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The Book of Sand
'One of the most remarkable artists of our age' - Mario Vargas Llosa. "The Book of Sand" was the last of Borges' major collections to be published. The stories are, in his words, 'variations on favourite themes...combining a plain and at times almost colloquial style with a fantastic plot'. It includes such marvellous tales as "The Congress", "Undr" and "The Mirror and the...more
Paperback, 125 pages
Published
February 16th 1979
by Dutton
(first published 1975)
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Mar 16, 2012
Paquita Maria Sanchez
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
literature
There's something really sensory and textured about JLB's fiction writing. Reading his work always invokes the distinct smell of dusty leather-bound books, the creaking sounds of flawed wood floors lightly tread upon by anonymous figures in the corridors of giant, empty houses, the odors of burnt coffee and blackened toast, a wind-gust through a broken and off-kilter porch chime. A little stuffy at times, but in that charming, quirky professor sort of way, the one who always wore mod-colored twe...more
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This is one of Borges'last books, and many of the pieces here are less than his best. "The Congress," however, is a tale of the microcosm as powerful and effective as "The Aleph," and "The Book of Sand" is also one of Borge's finest stories. "The Sect of Thirty" is an excellent short piece, and the theological implications of this account of heresy are both disturbing and illuminating. Don't expect too much, and you will enjoy watching an old master at work.
More impressions in my personal blog of reviews
It wasn't iPad, neither internet, it was sand (or paper)
"The number of pages in this book is no more or less than infinite.
None is the first page, none the last"
Jorge Luis Borges - The Sand Book
Reference to one of the tales, The Book of Sand is a small compendium of 13 short stories of the Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges. Together, these stories have in common the fantastic nature of the peculiar writing of Borges. But more than that, the 13 st...more
It wasn't iPad, neither internet, it was sand (or paper)
"The number of pages in this book is no more or less than infinite.
None is the first page, none the last"
Jorge Luis Borges - The Sand Book
Reference to one of the tales, The Book of Sand is a small compendium of 13 short stories of the Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges. Together, these stories have in common the fantastic nature of the peculiar writing of Borges. But more than that, the 13 st...more
Apr 27, 2013
Jayaprakash Satyamurthy
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Jayaprakash by:
jayaprakash@gmail.com
A re-read, actually, and a different translation, but anyway.
I don't see this as lesser Borges at all. The stories rarely have the stunning extrapolative gymnastics of Ficciones or The Aleph, but I think they have a more serene, wistful charm that places them as high as the former works. 'Ulrikke' is Borges' only romantic fiction, and it partakes of the strangeness of an MR James story. His Lovecraft tribute, 'There Are More Things' anticipates both Aickman and Ligotti in its assimilation of Lo...more
I don't see this as lesser Borges at all. The stories rarely have the stunning extrapolative gymnastics of Ficciones or The Aleph, but I think they have a more serene, wistful charm that places them as high as the former works. 'Ulrikke' is Borges' only romantic fiction, and it partakes of the strangeness of an MR James story. His Lovecraft tribute, 'There Are More Things' anticipates both Aickman and Ligotti in its assimilation of Lo...more
Hineem'imin yeni yıl hediyesi. Sinek Isırıklarının Müellifi bitince okuyacağım. Çok heyecanlı.
Ultima raccolta di racconti dello scrittore argentino, in questa edizione integrata da altri quattro racconti composti in tarda età. Il racconto iniziale (L'altro) vede l'autore, ormai anziano, incontrare un giovane se stesso. Sembra quasi un ipotetico passaggio di testimone tra il Borges degli anni '40 (L'Aleph e Finzioni) e questo. Ed in fondo un po' lo è. Lo stile rimane inconfondibile, ma la scrittura si smussa, i temi diventano leggermente più intimisti e le parole più dosate. Il tutto rima...more
3.5
O Livro de Areia de Jorge Luis Borges, é um pequeno livro de contos que primeiro estranha-se e depois entranha-se. Existe um enorme sentimento de transcendência ao longo da leitura. A constante metafísica presente nos contos, leva-nos por vezes a deambular num mar filosófico que parece não ter fim.
Apesar de ter a sua pitada de fantástico, penso que o grande impacto que este livro acaba por ter no leitor é a obrigação de exercitar a mente e estar completamente atento e concentrado na narrativa...more
O Livro de Areia de Jorge Luis Borges, é um pequeno livro de contos que primeiro estranha-se e depois entranha-se. Existe um enorme sentimento de transcendência ao longo da leitura. A constante metafísica presente nos contos, leva-nos por vezes a deambular num mar filosófico que parece não ter fim.
