July 29, 2008 · 9:40 am

benighted

Jonas wakes up and the world is empty. What is happening ? Is this a disaster, or only a disaster for Jonas ? His fantasies–now that they can be fulfilled in an empty world–now that he’s “free” –reveal themselves as ordinary. All Jonas really wants is that the world be dependable & right again. But there’s not much chance of that: in Night Work, Thomas Glavinic has decided to collide Michael Haneke’s Hidden with Surveillance Saver. More on this novel.

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6 Responses to benighted

  1. larap
    July 29, 2008 at 10:26 am

    It reminds me of a novel just out by an old and famous Angolan writer, Pepetela. It’s called O quasi fim do mundo which might translate as, Almost the End of the World. He says it’s not about Angola, but like many things people say when they are talking about Angola, you have to read into what he means. He means it is. But it isn’t really.
    It also reminds me of the latest Coetzee I’m on, the sixth of his in a matter of weeks. The Life and Times of Michael K. I advise all who like this blog to read it. It’s simply superb.

  2. uzwi
    July 30, 2008 at 9:05 am

    Hi Lara. Almost the End of the World is a great title. I don’t know Pepetela. But my favourite Coetzee is Disgrace, so savage & bleak.

  3. Lara
    July 30, 2008 at 10:59 am

    He ain’t the best of the Angolans. The one I like is Agualusa. But I’m just starting Manuel Rui Monteiro, also said to be very good. But read Coetzee’s Michael K. Read it.

  4. Mindspace
    July 31, 2008 at 1:14 pm

    Bought the novel on the strength of the review. It’s an obvious concept but it must take alot of audacity to carry through.

  5. uzwi
    August 5, 2008 at 11:48 am

    Hi Mindspace, hope you enjoy it.

  6. steve brown
    November 22, 2008 at 10:23 pm

    Waiting for the Barbarians still gives me lucid nightmares – I read it sometime last year.