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sergiodevesa's review against another edition
4.0
(English review below!)
Este libro no se quedará conmigo tanto por el argumento sino por los temas que trata y su narrativa. La breve historia de la protagonista sirve de excusa para tratar temas tan grandes como el sentimiento del migrante, el amor o la felicidad.
Me ha tocado especialmente como migrante que reside en Reino Unido. No he podido empatizar más con el sentimiento de estar "fuera de lugar", de los comienzos difíciles, del choque cultural con el carácter británico. Del sentimiento de extrañeza que causa en los locales que lo cotidiano (tener conocidos de toda la vida en tu ciudad, poder contar con la familia a mano, el no verte obligado a dejar tu país por sus circunstancias sociopolíticas, o simplemente decidir a qué dentista vas porque obviamente tienes a alguien que te lo pueda recomendar) sea para el migrante algo impensable, o quizás un privilegio que conoció y ha dejado atrás.
Larkin tiene una manera de escribir que, sin llegar a ser pomposo, se las arregla para hacer reflexiones que en mi caso han calado. Resultado: ¡mi libro está lleno de marcadores! Recomendado a aquellos lectores que aprecien historias introspectivas tipo Nada de Carmen Laforet o El lobo estepario de Hermann Hesse.
................................................
This book will not stay with me because of the plot but rather its narrative and the themes it touches. The protagonist's brief story works as an excuse to talk about things as big as the migrant's experience, love or happiness.
It has deeply touched me as a migrant who lives in the UK. I can hardly imagine how I could have empathized more with the feeling of being "out of place", of difficult beginnings, or the cultural shock with the British character. With the awkwardness who locals feel when they realize their ordinary (to have lifelong acquaintances or friends in your city, to have your family at hand, the fact of not having to leave your country due to its socio-political situation, or something as simple as knowing what dentist to go to because you obviously have "a" trusted person) is for the migrant rather extraordinary, or even a privilege that they once knew but have now left behind.
Larkin has a writing style that without being too flourish manages to include reflections that have left a mark in me. The result: My book is full of marks as well! I recommend this to readers who appreciate introspective stories such as Nada by Carmen Laforet or Steppenwolf by Hermann Hesse.
Este libro no se quedará conmigo tanto por el argumento sino por los temas que trata y su narrativa. La breve historia de la protagonista sirve de excusa para tratar temas tan grandes como el sentimiento del migrante, el amor o la felicidad.
Me ha tocado especialmente como migrante que reside en Reino Unido. No he podido empatizar más con el sentimiento de estar "fuera de lugar", de los comienzos difíciles, del choque cultural con el carácter británico. Del sentimiento de extrañeza que causa en los locales que lo cotidiano (tener conocidos de toda la vida en tu ciudad, poder contar con la familia a mano, el no verte obligado a dejar tu país por sus circunstancias sociopolíticas, o simplemente decidir a qué dentista vas porque obviamente tienes a alguien que te lo pueda recomendar) sea para el migrante algo impensable, o quizás un privilegio que conoció y ha dejado atrás.
Larkin tiene una manera de escribir que, sin llegar a ser pomposo, se las arregla para hacer reflexiones que en mi caso han calado. Resultado: ¡mi libro está lleno de marcadores! Recomendado a aquellos lectores que aprecien historias introspectivas tipo Nada de Carmen Laforet o El lobo estepario de Hermann Hesse.
................................................
This book will not stay with me because of the plot but rather its narrative and the themes it touches. The protagonist's brief story works as an excuse to talk about things as big as the migrant's experience, love or happiness.
It has deeply touched me as a migrant who lives in the UK. I can hardly imagine how I could have empathized more with the feeling of being "out of place", of difficult beginnings, or the cultural shock with the British character. With the awkwardness who locals feel when they realize their ordinary (to have lifelong acquaintances or friends in your city, to have your family at hand, the fact of not having to leave your country due to its socio-political situation, or something as simple as knowing what dentist to go to because you obviously have "a" trusted person) is for the migrant rather extraordinary, or even a privilege that they once knew but have now left behind.
Larkin has a writing style that without being too flourish manages to include reflections that have left a mark in me. The result: My book is full of marks as well! I recommend this to readers who appreciate introspective stories such as Nada by Carmen Laforet or Steppenwolf by Hermann Hesse.
annefarmer09's review against another edition
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
elevyn's review against another edition
3.0
Some parts were profound and gripping others felt like a slog.
insearchof_wonder_'s review against another edition
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I see what you're trying to do here, Philip Larkin. (I think.) But I don't like it.
pawswithabook's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
‘In short, since people seemed not to affect her, they could not help her, and if she was to go on living she would have to get the strength for it solely out of herself’.