Apesar de ter a sua pitada de fantástico, penso que o grande impacto que este livro acaba por ter no leitor é a obrigação de exercitar a mente e estar completamente atento e concentrado na narrativa...more
Actually, I'm reading it in Spanish. But Goodreads doesn't have El Libro de Arena as an option...yet.
I'm really enjoying Borges, he has such a unique and consistent style. So unusual, imaginative and poetic.
I'm really enjoying Borges, he has such a unique and consistent style. So unusual, imaginative and poetic.
Uno de esos libros que tranquilamente podés leer un fin de semana lluvioso (tal como estará ocurriendo en alguna parte de este hemisferio en unas pocas horas nomás).
Resulta que el bardo se permite un par de licencias (solo un par) y escribe (o dicta a su horda de tipeadoras) estas pequeñas historias. Y resulta que lo hace con su don, simpleza, casi pidiéndonos permiso.
Hereje seré si escribo (entre todas las demás) que me gustó muchísimo "El soborno" y "Ulrica".
Rest in peace, Borges.
(Todos los...more
Resulta que el bardo se permite un par de licencias (solo un par) y escribe (o dicta a su horda de tipeadoras) estas pequeñas historias. Y resulta que lo hace con su don, simpleza, casi pidiéndonos permiso.
Hereje seré si escribo (entre todas las demás) que me gustó muchísimo "El soborno" y "Ulrica".
Rest in peace, Borges.
(Todos los...more
بصراحة، وكشخص يسمع عن بورخيس كثيرا وطالما تشوق لقراءة شيء من كتبه، فإن التجربة الأولى لي مع بورخيس من خلال هذا الكتاب جاءت مخيبة لآمالي
الرمزية مكثفة، وكان على المترجم بذل جهد أكبر في توضيح كثير من المصطلحات والعبارات التي لا يستطيع القارئ فهم الرواية بدون فهم مغزاها وموقعها في سياق القصة ودلالتها الرمزية
أتمنى أن يكون لي تجربة لاحقة مع بورخيس تمحو أثر هذه التجربة
الرمزية مكثفة، وكان على المترجم بذل جهد أكبر في توضيح كثير من المصطلحات والعبارات التي لا يستطيع القارئ فهم الرواية بدون فهم مغزاها وموقعها في سياق القصة ودلالتها الرمزية
أتمنى أن يكون لي تجربة لاحقة مع بورخيس تمحو أثر هذه التجربة
According to the author's opinion, the collection, written in his last days (while blind), is his best book, an opinion not shared by most critics, who prefer his other works.
I have wanted to be loyal, in these exercises of a blind man, to the example of Wells: the conjunction of a plain style, sometimes almost oral, and an impossible argument.
—Jorge Luis Borges
13 short stories here....8 particularly notable.
1., the protagonist (Borges himself) encounters a younger version of himself...,
2. His...more
I have wanted to be loyal, in these exercises of a blind man, to the example of Wells: the conjunction of a plain style, sometimes almost oral, and an impossible argument.
—Jorge Luis Borges
13 short stories here....8 particularly notable.
1., the protagonist (Borges himself) encounters a younger version of himself...,
2. His...more
Con Borges siempre me da la sensación de que hablar sobre sus libros es una tarea casi imposible, ya que o resulta muy modesta o sólo una falsa especulación, además que trata de analizar temas que no conviene anticipar.
El libro contiene historias como El Otro, Ulrica, La noche de los dones, El espejo y la máscara, Utopía de un hombre que está cansado, El disco y El libro de arena, entre otros. Todas ellas marcadas con el tono característico de Borges, sinceridad y gran erudición. A veces da la i...more
El libro contiene historias como El Otro, Ulrica, La noche de los dones, El espejo y la máscara, Utopía de un hombre que está cansado, El disco y El libro de arena, entre otros. Todas ellas marcadas con el tono característico de Borges, sinceridad y gran erudición. A veces da la i...more
Oct 11, 2012
Martin Hernandez
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
contemporary-hispanic
En mi opinión, no es el mejor libro de BORGES, pero contiene algunos cuentos realmente memorables, sobre todo "El otro", que narra el encuentro de BORGES anciano con un BORGES joven. La parodia del viaje en el tiempo, pero sin enredarse en explicaciones de ciencia ficción, una simple reflexión de un anciano... "Ulrica" es un cuento curioso, pues se trata del único relato de amor que publicó BORGES. Otro cuanto que me gustó mucho fue "El espejo y la máscara"... creo que puedo contar el argumento...more
This book is titled "The Book of Sand" after one of its short stories. In that short story, The Book of Sand is called such because it is a book with no beginning and no end and no pattern to its pages. I think it makes a suitable title for the collection of stories as a whole, though for slightly different reasons. When I read this book, trying to keep a grasp on the stories and their meanings and interconnectedness was like trying to hold a handful of sand - always slipping away, finding ways...more
This was probably not the best book for me to start exploring Borge's work. These are more vignettes than short stories, like looking at an artist's sketchbook rather than finished work. There are some interesting themes and connections between the stories, such as the unreliability of memory and the power of words. However, at the end of each story I couldn't help but ask, "that's it?" One of the stories, an homage to H. P. Lovecraft, doesn't even end properly -- not surprising that Borge refer...more
سطور من الغموض، معرفش دا لضعف الترجمة ولا الكتاب اصلا كدا،
لكن مبهم فعلا افكار وروموز كتيرة جدا مبهمة
وشعرت بعض العيوب، ساعدت اكتر علي عدم هم القصص.
