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A review by dilan11
Bacacay by Witold Gombrowicz
challenging
dark
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I understand the ingeniousness of Gombrowicz. These tales are unlike any other of their time although George Saunders, Ludmilla Petrushevskaya, even Monty Python of more recent times are in the same vein. I think that they are best appreciated as short stories because reading all twelve in succession grew tedious.
Only two stars for now (and certainly much of their power critiquing a time and culture are lost on me).
All these absurdist tales are also in first person so we are trapped inside this crazy person's head. Perhaps a few of them are funny but ones like Virginity are completely lost on me. I know that language driven books are markedly hard to translate but I think there is perhaps also a cultural disconnect for me. The polish ideas of religion, aristocracy, manners, etc. are not understood by me so I miss much of the irony, and the humor. I absolutely believe that Gombrowicz is a genius, but his genius is not accessible to me.
I think I enjoyed "A Premeditated Crime" the best.
Only two stars for now (and certainly much of their power critiquing a time and culture are lost on me).
All these absurdist tales are also in first person so we are trapped inside this crazy person's head. Perhaps a few of them are funny but ones like Virginity are completely lost on me. I know that language driven books are markedly hard to translate but I think there is perhaps also a cultural disconnect for me. The polish ideas of religion, aristocracy, manners, etc. are not understood by me so I miss much of the irony, and the humor. I absolutely believe that Gombrowicz is a genius, but his genius is not accessible to me.
I think I enjoyed "A Premeditated Crime" the best.