Blindness - Buddy Read Discussion

[Kelly_Hunsaker_reads]

Hi -- A place to discuss the book we have chosen for our first buddy read!

[Celia]

I have read 25 pages. Not exactly the book I was hoping for.

Do either of you read science fiction? I do not read much.

Saramago (or the translator!!) uses commas to finish statements, not ; or . Makes it hard to follow the thoughts.

[Dawn Michelle]

Celia wrote: "I have read 25 pages. Not exactly the book I was hoping for.

Do either of you read science fiction? I do not read much.

Saramago (or the translator!!) uses commas to finish statements, not ; or..."

Science Fiction is my least favorite genre. I just finished at 500+ sci fi book for book club and am totally sci fi'ed out.
THAT said, this doesn't feel sci fi to me, it feels dystopian and so far, I am not hating it. I am willing to hang on for a little bit longer to see where it goes. The premise is very intriguing.
My rule is 100 pages before I quit and I am at 37. So again, I am willing to keep plugging along to see how it goes. I am not crazy about the narrator [I had this same narrator for another translated book I read earlier this year and I wasn't crazy about him them either], but he isn't hideous so there is that.

[Dawn Michelle]

Okay - so I know that Celia and I are both not crazy about this book [not sure about you Kelly] so I have an idea [depending on whether or not you all can get this book, I already own it]. He has another book called "The Elephant's Journey" that is actually SET in Portugal and seems more fitting for a RAtW category [for Portugal] that Blindness is. Do we just want to switch to that since none of us are very far into Blindness? Let me know - I am totally good with switching!!

Here is the link to the book on Amazon so you can see what it is about.

http://a.co/d/d6kzFJT

[Celia]

I will read Blindness at least to page 100. But I have reserved The Elephant's Journey and will read that too. Thanks Dawn Michelle. You and Kelly both are treasures to me. Kelly looking forward to your thoughts on Blindness

[Dawn Michelle]

Celia wrote: "I will read Blindness at least to page 100. But I have reserved The Elephant's Journey and will read that too. Thanks Dawn Michelle. You and Kelly both are treasures to me. Kelly looking forward to..."

I was listening today and I am just not sure I can continue that far. Of course it could be because I have a wicked headache and nothing sounds good to me. I will try and listen later. :-)

[Kelly_Hunsaker_reads]

I'm sorry... I slept ALL day. I haven't started. I promise to read some tonight and let you know. I couldn't find an audio version... where did you get that Dawn Michelle? I am open to The other book as well though I cannot buy it until the middle of next week as I am broke.

[Dawn Michelle]

Kelly wrote: "I'm sorry... I slept ALL day. I haven't started. I promise to read some tonight and let you know. I couldn't find an audio version... where did you get that Dawn Michelle? I am open to The other bo..."

I got the audio through Hoopla which is through my library. Most library systems support Hoopla. If you have gotten that other library card, you can go to Hoopla.com and set up an account with that card.

Check with the libraries about the Elephant book too.

I listened a little more today and am not into Blindness at all but I will try and continue if you all are going to.

[Kelly_Hunsaker_reads]

Dawn Michelle wrote: "Kelly wrote: "I'm sorry... I slept ALL day. I haven't started. I promise to read some tonight and let you know. I couldn't find an audio version... where did you get that Dawn Michelle? I am open t..."

Oh, my library doesnt have Hoopla -- only Overdrive which isn't as good in my opinion. The Denver library that you found for me also supports Overdrive... I dont think it supports Hoopla either but I will have to check that again.

[Dawn Michelle]

I would be surprised if the Denver library doesn't support Hoopla; my local library has OverDrive, but not Hoopla, but Carnegie and Philly both support Hoopla and it really has been a boon.
I sure hope that Denver does.
OverDrive has been awesome for me - SO many options available that way.

[Kelly_Hunsaker_reads]

Dawn Michelle wrote: "I would be surprised if the Denver library doesn't support Hoopla; my local library has OverDrive, but not Hoopla, but Carnegie and Philly both support Hoopla and it really has been a boon.
I sure..."

I will have to call them and ask, but it doesnt look like they do support Hoopla. However, I searched many books on Overdrive on both libraries and they have many, many that my local one doesn't. I guess I thought if it was on Overdrive it would be the same -- that all libraries would have access to all Overdrive books. But I was wrong.

[Kelly_Hunsaker_reads]

I am on Page 77 and enjoying it quite a lot actually.

For me the key to books like this is to listen and read both at the same time. If I were just reading I would have quit long ago due to the inability to follow the conversation. Celia, does your library have Overdrive. Maybe to check for the audio version and start listening but follow along on Kindle.

Dawn Michelle, you already have audio. Do you simply dislike the story or is there something specific bothering you?

[Kelly_Hunsaker_reads]

OK, I am definitely going to read this one all the way through. It has made me think! I see it as such a symbolic story of humanity and the evil ways we can act.

I would hate it if I were trying to just read it without the audio to help though! Man the lack of punctuation -- the inability to know who is speaking would drive me crazy! But having the narrator distinguish voices is so good.