مثال :
ذكر ٧ اشخاص بمهنهم وصلة القرابة ومعلومات عن حياتهم في نص صفحة بس، علما ان بعد كدا مش هيذكر منهم حد تاني!
طب ليه اللغبطة بقي يا عمو!
وفي بعض القصص سرعة احداث رهيبة متجعلش وجود لفرصة انك تستوعب الاحداث
لكن في بعض القصص تحفة
انصفا للحق، زاي الأخر ما اروعها وغيرها كمان واحدة او اتنين بالكتير.
لكن مبهم فعلا افكار وروموز كتيرة جدا مبهمة
وشعرت بعض العيوب، ساعدت اكتر علي عدم هم القصص.
مثال :
ذكر ٧ اشخاص بمهنهم وصلة القرابة ومعلومات عن حياتهم في نص صفحة بس، علما ان بعد كدا مش هيذكر منهم حد تاني!
طب ليه اللغبطة بقي يا عمو!
وفي بعض القصص سرعة احداث رهيبة متجعلش وجود لفرصة انك تستوعب الاحداث
لكن في بعض القصص تحفة
انصفا للحق، زاي الأخر ما اروعها وغيرها كمان واحدة او اتنين بالكتير.
I almost gave this book five stars. It's undoubtedly very close to being worth five stars, since some of the stories are among the best and imaginative literature that I have ever read. Unfortunately, there were two or three stories that didn't really capture my attention or my interest. I don't know why that was - maybe I should try to read the book again (I probably will) - but the four I give it is a very strong four. I will definitely read more of Borges stories; they really get my imaginati...more
Un capolavoro. Un racconto piu’ bello dell’ altro, compresi quelli in appendice. Il racconto che da il titolo al libro e "Tigri blu" sono particolarmente fantastici (ovviamente nell’ accezione borgesiana del termine) regalando attimi di quasi angoscia : le pietre blu che si moltiplicano e dividono senza alcun ordine e logica spalancano le porte del caos esattamente come fanno le infinite e casualmente numerate pagine del libro di sabbia, mai piu’ ritrovabili dopo la prima volta. E’ un libro da l...more
If you've read House of Leaves, you will know that Borges is mentioned a lot in the book as well as the online discussions of the book.
I've been reading the books that I think Danielewski took the inspiration for, and the short stories from the collection Book of Sand show a few signs of it.
Most meaningfully, the book of sand, is pretty much identical to the idea behind House of Leaves. And Borges is a very romantic writer of the word.
Quite a good read.
I've been reading the books that I think Danielewski took the inspiration for, and the short stories from the collection Book of Sand show a few signs of it.
Most meaningfully, the book of sand, is pretty much identical to the idea behind House of Leaves. And Borges is a very romantic writer of the word.
Quite a good read.
Oct 21, 2011
Upom
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
fiction,
surreal,
surrealism,
infinity,
1970s,
europe,
hispanic,
america,
memory,
time,
speculative,
20th-century
Another magical group of short stories from Borges. Borges continues with his style of introducing fantastic philosophical curios from an eclectic group of exotic settings. From a man who talks with his former self, to a book with infinite pages, Borges juxtaposes almost all of his stories with finite collections of infinity. The only place Borges lost some points was that not all of his stories were as riveting as the ones in The Aleph and Other Stories. Specifically in the story "There are Mor...more
Premier collection de petites histories du maître argentin consommé - mais surtout pas le dernier. Les histoires sont inquiètantes, insondables, impénétrables et - parfois - horrifiantes. Chaque petite historie laisse une grande porte ouverte á plein d´interprétations différentes selon l´humeur du lecteur.
Maintenant je comprends mieux pourqoui l´assassin du "Au nom de la Rose" d´Eco porte le nom Borges. Il l´a mérité.
Maintenant je comprends mieux pourqoui l´assassin du "Au nom de la Rose" d´Eco porte le nom Borges. Il l´a mérité.
