /><br />I agree with you regarding Margaret Jull Costa. She is fantastic, and a deserved repeat winner of translation prizes. If we counted her as an author, then I've read more of her books than anybody else's! <br /><br />Cheers,<br />AndrewAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5916640680794365241.post-25100692306239137062013-04-22T10:36:30.667+10:002013-04-22T10:36:30.667+10:00Unfortunately, it remains the case. I can't wo...Unfortunately, it remains the case. I can't work out whether having read this was a blessing or a curse.The Bookwormhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09438661852327001822noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5916640680794365241.post-85669255874663167242013-04-21T22:31:52.640+10:002013-04-21T22:31:52.640+10:00"I'm still in awe and finding it difficul..."I'm still in awe and finding it difficult to see the value in other books I've been reading since. I've been blinded by the sun!!!"<br /><br />I like this observation regarding how Marias makes other authors pale in comparison. I've been having similar problems, since reading his work everything else seems a little threadbare.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5916640680794365241.post-20303692086932404722013-04-18T11:09:34.242+10:002013-04-18T11:09:34.242+10:00Hi Andrew,
Great review (much more literary than ...Hi Andrew,<br /><br />Great review (much more literary than mine!).<br /><br />I am indeed a big Saramago fan. From what I gather he was a shit of a person, and his work is a little inconsistent, but when he's at the top of his game (The Stone Raft, Blindness, All The Names, Death At Intervals, Ricardo Reis, Cain) he is sublime. <br /><br />Translation fascinates me - Ismail Kadare is the perfect example. He is undoubtedly brilliant, but some of his books read like they've gone through Google Translate. Some, it turns out, are translations of translations. At least Costa spares Marias and Saramago a similar fate. I put her up there with Edith Grossman, Hillel Halkin and Breon Mitchell as one of the truly great translators.<br /><br />Anyway, off my soapbox...<br /><br />All the best!The Bookwormhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09438661852327001822noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5916640680794365241.post-27164963341706336502013-04-17T23:55:48.077+10:002013-04-17T23:55:48.077+10:00Hi,
Nice to find another blogger who loves Marías&...Hi,<br />Nice to find another blogger who loves Marías' books as much as I do! I wrote a review of The Infatuations which you might be interested to read:<br /><br />http://thoughtsatintervals.com/2013/03/19/review-the-infatuations-by-javier-marias/<br /><br />Are you a Saramago fan too by any chance? I think it's interesting that they share a translator in the brilliant Margaret Jull Costa.<br /><br />Best wishes,<br />AndrewAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5916640680794365241.post-54587485225451866322013-04-09T22:18:12.766+10:002013-04-09T22:18:12.766+10:00Pretty much any of his books are a good place to s...Pretty much any of his books are a good place to start, but yes, as good a place as any.The Bookwormhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09438661852327001822noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5916640680794365241.post-60290184763685002102013-04-09T15:49:56.561+10:002013-04-09T15:49:56.561+10:00A good place to start with Marias, I take it?A good place to start with Marias, I take it?Evannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5916640680794365241.post-47683863883507225762013-04-07T00:25:43.182+11:002013-04-07T00:25:43.182+11:00I'm still in awe and finding it difficult to s...I'm still in awe and finding it difficult to see the value in other books I've been reading since. I've been blinded by the sun!!!!The Bookwormhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09438661852327001822noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5916640680794365241.post-81150614214749490312013-04-07T00:11:28.234+11:002013-04-07T00:11:28.234+11:00I'm finishing it now, and I agree wholehearted...I'm finishing it now, and I agree wholeheartedly. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16763659094408522105noreply@blogger.com