book data
893 ratings, 3.96 average rating, 87 reviews
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published
July 15th 2004
by Anagrama
binding
Paperback, 158 pages
isbn
8433920138
(isbn13: 9788433920133)
description
Chance es un gran enigma. El héroe de los medios americanos. La televisión le ama, los periódicos y revistas van tras él. Todos hablan de él, aun...more
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 1119)
Read in August, 2008
You can Google this book and come up with numerous learned and not-so-learned papers discussing it, and this might lead you to think it significant. You might be swayed by people who call it a postmodern masterpiece or an existential gem, or by the fact that it was made into a film. But look at Kosinski's prose: this particular emperor is stark naked. In short, this novel has a good premise and is full of good ideas, amateur in their execution.
A back-of-the-book puff piece in my copy cites &...more
A back-of-the-book puff piece in my copy cites &...more
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Read in September, 2008
It's interesting that I've picked up and read this story right now in view of McCain's selection of Palin, a virtual unknown, and her rapid escallation to the front page of the country's newspapers. That's almost exactly what occurred to Chance, the name of a man who had served without pay as a wealthy man's gardener until he suddenly found himself without a job or a family when the man died. While roaming the streets deciding what to next, a chauffeur backing into a parking place, pinned his ...more
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Kosinski was one of my instructors in college. He taught a seminar on Camus and Sartre.
I remember he said, "The only moment of true freedom I ever experience was on airplane suspended between the two collectives."
The movie version was excellent but with much of the thematic weight of the book missing. And it's not that the book is too voluminous. That part is just unfilmable.
I remember he said, "The only moment of true freedom I ever experience was on airplane suspended between the two collectives."
The movie version was excellent but with much of the thematic weight of the book missing. And it's not that the book is too voluminous. That part is just unfilmable.
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Read in December, 2008
recommended to Shana by:
John
Chance the gardener - recently, Obama was compared to Chance. So, we read Being There to get the scoop. Truly, an interesting commentary on this year's election, although it was written in 1970.
A light, quick read, it nonetheless is scathing commentary on the fickleness of the public.....
Chance is a middle-aged gardner that has been kept hidden in a wealthy man's home for his entire life. When the old man dies, Chance is forced into the world. He is hit by a car, and moves into the...more
A light, quick read, it nonetheless is scathing commentary on the fickleness of the public.....
Chance is a middle-aged gardner that has been kept hidden in a wealthy man's home for his entire life. When the old man dies, Chance is forced into the world. He is hit by a car, and moves into the...more
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Hilarious! If not a bit awkward.
This book is about a man who had never (not even once) stepped outside his house and garden until he is thrust into the big, wide world due to a circumstance that was beyond his control. What happens next is very funny and insightful. His innocence and ignorance come off as brilliance to those around him. I found myself laughing out loud at times... but there are other places where the meaning of what the author is truly (in my opinion) trying to say shine th...more
This book is about a man who had never (not even once) stepped outside his house and garden until he is thrust into the big, wide world due to a circumstance that was beyond his control. What happens next is very funny and insightful. His innocence and ignorance come off as brilliance to those around him. I found myself laughing out loud at times... but there are other places where the meaning of what the author is truly (in my opinion) trying to say shine th...more
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I don't care if he stole the idea. This is one of my favorite books.
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Read in February, 2008
recommended to Lil2bizzy01 by:
Jim Harrisrecommends it for: someone who doesn't like to read
I was a bit hesitant to read this book, due to its description as a satire. I have always avoided satires because of my lack or knowledge.
I know, I know. I have a degree in English. However, there was a lot I was not exposed to before and throughout college, satires being included.
This book was extremely easy to read. There was no complexity to the language, although there was much complexity to the characters. Again, because this is a satire, there were many references that I think I ...more
I know, I know. I have a degree in English. However, there was a lot I was not exposed to before and throughout college, satires being included.
