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The Book of Disquiet
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Readalongs > The Book of Disquiet by Fernando Pessoa (Gill and others)

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message 1: by Gill (last edited Oct 12, 2016 04:48AM) (new) - rated it 2 stars

Gill | 5719 comments I'm starting The Book of Disquiet on October 26th. Please do join me if you'd like to.


message 2: by LauraT (new) - added it

LauraT (laurata) | 14293 comments Mod
I think I may be starting it about the same day!


Gill | 5719 comments That's good, Laura. Gosh, we'll be able to talk about it in person!


message 4: by Annie (new)

Annie (anniecholewa) | 80 comments I'm new to the group. Have been meaning to read this one for a while. Would it be okay if I join in?


Gill | 5719 comments Of course. Annie. That would be lovely. I think Johanna is reading with us as well.


message 6: by Johanna (new) - added it

Johanna | 130 comments Yes I am and excited about it!


message 7: by LauraT (new) - added it

LauraT (laurata) | 14293 comments Mod
Gill wrote: "That's good, Laura. Gosh, we'll be able to talk about it in person!"

YES!!!!


message 8: by Annie (new)

Annie (anniecholewa) | 80 comments I'm just wondering if anyone one else has more than one edition/translation of this ... I'm fascinated by the differences between the two I have, The Book of Disquiet and The Book of Disquiet, and that's before I properly start to read them.


Gill | 5719 comments Annie, I hadn't realised these were 2 different versions, and of such differing lengths. How interesting. I just bought the one that was cheaper for my kindle! It's this one:

The Book of Disquiet

I'll be starting reading this later today.


message 10: by Gill (last edited Oct 28, 2016 04:31AM) (new) - rated it 2 stars

Gill | 5719 comments I'm enjoying reading this. I hadn't realised that it was made up of lots of small segments, but they hold together pretty well.

There's lots for me to think about as I go along
E.g. (view spoiler)

I loved the bit where he was talking about how his life is like the children's game of cats cradle.


message 11: by LauraT (new) - added it

LauraT (laurata) | 14293 comments Mod
Started today and finding it reallyinteresting, even if a bit too ...Fragmented!!!


message 12: by Gill (new) - rated it 2 stars

Gill | 5719 comments Certainly fragmented, Laura. At times there is such an overwhelming feeling of sadness in this writing.

I know that Pessoa thought that Soares was his heteronym that was most like himself, and I think that comes through in the writing.

Some sections are so evocative, like the ones about autumn, and also about moonlight.


message 13: by LauraT (new) - added it

LauraT (laurata) | 14293 comments Mod
Gill wrote: "Certainly fragmented, Laura. At times there is such an overwhelming feeling of sadness in this writing.

I know that Pessoa thought that Soares was his heteronym that was most like himself, and I ..."


Terribly sad!
And definitly I think it was written in Pessoa's name.


message 14: by Johanna (new) - added it

Johanna | 130 comments Hello Gill, Laura & Annie! I just finished Mishima's Temple of Dawn and I'[m starting on the Book of Disquiet! Look forward to discussing!


message 15: by Gill (new) - rated it 2 stars

Gill | 5719 comments Looking forward to it also. I'm about half way through, and finding it a bit of a slog. Hopefully discussing it with you will give me a bit of inspiration, Johanna!


message 16: by Gill (new) - rated it 2 stars

Gill | 5719 comments Here's a link to the discussion we had about Pessoa, when he was our seasonal poet a couple of years ago:

/topic/show/...

I think I'm going to re-read the discussion before I carry on with the book.


message 17: by Annie (new)

Annie (anniecholewa) | 80 comments I'm taking it slowly here, dipping in and out inbetween other reading. I'm finding it too melancholic for a sustained attack.


message 18: by Gill (new) - rated it 2 stars

Gill | 5719 comments I'm halfway through and have decided not to continue with this one. Sorry about that. I'm not finding it an easy read.


message 19: by Johanna (new) - added it

Johanna | 130 comments It's a tough book to like. Not sure why so many people rave about it. Maybe because it sounds so profound? I'm thinking that it's probably best to read it bit by bit, in between other books, like Annie is doing.

You are such an intrepid and assiduous reader Gill, that seeing you abandon the book says a lot about it and is a black mark against Pessoa!

Let me know when you want to read Requiem for a Nun. :)


message 20: by LauraT (new) - added it

LauraT (laurata) | 14293 comments Mod
Gill wrote: "I'm halfway through and have decided not to continue with this one. Sorry about that. I'm not finding it an easy read."

Easy Read? It is noe of the most difficoult book I've gone through! As I told before it is too disconnected: some interesting thoughts, but jumping up and down ...


message 21: by Johanna (new) - added it

Johanna | 130 comments There are entire sentences I don't understand what he is trying to say. Obscure, convoluted philosophical musings...


message 22: by Gill (new) - rated it 2 stars

Gill | 5719 comments I was in Lisbon yesterday, where I met up with Fernando Pessoa.

We had our photo taken together:




message 23: by LauraT (new) - added it

LauraT (laurata) | 14293 comments Mod
LOL!


message 24: by Johanna (new) - added it

Johanna | 130 comments Ha ha ha Gill! That is fabulous!


message 25: by Gill (new) - rated it 2 stars

Gill | 5719 comments Having been to Lisbon, I'm feeling more inclined to continue with this. But I think I'll be doing it in small sections. I reckon, if Pessoa wrote it in small sections there's no need for me to read it all at one go. My aim now is to finish it by early next year. Surely that must be achievable!

The beginning of December is probably best for me for Requiem, Johanna, with the provisos that a/ I need to get a copy b/ I want to finish Becoming Faulkner: The Art and Life of William Faulkner first.


message 26: by Johanna (new) - added it

Johanna | 130 comments I hope you had a wonderful time in Lisbon! How long were you there?

Good to hear that you'll Disquiet another shot. I'm at around page 60 and sufficiently intrigued to continue in small amounts.

Take you time reading Becoming Faulkner and when you're ready, I'll definitely join you on Requiem.


message 27: by Gill (new) - rated it 2 stars

Gill | 5719 comments We were on a cruise, so just there for one day.


message 28: by Johanna (new) - added it

Johanna | 130 comments Oh how lovely! Enjoy the rest of your trip!


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