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ionm's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
"Without Blood" by Alessandro Baricco has long been one of my favourite short novels. Now, that I have read the book in original Italian, I can attest that the effect of the story is still as strong. For many this is a book about war victims, for others this is a twisted love story. And the book is both. However, a metalinguistic reading transforms the novel into an analysis of the act of writing. Baricco not only manages to ask fundamental questions about the nature of the artistic word, but in doing so he also manages to develop a new form of literature, namely something I coin as the 'novelistic poem'. I have spoken at length about this novel in this podcast. Please listen: https://archive.org/details/instituteofideas_bookclub_160107 .
oxnard_montalvo's review
A terse crime drama that unfolds like a screenplay. A weird little book which isn't easily pigeonholed as any one thing; you can read it like a meditation on the futility of revenge, or as some kind of semi-westernish-noir set in Spain.
I could see this up on the big screen as directed by Wong Kar Wai- that might give you a clearer idea of the tone at any rate.
I could see this up on the big screen as directed by Wong Kar Wai- that might give you a clearer idea of the tone at any rate.
logolepsy_e's review against another edition
3.0
Però non accadde nulla, perchè alla vita manca sempre qualcosa per essere perfetta.
Brevissimo, ma molto intenso.
La storia di una vita intera, anzi, di più vite intere, raccontata in 80 pagine. Una storia di guerra e di vendette, ma di vendette delicate, sottili... Una storia quasi impalpabile.
dalefu's review against another edition
5.0
2 for 2 with this author. I absolutely love his writing style; he's unafraid to get lost in beauty and has an almost defiantly romantic view on life. I love his books for the style and prose more than the narratives, which is less an indictment of his stories and more just a great appreciation for his words.
ms_arual's review against another edition
3.0
En comparación con las otras historias de Baricco, esta me ha parecido más floja.
Una historia sencilla, cargada de odio, dolor e indiferencia; bien narrada, pero que a mí no ha conseguido conmoverme en conjunto; aunque hay descripciones muy poderosas, como su comienzo (entre otros).
Una historia sencilla, cargada de odio, dolor e indiferencia; bien narrada, pero que a mí no ha conseguido conmoverme en conjunto; aunque hay descripciones muy poderosas, como su comienzo (entre otros).
natashaball's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-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
3.75
lisa89's review against another edition
3.0
Questo è il mio primo approccio a Barrico. Libro breve, diviso in soli due capitoli: prima e dopo. Protagonisti il dolore e la vendetta in tutte le loro molteplici forme.
Mi ha trasmesso emozioni strane e, al contempo, mi ha confuso. Lo stesso modo di scrivere dell'autore confonde con frasi sconnesse, pensieri sparsi, personaggi unici. In compenso ho trovato un Baricco lineare e scorrevole, mai noioso o scontato che è riuscito a condensare tantissimo in sole 100 pagine.
Sicuramente la mia avventura con l'autore continuerà perché credo vada scoperto e assimilato pian piano.
Mi ha trasmesso emozioni strane e, al contempo, mi ha confuso. Lo stesso modo di scrivere dell'autore confonde con frasi sconnesse, pensieri sparsi, personaggi unici. In compenso ho trovato un Baricco lineare e scorrevole, mai noioso o scontato che è riuscito a condensare tantissimo in sole 100 pagine.
Sicuramente la mia avventura con l'autore continuerà perché credo vada scoperto e assimilato pian piano.
readacorn's review against another edition
4.0
Ein junges Mädchen wird zu Ihrem Schutz von Ihrem Vater durch eine Falltür unter dem Boden versteckt. Während die dort unten liegt, muss sie mitanhören, wie ihr Vater und ihr Bruder von drei Männern umgebracht werden. Ihr Vater hatte während des Krieges schlimmes getan, aber sie liebt ihn, denn es ist ihr Vater.
Bei einem Buch mit 102 Seiten ist es schwierig, etwas zur Handlung zu sagen ohne zu viel zu verraten. Aber es war eine gute Geschichte. :-)
Bei einem Buch mit 102 Seiten ist es schwierig, etwas zur Handlung zu sagen ohne zu viel zu verraten. Aber es war eine gute Geschichte. :-)
kiana_hi's review
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence and Hate crime
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Trafficking