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Liked It1 of 1 members found this review helpful “I loved this book. It was a little bizarre and beautiful, kind of hopeful and kind of depressing all at once.” see full review » see other reviews » |
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“The first chapter is a must for anyone who loves books. It put into words what I'd felt but been unable to say.”
Drake O wrote this review 4 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Four stars because I'm currently re-reading the sucker, in an attempt to really understand why I thought it was beautiful. But I am still sure that it is.”
Abraham wrote this review Friday, July 17 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I remember loving this book, but I don't recall why. Guess it's time for a re-read. ”
Mark F wrote this review Sunday, March 15 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Too Loud a Solitude is a tender and funny story of Hant'a - a man who has lived in a Czech police state - for 35 years, working as compactor of wastepaper and books. In the process of compacting, he has acquired an education so unwitting he can't quite tell which of his thoughts are his own and which come from his books. He has rescued many from jaws of hydraulic press and now his house is filled to the rooftops. Destroyer of the written word, he is also its perpetuator.
leila ekrami naghsh wrote this review Thursday, October 9 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
But when a new automatic press makes his job redundant there's only one thing he can do - go down with his ship.
This is an eccentric romp celebrating the indestructibility - against censorship, political oppression etc. - of the written word
”
“A masterful story of an idiot--a highly intelligent idiot--who works as a compactor in (then) Czechoslovakia. Beautiful, realistic, simple prose. Highly recommended.”
Sgt. Toadstool wrote this review Saturday, August 16 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I was, at first, taken in by the unusual character and flavor of this book, but was later repulsed by the author’s continuous references to blood and excrement. A scene I read quite late at night involved the main character and waste compactor, Hantá, compacting several slats of refuse dropped off by a slaughter house. Hrabal’s descriptions of the sight and smell of discarded bodily fluids were too much for my imagination. At first, in almost complete willingness to give up on Hrabal, I read previous one-star Amazon reviews, tending to agree with the oft stated, “the book seems padded.” Before reviewing these statements, I also pondered whether or not Hrabal spent considerable time researching specific quotes from his own home book collection (including references from art history books), seeking content to fill his novella with profundity.
Marie wrote this review Friday, January 25 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Regardless of Hrabal’s possible potential plans to swiftly stuff pages with meaningful excerpts about various intellectual topics, my awareness of the subtler ideas at play within Too Loud a Solitude, gradually pieced together while reading a few higher ratings. It may be that the numerous references to the aforementioned esteemed artistic works serve as tiny skeletal frames of Hantá’s former artistic and intellectual dreams. In essence, their existence props up his otherwise lifeless body, enabling him to endure a dull life of hardship and disappointment.
As many critics suggest, Hrabal’s prime intention is to expose the wiles of a totalitarian state, while laying bare the wounds of those ensnared in its political wire fence. The reader witnesses the meaningless work and mind numbing drinking habits of a man who is intellectually curious with no real intellectual outlet—a quirk characteristic of many haunted souls introduced through Hantá’s daydreams about people he socializes with. His colleagues live in exile from their previous thinking lives—lives oppressed by the state that threatens the very existence of intellectual discourse.
Each character must create a sense of self-worth while facing the mundane worthlessness of meaningless jobs, and most workers are grateful to tears when someone relates to their plight. Many folks see Hantá as an innocent dreamer overcome by his ordinary, unforgiving job, but his intolerable boss has little sympathy for Hantá’s lazy working habits and soporific character. The boss, as the embodiment of the regime, is shallow and insensitive, constantly harassing Hantá for his quiet, thoughtful ways.
The final analysis should be left to future readers, because I refuse to spoil the plot. In the end, I warmed up to this author’s message, though I give it four stars as a caveat for anyone with a weak stomach.
”1 of 1 members found this review helpful“I loved this book. It was a little bizarre and beautiful, kind of hopeful and kind of depressing all at once. ”
yamini b wrote this review Sunday, December 30 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“35 years worth of trash compacted,
mundivagant wrote this review Thursday, December 27 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
forbidden czech hardbacks, ministered by a
single sisyphusean exterminator/savior”