This book was extremely easy to read. There was no complexity to the language, although there was much complexity to the characters. Again, because this is a satire, there were many references that I think I ...more
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Read in May, 2007
recommends it for:
lovers of irony
A strange, but somehow plausible, premise of non-identity in the official governmental sense. A simple man whose entire life is spent cloistered away from the world is thrust into it at the death of his benefactor, who essentially employs him as a gardener. His only experience with the outside world is through watching television. Through a series of curious events he is brought to international attention as a wise and insightful person. Chance, the main character, however is not really aware of...more
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Read in March, 2004
What a strange little book. The story of Chance, the illegitimate son of the "old man", who was never allowed out of his rooms or the ajoining garden. His only activity in life is gardening and watching TV. Chance is incapable of reading or writing and turns out to be impotent as well. When the old man dies the house is sealed and since there is no documentation of Chance's existence he is put out. Within minutes of walking away from the house he is hit by a passing car. The woma...more
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Read in January, 2001
This book is simple, and really doesn't need to have too many words to be profound. The same can be said of sweet, simple-minded Chauncy Gardiner, the main character. At first, I wasn't sure whether he was sane or insane. I quickly surmised that he was, at the very least, more sane than Yours Truly. It was a total treat to read his reactions to the 'normal', sophisticated, cosmopolitan people he interacted with. I was reminded that sometimes we CAN just look at the flowers, or even the TV, witho...more
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Reading an op-ed piece last week that referred to Obama as Chance the gardener. Didn't know what that meant. After checking Wikipedia, I learned that Chance was the character in Being There (played in movie version by Peter Sellars). Very quick read - 148 pp, big type! Nice for slow, methodical readers like myself.
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Read in January, 2005
Book Description
A modern classic now available from Grove Press, Being There is one of the most popular and significant works from a writer of international stature. It is the story of Chauncey Gardiner - Chance, an enigmatic but distinguished man who emerges from nowhere to become an heir to the throne of a Wall Street tycoon, a presidential policy adviser, and a media icon. Truly "a man without qualities," Chance's straightforward responses to popular concerns are heralded as visio...more
A modern classic now available from Grove Press, Being There is one of the most popular and significant works from a writer of international stature. It is the story of Chauncey Gardiner - Chance, an enigmatic but distinguished man who emerges from nowhere to become an heir to the throne of a Wall Street tycoon, a presidential policy adviser, and a media icon. Truly "a man without qualities," Chance's straightforward responses to popular concerns are heralded as visio...more
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Read in January, 2009
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
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Read in January, 2007
This is a great stand-alone novella. The content is not as gritty as “The Devil Tree,” but the character exploration is fascinating. Chance is effectively a child. He grew up completely sheltered from the outside world in a servant’s position, illiterate, and TV is his primary passion, and he parrots the simple wisdom others have spoken to him. Like Forrest Gump, with harsher life experiences set against the backdrop of the upper crust high life. From a writing prospective this book i...more
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Kosinski gives Chance particular importance in the distance between book and movie. As usual, the book is better but you get more from ol' Jerzy in the movie. For all you phenomenologists out there.
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The book is too thin, fortunately it was perfect for the movies; and the movie is brilliant. Watch the movie; the book adds nothing to the experience.
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this is an amazing book. and really short too. written in the 80's and still holds up. lots of great quotes in here.
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Read in December, 2008
It was ok. Readable. Doesn't really end. I'm guessing that's what Jerzy wants from you.
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Read in May, 1994
Stark, clear, scathing, frightening. This book is powerful, and short. Despite its brevity and the fluidity of the language you can take as much time as like reading it. In retrospect it still seems like a longer work in my mind. I can see the scenes as if taken from a true life I have witnessed - distinct from the film.
This book pokes at America's soft underbelly - our susceptability to mass media. The main character is a joking testament to the power of television - as if proclaiming "...more
This book pokes at America's soft underbelly - our susceptability to mass media. The main character is a joking testament to the power of television - as if proclaiming "...more
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