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213th out of 416 books
—
306 voters
On Love and Death
In ON LOVE AND DEATH, Patrick Suskind reveals the hidden source of his mesmerizing fiction: an obsession with the darkly erotic link between love and death. In this witty and thought-provoking meditation on the two elemental forces of human existence, he brilliantly draws on scenes as contemporary as a young couple having oral sex in a traffic jam, as literary as Thomas Ma...more
Paperback, 80 pages
Published
November 28th 2006
by Overlook TP
(first published 2005)
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The books open with a passage by St. Augustine:
I just love Patrick Süskind.
The opening quote is about time. Süskind co-opts it to talk about
love. When I first read it, I thought it applied equally well to good
programming. I think it really applies to any process of the mind that is
deeply grounded in our personal experience. Each one of us has certain t...more
If no one asks me about it, then I know what it is; but if someone asks me about
it and I try to explain it to him, then I do not know what it is.
I just love Patrick Süskind.
The opening quote is about time. Süskind co-opts it to talk about
love. When I first read it, I thought it applied equally well to good
programming. I think it really applies to any process of the mind that is
deeply grounded in our personal experience. Each one of us has certain t...more
"De ce nu a existat in istoria omenirii un cult al defecarii si al excrementelor, asa cum a existat un cult al sanilor, vaginului si falusului?"
"...toti cei ce scriu sau canta acolo incearca sa dea glas convingerii ca iubirea e ceva ceresc, sublim, mantuitor; iar termenii in care e cantata sau descrisa au pastrat pana in zilele noastre o incarcatura religioasa. Si astfel iubirea se deosebeste suficient de mult de excremente."
E pur si simplu fermecatoare cartea asta, o data pentru ca e vorba de S...more
"...toti cei ce scriu sau canta acolo incearca sa dea glas convingerii ca iubirea e ceva ceresc, sublim, mantuitor; iar termenii in care e cantata sau descrisa au pastrat pana in zilele noastre o incarcatura religioasa. Si astfel iubirea se deosebeste suficient de mult de excremente."
E pur si simplu fermecatoare cartea asta, o data pentru ca e vorba de S...more
A great exploration of the individual's relationship with love as a concept as well as the wider perception of love as the ideal we all strive for. The author is slightly skeptical and even cynical in place which is no bother to me since it's nice to see an objective approach to love that isn't peppered with rose and dove metaphors. It's when he talks about death that his language becomes lyrical; the examples of Goethe's poetry are a brilliant piece of evidence to support his point.
Opinião no blog http://howtoliveathousandlives.blogsp...
Esta obra consiste numa brilhante reflexão acerca da condição humana à luz da relação entre os seus princípios vitais: Eros e Tanatos; o amor e a morte. Num pequeno ensaio, que se lê num ápice, o autor faz uma crítica acutilante, mas sempre com um humor elegante e subtil, ao invariável impulso do amor.
Süskind sustenta a sua meditação em inúmeros exemplos: alguns do quotidiano, outros da mitologia grega, a maior parte do universo literário e...more
Esta obra consiste numa brilhante reflexão acerca da condição humana à luz da relação entre os seus princípios vitais: Eros e Tanatos; o amor e a morte. Num pequeno ensaio, que se lê num ápice, o autor faz uma crítica acutilante, mas sempre com um humor elegante e subtil, ao invariável impulso do amor.
Süskind sustenta a sua meditação em inúmeros exemplos: alguns do quotidiano, outros da mitologia grega, a maior parte do universo literário e...more
Sep 17, 2009
nicole j. wroblewski
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommended to nicole by:
ben wroblewski
Shelves:
2009,
nonfiction
Suskind's telling of the story of Orpheus is beautiful. His take on the love/death of Jesus was very interesting, but shrouded by too much hostility. He kept an even temper about the rest of his subjects, but took every opportunity he could find (or make) to stick it to the J-Man. It worked as a comparison to Orpheus, but seemed out of line with the rest of the text. But perhaps that's because prior to the Orpheus/Jesus comparison, he seemed to mostly be restating the opinion of others, rather t...more
Patrick Suskind asks himself why love continues to be the most sublime feeling. And why is the love theme bonded with the death non-theme? Is love a disease? The passion of love opens herself towards death?
