love and garbage – ivan klima
This book is probably one of the most quotable books that I’ve read. It was recommended to me by a friend who said nothing about it except put it in amongst a pile that included a couple of Dostoevskys. Having read it I realise that he didn’t need to say anything.
You feel everything. He describes situations so well that even though you may not have experienced it yourself you can understand what they are going through. You relate to it and you feel it.
And there is a bit of everything. There is a story, there is metaphor, philosophy, and a questioning of authority. Initially I found it irritating how each paragraph moved on to a different theme. But once I was acquainted with those themes I knew exactly where I was.
He praises Kafka a great deal and talks of how he plunged the depths in order to speak the truth rather than ‘jerkish’. And quotes Kafka as saying,
A book must be an axe for the frozen sea within us
If you want literature rather than a throwaway paperback, give this one a look. You’ll be glad you did.
April 12th, 2010 at 3:54 pm
Great post, I am an avid reader of this blog, keep on writing these great posts, and I will be a regular for a long time.