Play Book Tag discussion
January 2017: Foreign Literature
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Multiple Choice by Alejandro Zambra
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I definitely will be adding this to my TBR, but I want to brush up on my Chilean knowledge first. I know some of its history, but your comment makes me think I need to fill in the blanks (pun absolutely intended).
Sounds like an interesting format for a book. I'm still having trouble wrapping my head around how there is that much politics and plot when it's only written in multiple choice questions. Sounds a little 'out there' for me.
Joi wrote: "Sounds like an interesting format for a book. I'm still having trouble wrapping my head around how there is that much politics and plot when it's only written in multiple choice questions. Sounds a..."I'll copy an example, from the beginning where the questions are shorter:
54.
You were a bad son, but _____.
You were a bad father, but ____.
You are alone, but ____.
A)
you're happy
you're happy
you're happy
B)
it's so hard to be a son
it's so hard to be a father
we are all alone
C)
a good soldier
a good Christian
Jesus is with you
D)
your backhand is amazing
you lent me sixty bucks
man, you have a good time
E)
your father died so long ago
your son died so long ago
you want to be alone
Oh man- prompting questions and inquisitive and prompting answers.I don't think this book is for me!
By Alejandro Zambra
4 stars
The cover displays a multiple choice answer set of “Fiction”, “Nonfiction”, “Poetry”, “All of the above”, and “None of the above”. Every answer is true for this book.
The book is set up as a standardized test. Sentences need to be filled in, lists need to be organized, stories need to be read and comprehended, with all of the multiple choice “answers” changing or embellishing the “question” presented. It is personal, political, humorous, melancholic, nostalgic, honest… so short but full of emotion.
If the reader knows about the past and present of Chile I’m sure this is a 5 star book. Unfortunately I know nothing but its geographical location. The format is light on description, heavy on contemplation so many of the political issues were hard to follow. There are also some father-son issues and romantic entanglements that didn’t speak to me. There are high points and low points, like any poetry or short story collection, but I enthusiastically recommend this book to anyone.