Katherine Lind, a wartime refugee, working as a librarian receives a telegram one day…giving her cause to reminisce and reflect on a happy summer from her youth.
I hadn’t realised that Larkin had written any novels so when I saw the Lowry-esque cover bearing Larkin’s name I was eager to read it.
Bleak, melancholic, raw and real. This is not a page turner, but it is exactly what you expect from Larkin. The beauty is in the mundane, the poetic and stunningly descriptive scene setting is exactly my cup of tea.
Where I struggled a little, is with the engagement with the characters. They are deliberately cold and distant, but it makes it so difficult to endear to them and it almost creates a barrier between the reader and full immersion in the novel.
Having said that, it is a thought provoking and emotive book, I did enjoy reading it book, and would definitely recommend it.
Katherine Lind, a wartime refugee, working as a librarian receives a telegram one day…giving her cause to reminisce and reflect on a happy summer from her youth.
I hadn’t realised that Larkin had written any novels so when I saw the Lowry-esque cover bearing Larkin’s name I was eager to read it.
Bleak, melancholic, raw and real. This is not a page turner, but it is exactly what you expect from Larkin. The beauty is in the mundane, the poetic and stunningly descriptive scene setting is exactly my cup of tea.
Where I struggled a little, is with the engagement with the characters. They are deliberately cold and distant, but it makes it so difficult to endear to them and it almost creates a barrier between the reader and full immersion in the novel.
Having said that, it is a thought provoking and emotive book, I did enjoy reading it book, and would definitely recommend it.
sausome's review against another edition
4.0
Thoughtful, quiet, melancholy, and reflective. This book as a quiet and subtle kind of experience, and ultimately enjoyable with a tinge of sadness.
magratajostiernos's review against another edition
4.0
¡Que maravilla!
Este es otro de esos libros cargado de sentimientos con el que se podrá conectar o no, y en mi caso he conectado de lleno, dejándome al final una sensación agridulce de tristeza y desamparo.
La historia nos habla de una bibliotecaria en plena Segunda Guerra Mundial. Nuestra bibliotecaria es extranjera, vive sola, no tiene amigos y la frialdad del invierno inglés parece haberle calado hasta los huesos.
La novela está dividida en tres partes, siendo la segunda un flashback cálido y extraño y la tercera el desenlace perfecto para nuestra historia en el que comprendemos la impotencia, la soledad y la falta de significado de todo para unas personas perdidas en mitad de una guerra.
Me ha parecido tan sutil, tan bello, lleno de esa cotidianeidad que esconde cosas importantes.
Seguramente será una novela similar a 'La librería' de Penelope Fitzgerald en la que habrá mucha gente que no le encuentre la gracia o el sentido, pero para mi ha resultado una grandísima lectura.
Este es otro de esos libros cargado de sentimientos con el que se podrá conectar o no, y en mi caso he conectado de lleno, dejándome al final una sensación agridulce de tristeza y desamparo.
La historia nos habla de una bibliotecaria en plena Segunda Guerra Mundial. Nuestra bibliotecaria es extranjera, vive sola, no tiene amigos y la frialdad del invierno inglés parece haberle calado hasta los huesos.
La novela está dividida en tres partes, siendo la segunda un flashback cálido y extraño y la tercera el desenlace perfecto para nuestra historia en el que comprendemos la impotencia, la soledad y la falta de significado de todo para unas personas perdidas en mitad de una guerra.
Me ha parecido tan sutil, tan bello, lleno de esa cotidianeidad que esconde cosas importantes.
Seguramente será una novela similar a 'La librería' de Penelope Fitzgerald en la que habrá mucha gente que no le encuentre la gracia o el sentido, pero para mi ha resultado una grandísima lectura.
hexatrance's review against another edition
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I was wary of this because I haven't touched Larkin since secondary school, but actually, this book pulled me right in, and it was definitely because of the writing because the plot isn't the main focus at all. All the characters had such a nuance about them, and none of them felt stereotypical. I love the comparison of how Katherine views her visit during it and how that perspective alters and muddles after the fact. I think it was clever of Larkin to never indicate exactly where Katherine was from, so none of the biases the other characters have about foreigners seep into the reader. A lot is left open to interpretation at the end, but I quite like the nihilistic view on it.
asuitablereader's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75