I am at page 150

[Celia]

I am on page 42. I looked into the audible and it is too much to spend and not enough to use a credit. I will soldier on with just reading. Now that I know you like it, it makes me like it a bit more too. Blindness in this book is more a psychological blindness than a physical one. Makes me ask myself what I am BLIND to. The nature of some humans to be mean and cruel is evident in this book too. I've read about the book so know a lot that is going to happen, but I will not spoil!!

[Kelly_Hunsaker_reads]

I love your comment about psychological blindness. I go into books blind so each thing that has happened came as a surprise to me -- though I predicted some of it due to my views on human nature in situations like this one. I haven't read any more today as we had our Thanksgiving today. My young people both work the rest of the week.

[Kelly_Hunsaker_reads]

I finished. I will not say anything that could be a spoiler. And I am anxious to hear your thoughts. I do have two thoughts I can share right now.

1. I really liked the naming convention he used. "first blind man" "boy with a squint" etc. I felt it added the feeling of blindness -- the removal of personality and identification. I thought I would hate it but I found it extremely effective.

2. I didn't like the last few pages. But I cannot thing of a better ending. I really want to talk this over with you when you get there.

[Celia]

Kelly wrote: "I finished. I will not say anything that could be a spoiler. And I am anxious to hear your thoughts. I do have two thoughts I can share right now.

1. I really liked the naming convention he used. ..."
I am so happy to read your comments about character names -very insightful - you are not blind!!

I am on p 63 - actually liking it a bit better now. So glad you like the book. It is so much easier to appreciate a book when there is sharing.

I will read some right now.

Happy Thanksgiving.

[Celia]

I am about 40% complete. I really am enjoying it Kelly. I am reading about it on this web site:

https://www.gradesaver.com/blindness

If you want I can tell you what jumped out at me as I read these pages. We can talk about ANYTHING you want.

There are also some discussion questions on this site

http://www.litlovers.com/reading-guid...

Just reading the discussion questions gives insight into the book.

Look at the questions and let me know if you want to pursue any.

[Celia]

Here is something that spoke to me . What about life do you take for granted? If you were blind you would not even realize that you were taking it for granted. In the quarantine, food is a problem. Also hygiene.
The man with the eye patch brought a lot to the group... a radio for instance and the opthalmologist's wife could reset her watch.

SOOOO much here. Thanks for reading this with me.

[Kelly_Hunsaker_reads]

Celia wrote: "Here is something that spoke to me . What about life do you take for granted? If you were blind you would not even realize that you were taking it for granted. In the quarantine, food is a problem...."

It is one of the most insightful books I have read! Your points about taking life for granted are exactly what I kept thinking about.

Toilet paper. Modern plumbing. Food and drinking water. Seeing the faces of those I trust. Towels and cloths for cleaning. Bandages!

[Kelly_Hunsaker_reads]

I am going to look over those sites tonight and tomorrow. I am sure I missed a lot. I always do.


When we finish, would you like to Buddy Read No Man in the House? I own a paperback and will definitely be slower at that.

[Celia]

No Man in the House - absolutely. How about December?? My street address is Barbados!!

[Kelly_Hunsaker_reads]

Celia wrote: "No Man in the House - absolutely. How about December?? My street address is Barbados!!"

Celia wrote: "No Man in the House - absolutely. How about December?? My street address is Barbados!!"

December is perfect!

[Celia]

I am complete with Blindness and wrote my review. Do you have anything you want to discuss. I'm fine if you are. And also fine to discuss more.

[Kelly_Hunsaker_reads]

I think I am good, unless you picked up on more that you hadn't shared yet... because I got a lot out of the points you already made.

Ready to begin No Man in the House?

[Kelly_Hunsaker_reads]

Oh, but how did you feel about the ending?

[Celia]

Kelly wrote: "I think I am good, unless you picked up on more that you hadn't shared yet... because I got a lot out of the points you already made.

Ready to begin No Man in the House?"
Yes but want to take it slow.
28-35 pages per day would be OK with me. There are 29 chapters. That's about 3 chapters today.

[Celia]

Kelly wrote: "Oh, but how did you feel about the ending?"

I thought the ending was quite good because

it did sum up the book and not leave the reader hanging.
it implied that lessons were learned from the blindness so now sight could be regained.

I liked too that the man with eye patch and the girl in dark glasses hooked up. Didn't they make a family unit with the boy with the squint?

If you have the time read this last explanation of the ending. Lots of insight here:

https://www.gradesaver.com/blindness/...

I thought the book to be very clever because Saramago allowed for one sighted person. She is really the main protagonist. The story revolves around her. She worries that she will lose her sight now that her 'work' is over. But it seems she does maintain it.

[Kelly_Hunsaker_reads]

Celia wrote: "Kelly wrote: "I think I am good, unless you picked up on more that you hadn't shared yet... because I got a lot out of the points you already made.

Ready to begin No Man in the House?"
Yes but wan..."

Slow is good for me as I cannot get this one on audio. I will aim for 3 chapters tonight.

[Kelly_Hunsaker_reads]

Celia wrote: "Kelly wrote: "Oh, but how did you feel about the ending?"

I thought the ending was quite good because

it did sum up the book and not leave the reader hanging.
it implied that lessons were learned..."

Thanks for sharing your thoughts -- and the link -- on the ending. I get it more now. Yes, I loved that little family unit! I really wondered what became of this little group after...