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Blindness (Harvest Book)
 

Blindness (Harvest Book)

by Jose Saramago

In an unnamed city in an unnamed country, a man sitting in his car waiting for a traffic light to change is suddenly struck blind. But instead of being plunged into darkness, this man sees everything white, as if he "were caught in a mist or had fallen into a milky sea." A Good Samaritan offers to drive him home (and later steals his car); his wife takes him by taxi to a nearby eye clinic... (read more)

Top tags: fiction,  contemporary fiction,  literature,  nobel prize,  portuguese literature (all tags)

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Other Reviews

Amazon Reviews (5)
 

Most Helpful Reviews

Liked It

1 of 1 members found this review helpful.
Ali Shoar
  • Rated 4 stars

“powerfull,good form,one step forward”

Ali Shoar’s full review »
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Didn’t Like It

1 of 1 members found this review helpful.
cvd6262
  • Rated 2 stars

“Masterful storytelling, but I was still left unsatisfied. I think I expected more from this book than I should have. I'm terribly interested in economies, social justice, and epistemology. I had hoped Blindness would address the first two literally and the last figuratively. It did none of that to my satisfaction. The first two thirds of the novel are reminiscent of Animal Farm, neglecting (what I consider) far more interesting issues with society at large. the last third begins explore the...”

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Community:
  • Rated 4.275527 stars
Amazon:
  • Rated 4.333333 stars
  

Newest Comments

  • Brittany M

    brittany m said:

    “What do you believe the purpose of the doctor sleeping with the girl with the dark glasses was? I found the doctors wife behavior toward the girl with the dark glasses afterward odd. what do you all think?”

    posted Tuesday, July 22 2008 ( | view 1 reply )
  • flashflood59

    flashflood59 said:

    “What do you make of the last line of Blindness? Does the blind doctor's wife go blind? I don't have the book with me to quote it but I have had long discussions with friends about the line's significance. Is the anarchy and blindness (metaphorical and literal) over or is it never over and beginning anew. She was the most clear-sighted character in the novel, literally and metaphorically, yet I imagine that her role as guide is over as those she's cared for regain their sight and perhaps all she's seen of the world can allow her to retreat into blindness. Or is it an optimistic ending. Sight and insight are regained and the world goes on but it will be a better place because of the knowledge gained. Oh help!”

    posted Saturday, June 14 2008
  • mandalynne

    mandalynne said:

    “A movie??? The whole point of this book, the incredible madness revolves around the fact that people are blind. A movie will just destroy all sensation. Onnie I totally agree with you, the writer made us readers feel like we too were blind, groping with the characters. All senses become dull when staring at a moving picture.”

    posted Friday, June 13 2008 ( | view 1 reply )
  • lifestarts n

    lifestarts n said:

    “read the original in a class on portuguese literature. it was a disturbing yet fascinating read. i don't think the movie will be remotely close to what the book can provide. i also recommend his other book on the topic (can't remember the title now) ~~ it's set a few years after the blindness and there are elections and people vote but all ballots turn out white...”

    posted Friday, June 13 2008
  • Onnie

    onnie said:

    “I was blown away with the missing punctuation but got into the flow. Sumptuous, delightful and in'sight'ful. It's been a while since i felt myself shaking just by reading - shaking with shock, disgust, excitement. There were no names mentioned, not many details that gave an effect that I, as a reader, was groping too in some kind of blindness.

    This book has pushed itself easily on my top 5 books of all time.

    I bought this book as a gift for myself knowing nothing about it nor the author. I made the perfect choice.”

    posted Wednesday, June 4 2008
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