In my opinion the novel serves as an amazing testament to the time and cultural shift of Paris in the mid-nineteenth century. The descriptions of storIn my opinion the novel serves as an amazing testament to the time and cultural shift of Paris in the mid-nineteenth century. The descriptions of stores, luxury, day-to-day work activities and characters who are ambitious and envious to a fault, are super detailed and help the reader to easily visualize the capitalism scenery of the Ladies Paradise.
That being said, even though the setting is portrayed masterfully, along with some well crafted symbolism, the characters and the major ideas that the novel conveys feel undercooked and awkwardly developed at times. The pacing of the novel is often way too wild and unpredictable which damages any sort of bond you might develop with the characters, who are not very likeable to begin with.
All in all, I found the Ladies Paradise a flawed, but enjoyable and thought provoking read that I would certainly recommend to anyone looking to learn more about the state of Paris in the 19th century presented through the eyes of one ever-expanding department store....more
A wonderful novel that draws parallels between a modern group therapy setting and the life of one of the most notable philosophers of 19th century - AA wonderful novel that draws parallels between a modern group therapy setting and the life of one of the most notable philosophers of 19th century - Arthur Schopenhauer.
The ambition of the author really shines throughout the entire story, as he's not afraid to bring light to deep and challenging topics, such as: dealing with death anxiety, searching for the meaning of life, subtle differences between something being unforgivable versus a person being unforgiving and countless others valuable philosophical lessons.
Present day characters and even the cold and distant Arthur Schopenhauer are intimately fleshed out to a degree that we're sad to see their journey come to an end. However, it's interesting to learn the distinction between the Schopenhauer's cure and the cure to the Schopenhauer's cure and how one approach is not necessarily a universal one to all of our internal struggles and dealings with the constant human suffering, as Arthur Schopenhauer was known to pessimistically proclaim.
All in all I would definitely recommend this novel and I'll conclude my review with one of my favourite quotes from it: “The greatest wisdom is to make the enjoyment of the present the supreme object of life because that is the only reality; all else being the play of thought. But it might as well be our greatest folly because that which exists only a moment and vanishes as a dream can never be worth a serious effort.�...more
Vrlo ambiciozan i zanimljiv način pristupanja konstrukciji romana. Ne samo da je usko vezan uz simbole i dešavanja iz Alise u zemlji čuda (koju, sramnVrlo ambiciozan i zanimljiv način pristupanja konstrukciji romana. Ne samo da je usko vezan uz simbole i dešavanja iz Alise u zemlji čuda (koju, sramno, još uvijek nisam pročitao), nego se uzduž svih 200-ak stranica prostiru i brojne aluzije na političku i društvenu situaciju u Bosni i Hercegovini, koja u borbeni kavez stavlja "očuvanu" Saru - osobu koja je svoj (ne) sretni život prebacila u inostranstvo i "škartnu" Le(j)lu, koja ostaje u rodnoj Bosni i Hercegovini i sušta joj je suprotnost.
Međutim, obostrana ljubomora, a možda i zavist, za tuđim bolnim tačkama ih zbliživa i ubrzo postaju nerazdvojne prijateljice. Ovdje je možda i najprikladnije spomenuti i blagu kritiku koju imam na likove - činjenicu da se za mene ni u jednom momentu ne čine dovršeni (ni privlačni, ali ton romana definitivno nije ciljao na to). Pod tim mislim ponajviše da je ispušten potencijal za dodavanje koje dimenzije više liku Sare, koji u 80% navrata tek ispoljava svoj repetitivni kompleks inferiornosti prema liku iz svog naopako okrenutog ogledala. Ti monolozi mi se u dosta navrata čine kao kompleksna mašina za izpucavanje poređenja i metafora, koje će uveliko doprinijeti atmosferi i uz sebe nose dodatne bodove za stil, ali nisu naročito u interesu lika, osuđenog na jednodimenzionalnost do posljednje korice.
