book data
140 ratings, 3.24 average rating, 28 reviews
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published
April 7th 2003
by Faber and Faber
binding
Paperback, 352 pages
isbn
0571219764
(isbn13: 9780571219766)
description
A modern-day Orlando -- edgy, funny and startlingly honest -- Self is the fictional autobiography of a young writer and traveller who fi...more
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 252)
Read in July, 2008
It is SO HARD FOR ME TO LIKE THIS BOOK. It's like somebody told Yann Martel: "You know what's really hot in contemporary lit right now? Poetry, transgender issues, and made-up memoirs. YOU should write one."
People read autobiographies because the personalities behind them have led fascinating, meaningful existences. If you're going to MAKE UP an autobiography, you have the opportunity to magically create some of that aforementioned fascinating-ness: "There, have some meaning!...more
People read autobiographies because the personalities behind them have led fascinating, meaningful existences. If you're going to MAKE UP an autobiography, you have the opportunity to magically create some of that aforementioned fascinating-ness: "There, have some meaning!...more
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Read in August, 2008
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
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Read in April, 2008
Er, it seems that I am one of the only people on goodreads that loved this book. And love it I did. I couldn't put it down. I enjoyed every aspect of it, from the fluidity of gender, to the beauty of involving different languages, to the pain and bliss of love, sexual awakening and travel. It was a rollicking good read. I felt like I actually knew the narrator inside and out, which is something that I've found lacking in a lot of the books that I have read recently.
The rape scene at the end...more
The rape scene at the end...more
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it's one of those books that you feel like you're long time friends with the character, who's hiding nothing from you. very personal and emotional, it surprised me time and again. being really bold in some descriptions. funny at times but also dramatic and sad.
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recommends it for:
people who don't read all the way to the end
For the first five-sixths of this novel I was thinking, "Ohmigod this is the platonic ideal for novels. This is hands down the best book I have ever read." It's a faux-memoir about a person who magically and for no apparent reason fluctuates between gender, which is bizarre yet totally fascinating, and the language and storytelling are utter rhapsody.
And then, at the five-sixths point the WORST POSSIBLE THING HAPPENED: It turned into a concrete poem. About rape. Yann Martel, why di...more
And then, at the five-sixths point the WORST POSSIBLE THING HAPPENED: It turned into a concrete poem. About rape. Yann Martel, why di...more
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Read in January, 2008
I'd read 'Life of Pi' a few years ago, so when this book came to me as a birthday gift I was excited to read another book by Yann Martel. It took me a few pages to get used to the writing style presented here - a mix of flashbacks and future shots and short bits that didn't make much sense at the moment. After the first 20 pages or so, I could barely put it down and fell in love with the style. A great book, though some of the events are a bit mystifying and other ones downright tragic and he...more
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Read in August, 2008
okay, so when i started out reading this book, i had some good hopes for it. i laughed out loud a few times. and there was some great imagery in the description of our eyes being pools with fish in them. beautiful words, really. and then, i just kept getting lost in descriptions that i didn't care about at all-- that weren't even ideal to telling the story (whatever story it was). toward the middle and through to the end it just became cumbersome. i basically MADE myself finish it because i was ...more
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Read in August, 2003
recommends it for:
no one
This is by far the worst book I have ever read. I believe that I frequently threw it across the room while reading it, which is a testament to my stubborness because I still finished it.
The main character of the book has an interesting history, but everything becomes convoluted when he changes sexes in the middle of the book (not through a sex change: the character unexplainably becomes a woman). The writing is strong and paints beautiful pictures, but the plot was too twisted for me to enjoy.
The main character of the book has an interesting history, but everything becomes convoluted when he changes sexes in the middle of the book (not through a sex change: the character unexplainably becomes a woman). The writing is strong and paints beautiful pictures, but the plot was too twisted for me to enjoy.
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Has a copy to sell/swap
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Read in January, 2005
recommends it for:
no one
coming off of life of pi, i had high expectations. i saw potential in the opening pages, in the play with gender identity, but it wasn't long before it fell flat. and i mean FLAT. remember in life of pi, when you're lost at sea convinced you'll never be found and drenched in boredom, excruciating boredom? well, that happens here too only without all the confidence that a couple hundred pages of compelling fiction can give you.
i say skip it. or read it and prove me wrong.
i say skip it. or read it and prove me wrong.
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Read in March, 2008
Maybe I missed something. Like how this book is good. AFter reading his other stuff, I figured it would definitely be cool. And even as I read, I kept hoping things would make sense soon. But this book is nuts :) It kept me reading, but I can't really say I like it. The last thing I thought as I finished the book was "What the F*!@"
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Read in January, 2007
If you've read Life of Pi and are thinking that his other work will be just as good be careful!
This is somewhat of a copycat of Orlando by Virginia Woolf but cops out of explaining the gender chance too much by killing off everyone in the protagonist's life...a little disapointing and completely different from Life of Pi in style.
This is somewhat of a copycat of Orlando by Virginia Woolf but cops out of explaining the gender chance too much by killing off everyone in the protagonist's life...a little disapointing and completely different from Life of Pi in style.
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Read in July, 2004
Did the unthinkable, and purchased a bootleg copy while roaming about in Vietnam. After reading, I gave it away..which says a lot- i am a consummate book collector (even travelling I might hang into a good book...). Wasn't horrible, just not really good and certainly not great.
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switching from third person to first person voice halfway through the book, having one character seemingly change gender halfway through a scene, lot's of bizarre spacing.
i am apparently not crazy enough to understand what the hell is going on.
i am apparently not crazy enough to understand what the hell is going on.
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Read in July, 2007
Didn't enjoy as much as his novels. Strange semi-autobiographical where the author does a bit of an Orlando midway. Like the use of typography and layout to describe mood though some peeps might find this irritating and slightly pretentious.
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I read this a long time ago, before Martel was famous and I enjoyed it. It's a difficult read in the sense that time and point of view are very flexible, not to mention that the plot is a bit cloudy.
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Weird and difficult at times. Addresses issues of gender and self (see title). Certainly not for everyone but if you are willing to read something weird and different and kinda good but not great...
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recommends it for:
people who like strange Can Lit
As is typical of most Canadian fiction, this is a strange strange book. Yet it intrigued me and kept me reading. For that, I am appreciative. Would I recommend it? The jury is still out on that one.
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Read in August, 2007
Not as good as I had hoped. It tended to waffle, and I felt Martel was trying to be quirky for quirks sake. A clear first novel, he has improved immensely with later books.
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I loved this book! Any book that is so thoughtful AND starts out with a story about poop is sure to be a winner. And this book has both of those qualities, plus more.
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Loved "Life of Pi". Martel derived this book from "Orlando", which I read ages ago. I found a copy in the Halifax airport, so I decided to give it a try.
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quotes from this book
"If we, citizens, do not support our artists, then we sacrifice our imagination on the altar of crude reality and we end up believing in nothing and having worthless dreams."
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