What's all the fuss about?
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After doing a Spanish American short story course at university, I was lucky enough to discover the Hispanic masters like Rulfo, Cortázar, GarcÃa Márquez and, by extension, Borges. Following some extensive reading of the works of Borges, I came across his prose writings in 'The Total Library' in which he cited Kafka as one of the main influences on his ideas and literary techniques, and, thinking this was a great endorsement by a renowned author, bought this book. In October 2001. And I didn't finish it until yesterday (March 2002). It was that boring. I actually reread the article in 'The Total Library' again, just to make sure I'd read it properly, and, there it was, Borges endorsing these hideous stories...and then it all fell neatly into place. Borges hadn't actually tried to work along the same lines as Kafka, but wisely took another root, which I personally believe was a good career move.
Of the stories featured in this collection (Metamorphosis, The Great Wall of China, The Burrow, The Penal Settlement, and The Giant Mole), not one really stands out as being any good. Maybe Metamorphosis is somewhat original, albeit with a predictable twist at the end, and perhaps the same is true of The Penal Settlement, but The Burrow is just awful, and The Great Wall of China I can't even remember (thankfully). The Giant Mole wasn't mind-blowing either.
Anyway, if you have enough money to buy this, make sure you have the sense not too. If you want some short stories, good ones, get 'Collected Stories' by GarcÃa Márquez, 'Labyrinths' or 'The Book of Sand' by Borges, or 'Blowup and other stories' by Cortázar, but spare yourself this collection!
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Hard work but worth it
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A restrained style of writing, a welcome change from too much 'pop fiction'. Sensitive, humane and disciplined, by no means an easy read but worth the effort. Amusing also in its matter-of-fact portrayal of bizarre events. You too will pity the man-turned-insect of the opening story.
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