Sve u svemu, roman ima pregršt pozitivnih aspekata i u svakom slučaju bih mu se volio vratiti nakon čitanja i detaljnije analize Carrollovog remek djela. Siguran sam da sa sobom donosi krucijalno vezivno tkivo za određene momente koji su mi ostali isuviše izolirani u sjećanju i kada napokon dođu na svoje originalno zamišljeno mjesto, cijenit ću i Lanine zamisli i viziju još jasnije. ...more
Although at times difficult to read and frustratingly bitter, I've still found surprisingly many similarities in the narrator's rather unconventional Although at times difficult to read and frustratingly bitter, I've still found surprisingly many similarities in the narrator's rather unconventional thought process to the ones I've had throughout the years. Luckily mine have remained hidden under the floorboards of time, but I still found the events in the novel (especially the second part) thoroughly fascinating and above all I appreciate the answers it provided to the questions I've left behind me by making better choices in life and gaining a healthier perspective because of it....more
An incredible existential novel, which holds up quite nicely in today's age. I could personally draw a lot of parallels with modern society, in which An incredible existential novel, which holds up quite nicely in today's age. I could personally draw a lot of parallels with modern society, in which a common worker is 'sentenced' to the work that serves no goals or ideals of theirs. He works to live another day and not to build or contribute to something they appreciate or necessarily believe in.
'Roofs of tile, zine, and thatch clustered in black splotches in the center of the undulating terrain, which opened out like a fan before him.
There was a straggling grove of pine, and he could see something that looked like a pond. And just to protect this pitiful bit of geography, more that ten households on the sea side had to submit to a life of slavery.'
And the ending raises an interesting question: despite our beliefs, is it easier to just accept and adapt to our circumstances rather than unsuccessfully fighting against them?
Iako sam se izuzetno radovao čitanju Schindlerovog lifta, pogotovo kad se uzmu u obzir sve pozitivne kritike i nominacije za nagrade, moram priznati dIako sam se izuzetno radovao čitanju Schindlerovog lifta, pogotovo kad se uzmu u obzir sve pozitivne kritike i nominacije za nagrade, moram priznati da knjiga po mom mišljenju pruža jedno vrlo nekonzistentno i nedorečeno iskustvo.
Ima poglavlja, koja na nevjerovatno moćan i kompletan način prikazuju sve tragedije koje rat donosi sa sobom i odlično su kontrastirana sa opisima harmoničnog suživota i prijateljstava između pripadnika radničke klase iz prijeratnog Prijedora.
Međutim, većina tih poglavlja također pati od izuzetno šablonske konstrukcije, za koju se čini da ima jedino za cilj da maksimalno multiplicira tragediju i ne služi nikakvu drugu svrhu osim toga. Svjestan sam naravno da su sva poglavlja blisko povezana i da je u skladu s tim normalno da se određeni likovi i simboli iz ranijih poglavlja pojavljuju u narednim također, međutim to se na momente zna činiti nekonstruktivno i suvišno.
Kad je u pitanju stil, moram pohvaliti Darkovu mogućnost da kaže vrlo mnogo u svega par stranica, koliko poglavlja u prosjeku uglavnom broje. Simbolizam u pričama je također većinski izuzetno vješto urađen, s tim da ni ovaj aspekt romana ne dolazi bez određene repetitivnosti i prigovora s moje strane (prije svega mi nije jasna stilska upotreba 'marke Schindler' kad god bi se spomenuo jedan od liftova iz solitera u bilo kakvom kontekstu).
Sve u svemu, zaključio bih ovu recenziju time što ću reći da sam izuzetno impresioniran koliko je Darko uspio čitaoca ubaciti u mini-svijet svog romana u svega nepunih 100 stranica, ali isto tako sam ostao dijelom razočaran kad sam došao do kraja knjige, jer po mom mišljenju roman gradi priču kojoj nedostaje istinski upečatljiv zaključak....more
I find it amazing how Becky manages to paint such vivid worlds with fewest amount of words imaginable. Not only that, but she also manages to raise anI find it amazing how Becky manages to paint such vivid worlds with fewest amount of words imaginable. Not only that, but she also manages to raise an array of very important questions about climate change, space exploration and life in general.
My only minor gripe with the book is how her characters are a bit stereotypical and felt underdeveloped in the end.
All in all, the book is masterfully written and didactic. I am also a fan of the open ending, which leaves the reader in deep thought long after the book is finished....more
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