1magruderjc
Hello, all! I am new to Library Thing and can't wait to see if anyone here has read The Invention of Morel by Adolfo Bioy Casares. In my opinion, it is a book you must read a few times to truly enjoy - the first read is a bit abstruse, while the second read explains more by implication and omission. Kind of like the negative space on a painting.
Here's a quick blurb in case anyone is curious about this book:
"The Invention of Morel is a 1940 novel by Argentine writer Adolfo Bioy Casares. It blends science fiction and philosophical themes, centering on a fugitive who hides on a mysterious, seemingly deserted island. He discovers a strange group of people who repeatedly enact the same events, unaware of his presence. The fugitive learns these occurrences are recordings created by a machine invented by Morel, the island’s creator, allowing these "guests" to relive moments indefinitely. The story explores themes of immortality, love, reality, and isolation."
Here's a quick blurb in case anyone is curious about this book:
"The Invention of Morel is a 1940 novel by Argentine writer Adolfo Bioy Casares. It blends science fiction and philosophical themes, centering on a fugitive who hides on a mysterious, seemingly deserted island. He discovers a strange group of people who repeatedly enact the same events, unaware of his presence. The fugitive learns these occurrences are recordings created by a machine invented by Morel, the island’s creator, allowing these "guests" to relive moments indefinitely. The story explores themes of immortality, love, reality, and isolation."
2paradoxosalpha
My review is on the reviews and work pages for The Invention of Morel. I liked it, and compared it to Umberto Eco's The Island of the Day Before.
3lilithcat
>1 magruderjc:
I have. A fascinating work.
Did you know there's an opera based on it? I saw it several years ago when it was produced by the Chicago Opera Theater: https://www.chicagotribune.com/2017/02/19/review-from-stewart-copeland-invention...
I have. A fascinating work.
Did you know there's an opera based on it? I saw it several years ago when it was produced by the Chicago Opera Theater: https://www.chicagotribune.com/2017/02/19/review-from-stewart-copeland-invention...
4lilithcat
>2 paradoxosalpha:
A direct link to your review: https://www.librarything.com/work/99085/reviews/240270968
A direct link to your review: https://www.librarything.com/work/99085/reviews/240270968
5magruderjc
>3 lilithcat: No way!! That is so cool! I can see how easily this work could adapt to a stage format.
6AndreasJ
My review is there to, though it may be limited use unless you intend to read the same Swedish translation I did.
It's a good book, though I tend to mentally file it as sf rather than weird.
It's a good book, though I tend to mentally file it as sf rather than weird.
7pgmcc
>2 paradoxosalpha:
I am a great fan of Eco's works, but I bounced off The Island of the Day Before. That may be because I read it immediately after having read Longitude which was a factual account of finding a solution to determining longitude. If I find myself with spare time, which is unlikely with over 1,000 unread books around me, I might give it another go.
The Invention of Morel does sound interesting.
I am a great fan of Eco's works, but I bounced off The Island of the Day Before. That may be because I read it immediately after having read Longitude which was a factual account of finding a solution to determining longitude. If I find myself with spare time, which is unlikely with over 1,000 unread books around me, I might give it another go.
The Invention of Morel does sound interesting.
8paradoxosalpha
>7 pgmcc:
I totally sympathize with readers who get deflected from The Island of the Day Before. It has a rhetorical ductus that is positively head-spinning. But I ultimately found it worth the trouble.
I totally sympathize with readers who get deflected from The Island of the Day Before. It has a rhetorical ductus that is positively head-spinning. But I ultimately found it worth the trouble.