He talks about some great classics of literature and philosphy, like Platon, Goethe, Kleist, Wagner or Thomas Mann. He approaches a fundamental myth - the story of Orpheus and Euridice - and bonds it with the biblical episode of Lazarus resurrection. Everything is written in a refined style.
He talks about some great classics of literature and philosphy, like Platon, Goethe, Kleist, Wagner or Thomas Mann. He approaches a fundamental myth - the story of Orpheus and Euridice - and bonds it with the biblical episode of Lazarus resurrection. Everything is written in a refined style.
I liked perfume a lot. This wasn't perfume; it was more of a literary/philosophical musing on love and death--pretty narrow in scope. I enjoyed some of the writing. Very quick read.
Nada nuevo nos dice Süskind de la relación entre Eros y Tánatos, pero la manera en que relata el mito de Orfeo y Eurídice bien hace valer la lectura de este panfleto.
Всъщност две звезди и половина, ама няма такава опция. Книгата беше доста безсмислена.
The first half is a rather depressing take on love, supported by many renowned writers quotes. The second about death compares Jesus' way of dealing with death in the ressurrection of Lazarus to the mythical figure of Orpheus and his attitude to losing Euridice. Not favourably towards Jesus, which certainly gave me something to think about!
Un ensayo corto pero muy muy completo de las reflexiones de el amor, como lo vive el humano y como lo conecta con la muerte
Starving for new Suskind. I read this in one sitting. Tied me over for a bit. Some good thoughts and character moments.
Aug 08, 2011
Ryan
added it
A fun little 80-page read on the connection between love (eros) and death (thanatos). This was a wedding gift!
I sympathize with Süskind. Jesus is, indeed, an asshole.
Very interesting a persuasive ideas on love and death!
Absolutely undecided about this book... It´s weird, to say something, but not actually bad... Cynic, for sure, and funny at times, though I´m not sure that was the authors goal. I enjoyed the second part better that the first, the death part, go figure… I guess I´ll re-read it someday soon and form an actual opinion on it.
A very short book of Suskind's musings on love and its relation to death, with some interesting insights for his famous novel Perfume (and possibly some of his others as well - I have yet to read them).
Read the full review on my blog Violin in a Void
Read the full review on my blog Violin in a Void
I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/10298328
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/10298328
3.5 stars
I think the author could have said many more things, I thought the book would end different.
i really enjoyed reading perfume..and this is also engrossing so far.
one of my fav. too
Jun 18, 2013
Eva
marked it as to-read
Jun 13, 2013
Jasmin
marked it as to-read
Jun 11, 2013
Daeron
marked it as to-read
Jun 07, 2013
Brent
added it
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From 1968-1974 he studied medieval and modern history in Munich and Aix-en-Provence. In the '80s he worked as a screenwriter, for Kir Royal and Monaco Franze among others.
After spending the 1970s writing what he has characterized as “short unpublished prose pieces and longer un-produced screenplays”, Patrick Süskind was catapulted to fame in the 1980s by the monodrama Der Kontrabass [The Double B...more
More about Patrick Süskind...
After spending the 1970s writing what he has characterized as “short unpublished prose pieces and longer un-produced screenplays”, Patrick Süskind was catapulted to fame in the 1980s by the monodrama Der Kontrabass [The Double B...more
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“Se pare că fiece individ în parte înțelege iubirea drept ceva care-l privește în modul cel mai personal, ca pe o chestiune de cea mai mare însemnătate pentru existența sa, astfel încât nici măcar astrofizicianului, atunci când i s-au aprins călcâiele, nu-i mai pasă câtuși de puțin de originea universului - darămite de vremea de-afară.”
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