The Library of Babel - with spoilers

[Traveller]

On second thought, this text is probably not a good one one to start Borges off with - it's startling in its apparent lack of an actual plotline and of, well, - a story.

But it is probably one of his most pervasively referenced stories - one can spend hours and hours looking up cultural reactions and replies and references to this Borges text. :)

[Cecily]

mark wrote: "I also remember particularly liking Garden of Forking Paths and Death and the Compass. I'm looking forward to gauging the difference in my reactions for the latter two, if there is any."

The Garden is next up, probably Monday evening GMT. Death and the Compass is a bit different, but very good - and with an amusingly convoluted opening sentence.

[Cecily]

Rand wrote: "Borges is listed as a member of the advisory board of the Interstitial Library."

What a wonderful concept. One of the great things about JLB is what his works inspire people to do.

I notice that the Interstitial Library does not have a Wikipedia page. Maybe the very concept is interstitial?

[Cecily]

Traveller wrote: "On second thought, this text is probably not a good one one to start Borges off with..."

I'm not sure. It's quite disorienting, particularly for someone unfamiliar with JLB, but on the other hand, it gives a strong taste of what his works are like. It was one of the first half dozen I read. I had to reread it to get a handle on it, but it made me want to do so.