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bigbizliz1991's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
sandro_reads's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
You know that one friend who, when high, turns any comment into a deep philosophical discussion so that hours pass and you no longer have any idea what you are talking about? The Infatuations by Javier Marias is that friend.
The thriller-esque plot of a woman who watches “The Perfect Couple” every day at a cafe until the husband is brutally killed barely exists in the overblown exposition, told mostly through imagined conversations, on life, death and relationships. Intriguing at first but it becomes so repetitious, I found myself skimming through whole chapters trying to find a point.
The thriller-esque plot of a woman who watches “The Perfect Couple” every day at a cafe until the husband is brutally killed barely exists in the overblown exposition, told mostly through imagined conversations, on life, death and relationships. Intriguing at first but it becomes so repetitious, I found myself skimming through whole chapters trying to find a point.
jayrinehart's review
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
eliathereader's review against another edition
2.0
Yer yer çok sıkıldığım ve ölüm, evlilik temalarından dolayı uzak kaldığım bir kitap oldu.
sarihelikopter's review against another edition
1.0
kelimenin tam anlamıyla "sündürülerek" yazılmış buldum. diyaloglarda kişilerin konuşma blokları inanılmaz uzun, anlatının gerçekçiliğini kaybettiriyor. aynı zamanda günlük yaşamda refleksif olabilecek çoğu davranış için 5er 10ar sayfa sebeplendirilme yazılmış, bu da aksiyon ya da hareket anlarının gerçekçiliğinden götürmüş. karakterler sürekli diğer karakterlerin davranışlarına yönelik "böyle böyle düşünmüş olmalı" çıkarımları yapıyor, bu çıkarımlar kitap boyunca maalesef pek bir yere varmazken, sayfalarca sürmesiyle okurken çok yoruyor.
metin içinde farklı kitaplara referanslar var, hatta uzun uzun anlatılmışlar. konu ile bağlantılı olsa da, zaten yorucu ve ilerlemeyen bir anlatım içinde daha da tıkanıklığa sebep olmuş bunlar.
baş kahramanın verdiği bir kararın altında yatan sebepleri açıklaması için oluşturulmuş bir metin, ama sebepler bana hiçbir şekilde doyurucu gelmedi.
diğer yandan erkekler tarafından yazılmış kadın karakterlerin yüzeyselliğinden ve düşünce kıtlığından artık çok bunaldık, bu kitap da maalesef bu bunaltıya bir derman olmadı. kadın olarak yazılmış kişilerin durum ve duygu okumaları yine yeterince gerçekçi değil.
beğendiğim iki kısım oldu, onlara da değinmeden geçmeyeyim: kadın karakterlerden birinin ölüm ve cinayet faili üzerine düşüncelerini konuştuğu bölümü çok güzel buldum, bir de baş kahramanın çalıştığı yayınevinde nobel ödülü almayı bekleyen yazarla kurduğu iletişim süresice çok eğlendim.
uzun zamandır bu kadar zorlanarak bitirdiğim bir kitap olmamıştı. marias'la tanışma kitabımın bu olmasına çok üzüldüm, mutlaka başka kitaplarına da şans vereceğim uzak bir gelecekte.
metin içinde farklı kitaplara referanslar var, hatta uzun uzun anlatılmışlar. konu ile bağlantılı olsa da, zaten yorucu ve ilerlemeyen bir anlatım içinde daha da tıkanıklığa sebep olmuş bunlar.
baş kahramanın verdiği bir kararın altında yatan sebepleri açıklaması için oluşturulmuş bir metin, ama sebepler bana hiçbir şekilde doyurucu gelmedi.
diğer yandan erkekler tarafından yazılmış kadın karakterlerin yüzeyselliğinden ve düşünce kıtlığından artık çok bunaldık, bu kitap da maalesef bu bunaltıya bir derman olmadı. kadın olarak yazılmış kişilerin durum ve duygu okumaları yine yeterince gerçekçi değil.
beğendiğim iki kısım oldu, onlara da değinmeden geçmeyeyim: kadın karakterlerden birinin ölüm ve cinayet faili üzerine düşüncelerini konuştuğu bölümü çok güzel buldum, bir de baş kahramanın çalıştığı yayınevinde nobel ödülü almayı bekleyen yazarla kurduğu iletişim süresice çok eğlendim.
uzun zamandır bu kadar zorlanarak bitirdiğim bir kitap olmamıştı. marias'la tanışma kitabımın bu olmasına çok üzüldüm, mutlaka başka kitaplarına da şans vereceğim uzak bir gelecekte.
raquelssilva's review against another edition
4.0
Uma prenda também ela enamorada que me conquistou pela fluidez da escrita e pela sensibilidade da história, desde este primeiro parágrafo. É na primeira pessoa que Maria, mera observadora de uma história de amor, se apropria de uma verdade crua que a envolve para sempre com estas personagens quase saídas de um livro e nos dá a conhecer a genialidade de Javier Marías.