I loved it. There's just something about the way he writes, a feeling of erudite humility, of International nationalism, of simple geniality. A master and an apprentice at the same time. I love that contradiction he imbues in every single one of his stories, a kind of casual depth. It's awesome and, more importantly, he makes you think. That's probably the reason he has been described as "a writer for writers".
I must confess that "The Other" - the first short story of the book - is my favorite story written by Jorge Luis Borges. Whenever I read it, it gives me shivers down my spine making me think that it's written for me. It sets the mood right to read the rest of the book, which is a beautiful journey ending with the story of the Book of Sand - a story about obsession which eventually leads to oblivion.
Borges torna al racconto fantastico, già esplorato con soddisfazione negli anni Quaranta. La raccolta contiene anche narrazioni sui toni del realismo, simili a quelli del precedente Il manoscritto di Brodie; l’atmosfera complessiva non è più quella labirintica e metafisica delle Finzioni, la cui eco si avverte comunque forte e chiara; qui troviamo invece un Borges anziano, che si concentra meno nell’indagare l’infinito e rivolge lo sguardo verso se stesso, indugiando sulla vecchiaia e il sopragg...more
Speaking only of the story "The Book of Sand": another perfect short story from Borges, and my rec for anyone who has not read him before (along with Funes the memorious). It's a lot less obscure/esoteric than many of his stories, and absolutely memorable; the main idea is simple, but the way that idea is worked into the big metaphor that is this story is unmistakeably Borges--quirky, drily playful, just absolutely exquisite (for those who like his style, that is).
Ma première "vraie" rencontre avec Borges, après "Fictions". La première nouvelle m'a en effet donné l'impression de vraiment rencontrer l'auteur, comme il se rencontre lui-même sur ce banc entre Amérique et Suisse. J'ai été encore plus séduite par les nouvelles de ce livre de Sable que par celles de "Fictions", que je vais maintenant relire à la lumière de cet autre ouvrage. Peut-être me manquait-il la "clef" de l'oeuvre de Borges... maintenant que je l'ai trouvée, j'ai très envie de m'en servi...more
I love Borges and tales of the fantastic and these were marvelous, full of great lines that I failed to write down due to some small frustration with looking up lots of Argentinian words I didn't know. My favourite was the one about things dedicated to Lovecraft, I do love monsters, but all of them were good and so damn thought provoking. Intentionally so clever and intellectual that perhaps they miss some heart.
Very good, although to be honest I prefer his "Fictions" collection. This book was an accumulation of his last works near the end of his life and it'sreflected in the body of the stories, with death, age and loss splattered all over the stories. If you've read Borges, I'd recommend it - if not I'd read Fictions first, and then curse me for sucking you into Borge's Universe.
From the Borges I have been acquainted with thus far, the use of fantasy, among many other devices, creates fiction of infinite substance and depth that leaves one speechless. This collection does just that.
My favorites would be:
"The Other", which draws inspiration from Dostoevsky's "The Double", "There Are More Things", "The Mirror and the Mask", and "The Book of Sand".
My favorites would be:
"The Other", which draws inspiration from Dostoevsky's "The Double", "There Are More Things", "The Mirror and the Mask", and "The Book of Sand".
تحتوي هذه المجموعة على بعض من قصص بورخيس الشهيرة : الآخر, أولريكا, المجلس, أوندور, يوتويبا رجل مُتعب, القرص, كتاب الرمل. يستخدم بورخيس في قصة كتاب الرمل رموزه المفضلة موضوع العالم كمكتبة لا متناهية.
عالم الكتاب والمكتبات, المطلق واللانهائي. كتاب محدود بحجم معين ذو امتدادات هائلة: كأنها غابة ما إن يدخلها القارئ حتى يجد نفسه في عوالم ماورائية لا نهاية لها.
عالم الكتاب والمكتبات, المطلق واللانهائي. كتاب محدود بحجم معين ذو امتدادات هائلة: كأنها غابة ما إن يدخلها القارئ حتى يجد نفسه في عوالم ماورائية لا نهاية لها.
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| KC /int/ Book Club: Book of Sand | 13 | 27 | May 05, 2012 01:24am |
Jorge Francisco Isidoro Luis Borges Acevedo (Spanish pronunciation: [xoɾxe lwis boɾxes]) was an Argentine writer and poet born in Buenos Aires. In 1914, his family moved to Switzerland where he attended school and traveled to Spain. On his return to Argentina in 1921, Borges began publishing his poems and essays in Surrealist literary journals. He also worked as a librarian and public lecturer. Bo...more
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“.....a miracle has the right to impose conditions.”
—
4 people liked it
“I do not write for a select minority, which means nothing to me, nor for that adulated platonic entity known as ‘The Masses’. Both abstractions, so dear to the demagogue, I disbelieve in. I write for myself and for my friends, and I write to ease the passing of time.”
—
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