Comments on The Boston Bibliophile: REVIEW: Beatrice and Virgil, by Yann Martel

Ooh, I love your point about the banality of evil!...

2010-07-02T06:49:16.683-04:00

Ooh, I love your point about the banality of evil! All the way through I had Theodore Adorno's dictum, ""There can be no poetry after Auschwitz" running through my head throughout but I hadn't drawn comparisons to Arendt's theory.

I do have some other theories, less prosaic than your own, and will share them next week.

Hi again, Marie. OK I finished it. It was quick...

2010-06-26T16:15:28.117-04:00

Hi again, Marie. OK I finished it. It was quick and easy read. Easy in the sense that the language and writing was easily accessible. And I'm happy to report that the allegory was very transparent and even literal-minded me got it! While I didn't hate Beatrice and Virgil, I didn't really like all that much either. I agree the end came out of nowhere and had me scratching my head. I'm sure I would get more out of it if I gave it a second careful reading or discussed it with others in a book discussion group. But, I'm just not that serious a reader. I am, however, glad I read it. It was interesting, if nothing else.

This is a wonderful review! I had heard mixed revi...

2010-06-22T18:28:46.585-04:00

This is a wonderful review! I had heard mixed reviews about it, and I really appreciate your open-minded, educated perspective.

Pam, it's nothing like Life of Pi but I will s...

2010-06-21T17:05:52.076-04:00

Pam, it's nothing like Life of Pi but I will say the allegory is fairly transparent. I hope you enjoy it :-)

This book is next up in my list of books to read. ...

2010-06-21T16:15:23.633-04:00

This book is next up in my list of books to read. I've been hestitant about reading it. Mostly because I loved Life of Pi and am sure it won't live up to that. And also because I've heard it described as an allegory. I'm not very good at figuring out allegories. I'm a more literal reader. All along I haven't been sure this is a book I would like or even finish. But, I'm willing to give it a try. But if I don't "get" it the first time, I'm afraid that's it for me. I do not like to reread books. There are just too many books out there I'm dying to read. I'm anxious to give it a try.

This is the first review I've read that actual...

2010-06-17T12:26:21.468-04:00

This is the first review I've read that actually made me want to tackle this book. It's been sitting on my shelf for awhile, and I've been hesitant, worried that I just wouldn't get it. I hope I don't have to read it more than once, though, as I'm not much of a re-reader.

--Anna

This is an excellent review. I liked the book, an...

2010-06-16T13:18:13.113-04:00

This is an excellent review. I liked the book, and thought that it delved into areas not normally touched in a philosophical and creative manner.

Kathleen- I hope you enjoy it if you decide to rea...

2010-06-16T07:20:33.508-04:00

Kathleen- I hope you enjoy it if you decide to read it. It's not your average novel! :-)

Caite- no worries, it's not for everyone.

Bookin'it-good! :-)

Trisha-it's definitely thought-provoking, one way or the other :-)

I have to say I like it that the book offers somet...

2010-06-15T22:27:29.055-04:00

I have to say I like it that the book offers something different on re-readings. And I did love The Life of Pi.

First review of this book I've read that makes...

2010-06-15T19:07:44.439-04:00

First review of this book I've read that makes me want to read it. Thanks Marie!

I just have to wonder at an author that writes a b...

2010-06-15T15:13:29.417-04:00

I just have to wonder at an author that writes a book that is not very reader-friendly book....awww, yes, to make a point.
Compared to the average person out there, I consider myself a fairly serious reader and yet this holds no interest for me. Oh well.

But you wrote a great review! ;-)

I really enjoyed this post because I think it is t...

2010-06-15T13:44:59.662-04:00

I really enjoyed this post because I think it is the first really even handed review I have read. I'm feeling more encouraged about reading this one in the future and I had previously written off the idea completely. Thank you for pointing out that a book like this might take patience and a reread to get at the meaning. I've still not read Life of Pi so maybe it is better for me to read this one first so I don't have those expectations from the first book.

Mrs B- I wouldn't let what you thought of Life...

2010-06-15T10:43:13.598-04:00

Mrs B- I wouldn't let what you thought of Life of Pi influence you one way or the other. B&V is a totally different kind of book.

Yvonne- it's definitely not for everyone :-)

Diane- thanks :-)

Jill- There's no confusion when you're reading it. It's told from the writer's point of view and it's always very clear who's saying and doing what.

Jessica- I hope so! :-)

Zibilee- yes, please let me know! :-)

You know, though most of the reviews I have read o...

2010-06-15T10:32:11.715-04:00

You know, though most of the reviews I have read of this book have been less than stellar, I am still really interested to see what Martel has done in this book. Your review was wonderful, and really let me get a grip on what I will be getting when reading this. I will have to let you know what I think of it.

Interesting. I've seen several negative review...

2010-06-15T08:50:45.241-04:00

Interesting. I've seen several negative reviews on this book and was planning to skip it as a result. Now I'm thinking maybe I'll give it a shot.

I haven't read it, but just the fact that the ...

2010-06-15T08:20:03.714-04:00

I haven't read it, but just the fact that the 2 main characters have the same name really turns me off. I can see how it could be making some sort of point (we are all the same?) but I think the annoyance over having to figure out who is talking would ruin it for me!

I'm one of the ones who really liked this book...

2010-06-15T06:53:49.422-04:00

I'm one of the ones who really liked this books as well. Glad you thought it was worthwhile as well. Great review Marie.

It's probably not my type of thing, but it'...

2010-06-15T06:51:59.318-04:00

It's probably not my type of thing, but it's a great review and sounds interesting.

I wonder if I would like this as I'm probably ...

2010-06-15T06:41:29.517-04:00

I wonder if I would like this as I'm probably one of the few who just didn't get into The Life of Pi. You wrote a great review and I am intrigued.