http://leiturasmarginais.blogspot.pt/2016/09/os-enamoramentos-javier-marias.html
http://leiturasmarginais.blogspot.pt/2016/09/os-enamoramentos-javier-marias.html
terrypaulpearce's review
5.0
This is the best book I've read all year. Javier Marías is a genius. Am I mincing my words here? I was infatuated from the start, by Marías' insight and prose. He has a way of making me not care what happens in the story, of not caring how few full stops he uses, of keeping me rapt in wonder as he lays bare the way things are... his characters make sense as themselves, but they are also him, and also me, and what they say about the world is a succession of flashes of insight that astound me and make me stop and say 'yes, yes, that is how it is', while at the same time making me feel like I've always known as much. And the themes are the big ones: love and death. How can there be so much new to say about something so old?
ievastrazdina's review against another edition
4.0
“Un pamazām iemācāmies, ka tas, kas agrāk šķitis briesmīgs, kādu dienu liksies neitrāls - vienkārši notikums, parasts fakts.”
Grāmata, kuru glīta vāka un interesanta apraksta dēļ paķēru ar labu atlaidi @zvaigzne_abc un par kuru lasīju visai neviennozīmīgas atsauksmes un patiesībā neko daudz negaidīju. Tomēr jāsaka, ka sagaidīju.
Marija katru rītu kafejnīcā vēro kādu laimīgu pāri, līdz tie pāzūd. Pēcāk Marija uzzina, ka vīrietis ir nežēlīgi nogalināts un, kad nejauši satiek mirušā sievu Luisu un izsaka līdzjūtību - tiek ierauta svešā dzīvē. Marija satiek Lusas un viņas mirušā vīra draugu Hevjeru un iemīlas. Kādam šajā stāstā ir noslēpums.
Grāmatas apraksts liek domāt, ka tas būs trilleris un līdz ar to saprotu daudzu lasītāju vilšanos, jo par klasisku trilleri to nebūt nevar nosaukt - tas ir tāds “lēnais trilleris” - galvenais notikums tiek atvirzīts otrajā plānā un lasītājam piedāvāta iesaistīto un ietekmēto personāžu prāta analīze un kā ar to iespējams manipulēt un kā attaisnot savu rīcību.
Grāmata viennozīmīgi nav viegli lasāma - patiesībā lasījās ļoti lēni - gari un sarežģīti būvēt teikumi (pat pus lapas garumā), nemitīgi mestas cilpas apkārt galvenajam notikumam un lasītājs tiek novirzīts no galvenās tēmas - citējot un analizējot leģendārus Dimā un Balzaka darbus par mīlestību un nāvi (par ko ļoti augstu vērtēju autoru, ka viņš tik labi spējis savilkt šādas paralēles). Tomēr tas tiek darīts mērķtiecīgi - faktiski grāmata ir Havjera domāšanas veida atspoguļojums.
Izsenis ir skaidrs, ka iemīlēšanās ir akla un šīs grāmatas vadmotīvs būtībā ir - mērķis attaisno līdzekļus. Un galu galā - vieta tukša nepaliek. Zaudējums aiz sevis neatstāj tukšumu - tā ir pirmā brīža šķietamība. Zaudējums vienmēr ir jauns sākums, lai gan pirmajā brīdī to ir grūti pieņemt. Taču laiks dziedē un spējam ieraudzīt jaunas iespējas īstas vai mākslīgi radītas.
3,5⭐️
Grāmata, kuru glīta vāka un interesanta apraksta dēļ paķēru ar labu atlaidi @zvaigzne_abc un par kuru lasīju visai neviennozīmīgas atsauksmes un patiesībā neko daudz negaidīju. Tomēr jāsaka, ka sagaidīju.
Marija katru rītu kafejnīcā vēro kādu laimīgu pāri, līdz tie pāzūd. Pēcāk Marija uzzina, ka vīrietis ir nežēlīgi nogalināts un, kad nejauši satiek mirušā sievu Luisu un izsaka līdzjūtību - tiek ierauta svešā dzīvē. Marija satiek Lusas un viņas mirušā vīra draugu Hevjeru un iemīlas. Kādam šajā stāstā ir noslēpums.
Grāmatas apraksts liek domāt, ka tas būs trilleris un līdz ar to saprotu daudzu lasītāju vilšanos, jo par klasisku trilleri to nebūt nevar nosaukt - tas ir tāds “lēnais trilleris” - galvenais notikums tiek atvirzīts otrajā plānā un lasītājam piedāvāta iesaistīto un ietekmēto personāžu prāta analīze un kā ar to iespējams manipulēt un kā attaisnot savu rīcību.
