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A review by cody240fc
The Gray Notebook by Josep Pla
4.0
Not a journal per se, but more of a year and a half long literary exercise in which Pla is attempting to alter his prose style from a flourishing (or as Pla calls it, his noucentista) style to something more natural. To write as one speaks, as his buddy Plana describes it.
The observations tend to focus on literary topics and figures of the day (1919), but the highlights of the book are Pla's wonderful descriptions of Palafrugell and the neighboring villages of his hometown. Pla's observations are direct and often served with a side of dry witticism. There are long lulls at times, which is why I didn't give this thing a higher rating, but those lulls are not the reason it took me three weeks to read it. 'The Gray Notebook' just lends itself to being read piecemeal. I enjoyed reading it slowly and in short intervals. I recommend a similar approach for future readers.
Take the rating with a grain of salt. I think excellent is a fair description and there is something for everyone in here.
The observations tend to focus on literary topics and figures of the day (1919), but the highlights of the book are Pla's wonderful descriptions of Palafrugell and the neighboring villages of his hometown. Pla's observations are direct and often served with a side of dry witticism. There are long lulls at times, which is why I didn't give this thing a higher rating, but those lulls are not the reason it took me three weeks to read it. 'The Gray Notebook' just lends itself to being read piecemeal. I enjoyed reading it slowly and in short intervals. I recommend a similar approach for future readers.
Take the rating with a grain of salt. I think excellent is a fair description and there is something for everyone in here.