The Double: A Novel

by José Saramago

He still has three videos left from yesterday, which represent at least four and a half hours’ viewing, and, along with whatever else he brings back from the shop, it promises to be an unforgettable weekend, a cinematic blowout if ever there was one, a real button-buster as country people used to say.

You can keep your violent tendencies for later, but just for your own good, I should tell you that I know enough karate to be able to knock you down in five seconds, admittedly, I’ve rather neglected my training lately, but I’m more than a match for someone like you, just because we’re identical and have the same-size penis doesn’t mean we’re equal in strength,