Grāmata viennozīmīgi nav viegli lasāma - patiesībā lasījās ļoti lēni - gari un sarežģīti būvēt teikumi (pat pus lapas garumā), nemitīgi mestas cilpas apkārt galvenajam notikumam un lasītājs tiek novirzīts no galvenās tēmas - citējot un analizējot leģendārus Dimā un Balzaka darbus par mīlestību un nāvi (par ko ļoti augstu vērtēju autoru, ka viņš tik labi spējis savilkt šādas paralēles). Tomēr tas tiek darīts mērķtiecīgi - faktiski grāmata ir Havjera domāšanas veida atspoguļojums.
Izsenis ir skaidrs, ka iemīlēšanās ir akla un šīs grāmatas vadmotīvs būtībā ir - mērķis attaisno līdzekļus. Un galu galā - vieta tukša nepaliek. Zaudējums aiz sevis neatstāj tukšumu - tā ir pirmā brīža šķietamība. Zaudējums vienmēr ir jauns sākums, lai gan pirmajā brīdī to ir grūti pieņemt. Taču laiks dziedē un spējam ieraudzīt jaunas iespējas īstas vai mākslīgi radītas.
3,5⭐️
claudiacantread's review
3.0
2.5 rounded up
I think I may give this book a better rating just for basically having the gall to tell me to not care about the plot, proceed in making an interesting plot and then focus on everything but the plot because I am not supposed to care about it. That takes balls.
What is this book about? It doesn’t matter in the end. Its only about how it makes you feel afterwards. Which is what this book literally says several times within the story. Once during a full out book report of another story.
I think I should give major credit first and foremost to the narrator of this audiobook, Justine Eyre, who did such a good job that I finished this book and was even interested at times. If I read this myself with only my voice in my head, I would have thrown this into the wall. So she was amazing.
Ok really though, this book follows our narrator, Maria, who at a café notices daily what she refers to as the ‘Perfect Couple’. One day, the man of our couple is murdered in what seems to be a random event. However, Maria gets closer to the people involved and finds out that there might be more to the story…
Do not be fooled by this description. This is not a thriller/mystery. The story that is told there could be fit in about an hour or two of the eleven-hour book. What this mostly is, is an analysis on human thoughts and behaviors and literature itself. Maria is constantly stream of consciousness thinking and speculating about basically everything going on around her.
A man looks at her – Maria gives us a half hour explanation of what might possibly be going on in his life. I am not kidding about there being a book report in the middle of this book. They talk about a short story by Balzac and we get a summary of the story and then two separate people’s perspectives about it. Any action taken has at least a half hours worth of Maria talking about it. It’s a LOT.
However, the writing is really good and the debates of morality and humanity could be interesting. There were several times I was totally interested and engaged, listening intently. There were also times where I spaced out and couldn’t be bothered to rewind what I missed. It really was a mixed bag but this is basically one of the most pretentious reads I have read in a while. I guess when you write well, you can be kind of pretentious but god, I really couldn’t help but feel I was being mocked for actually being interested in the MURDER and not instead on my feelings.
Anyways, TLDR; pretentious but good writing, audiobook recommended if you do pick it up, not plot driven - don't be fooled by description!
I think I may give this book a better rating just for basically having the gall to tell me to not care about the plot, proceed in making an interesting plot and then focus on everything but the plot because I am not supposed to care about it. That takes balls.
What is this book about? It doesn’t matter in the end. Its only about how it makes you feel afterwards. Which is what this book literally says several times within the story. Once during a full out book report of another story.
I think I should give major credit first and foremost to the narrator of this audiobook, Justine Eyre, who did such a good job that I finished this book and was even interested at times. If I read this myself with only my voice in my head, I would have thrown this into the wall. So she was amazing.
Ok really though, this book follows our narrator, Maria, who at a café notices daily what she refers to as the ‘Perfect Couple’. One day, the man of our couple is murdered in what seems to be a random event. However, Maria gets closer to the people involved and finds out that there might be more to the story…
Do not be fooled by this description. This is not a thriller/mystery. The story that is told there could be fit in about an hour or two of the eleven-hour book. What this mostly is, is an analysis on human thoughts and behaviors and literature itself. Maria is constantly stream of consciousness thinking and speculating about basically everything going on around her.
A man looks at her – Maria gives us a half hour explanation of what might possibly be going on in his life. I am not kidding about there being a book report in the middle of this book. They talk about a short story by Balzac and we get a summary of the story and then two separate people’s perspectives about it. Any action taken has at least a half hours worth of Maria talking about it. It’s a LOT.
However, the writing is really good and the debates of morality and humanity could be interesting. There were several times I was totally interested and engaged, listening intently. There were also times where I spaced out and couldn’t be bothered to rewind what I missed. It really was a mixed bag but this is basically one of the most pretentious reads I have read in a while. I guess when you write well, you can be kind of pretentious but god, I really couldn’t help but feel I was being mocked for actually being interested in the MURDER and not instead on my feelings.
Anyways, TLDR; pretentious but good writing, audiobook recommended if you do pick it up, not plot driven - don't be fooled by description!
crostata's review against another edition
4.0
4 stelline, anche se poteva essere leggermente meno ripetitivo nelle citazioni