Customer Reviews

The Notebook

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One of the century's finest writers has died. José Saramago was an author who began writing late in life but in the time he wrote he managed to share with the world some very disturbing thoughts and yet at the same time make those disturbing thoughts into very beautiful literature. Few who have read BLINDNESS, ALL THE NAMES, SEEING, DEATH WITH INTERRUPTIONS, THE DOUBLE, to name but a few of his works, will ever forget the impact his writing had/has on us. This book THE NOTEBOOK takes on a different kind of strange journey - a remembrance of the time when reporting in the media meant communication of the world as it was happening. Not everyone will agree with all of his thoughts, but no one will deny they should not be addressed.

Now, with our information fed in bits, chips, and pixels on such wildly diverse formats as Twitter, Facebook, TV talk shows and reality series we must face the fact that reportage of the quality found in these essays is a thing of the past. Unless...unless more people will read this book, remember Saramago, and start to think again. José Saramago will be much missed. Grady Harp, June 10

Absolutely wonderful. Commentaries on world matters, George Bush, the economic crisis, religion, and much, much more by one of the greatest living writers. Erudite, literary, compassionate, provocative. Compare these with the commentary currently available...well, there is no comparison. If you love his novels, you will find the Notebook as compelling. If you have not read his novels perhaps The Notebook will serve as a good introduction. Then, I would suggest All the Names, whose themes resonate in some of these brief, but weighty observations.

You would think that this book was writen by a man in his prime, so vivid is the prose, so fresh the ideas, so vibrant the writer's voice urging the youth to abandon their passive attitude and use their fervour and flame to change the world! Indeed, Saramago remained active to the end, a spokesman for human rights, unwavering in his beliefs and uncompromising in his stance. This book is what it claims to be, namely a notebook, a type of diary where Saramago writes his thoughts about events which made an impression on him, much of which expresses his political views on events and politicians. He describes G.W.Bush as being abysmally ignorant...veering towards the absurd. He does not mince his words when it comes to expressing his opinions and talks about people and topics many would regard as controversial. There are about 150 separate topics listed according to date, starting from September 2008 and ending in March 2009.

Although he was left wing he does not hesitate to critisize the left, saying they have no idea where they are actually heading. In his unique way he tackles varied topics, from religion and the Catholic Church to people he respects and admires like Rosa Parks. He expresses his hopes and aspirations for president Obama, analyzes the Palestinian situation and even gives a "recipe" on how to kill a man. It is a short concise book whose content is lucid and succinct. Irrespective of your own feelings about the issues he deals with in his book, his brilliance as well as his alertness of mind make this book invaluable reading. I can but feel gratitude for such thinkers who help broaden my own spectrum of thought.

I was unfamiliar with Jose Saramago until I began reading this set of essays to prepare for a trip to Portugal. Since he is a Nobel Laureate, I wanted to get a feel for the his way of thinking. He's quite outspoken in his opinions, which are very political, and I can understand why he is not well known in this country, since he has some very unpleasant things to say about US politics.

I haven't finished the book thus it wouldn't be a good review. Of the part that I have
read -- it is wonderful. What else could one expect from Saramago.