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Welcome to my ninth blog! This week I read "Death with Interruptions" by José Saramago. "Death with Interruptions" is undoubtedly a novel that has left an indelible mark on me. From its captivating premise to its profound exploration of life's complexity, death's mysteries, and the essence of humanity, this novel really stands out from the all the novels that I’ve read so far. One of the most striking aspects of the book is Saramago's adeptness at seamlessly blending fiction with philosophical inquiry. As the narrative unfolds, as a reader of this book, I got treated to heartfelt reflections on the nature of existence itself. The quote, "Death went back to bed, our her arms around the man and, without understanding what was happening to her, she who never slept felt gently closing her eyelids. The following day, no one died” (238) is a poignant example of Saramago's ability to humanize death, inviting readers to reassess their perceptions of mor...

Welcome to my eighth blog! This week’s reading of “Money to Burn” presented a mixed experience for me. While I found the narrative to be intriguing in certain aspects, particularly the detailed characterizations and the exploration of the complexities of human behavior, I struggled with elements of the story that suddenly changed into a disturbing territory. The graphic descriptions of sexual acts and violence, especially concerning the young girl Blanca and the unsettling behavior of characters like the Blond Gaucho, left me feeling uncomfortable and repulsed. However, there were two aspects of the novel that stood out to me. The first one was the moment of unexpected insight and reflection throughout the novel. For instance, the observation that "Every citizen of the capital in a mask, to avert contact and avoid contagion" (page 8) resonated with me, drawing parallels to our contemporary experiences with events like the COVID-19 pandemic. Such references added depth to the ...

 Welcome to my seventh blog post! This week, I want to dive into a book that's really unlike anything I've ever read before: "If on a Winter's Night a Traveler" by Italo Calvino. This book is special, not because it's difficult to read at first, but because of how Calvino tells the story in a completely unique way. Right from the beginning, the book talks directly to you, the reader, about how you're picking up the book and starting to read it. At first, this direct address might be a bit confusing, but as you start to connect the dots between the different stories, you can't help but get drawn into it. It's like imagining yourself picking up a book and suddenly feeling like the author is speaking directly to you, detailing your every action as you read. The whole book revolves around you, the reader, and another character named Ludmilla. Together, it's like you're going on an adventure, searching for the missing pieces of the stories and p...