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Silk

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When an epidemic threatens to destroy the silk trade in France, the young merchant Herve Joncour leaves his doting wife and his comfortable home in the small town of Lavilledieu and travels across Siberia to the other end of the world, to Japan, to obtain eggs for a fresh breeding of silk worms. It is the 1860s; Japan is closed to foreigners and this has to be a clandestine operation. During his undercover negotiations with the local baron, Joncour's attention is arrested by the man's concubine, a girl who does not have Oriental eyes. Although the young Frenchman and the girl are unable to exchange so much as a word, love blossoms between them, conveyed by a number of recondite messages in the course of four visits the Frenchman pays to Japan. How their secret affair develops and how it unfolds is told in a narration as beautiful, smooth and seamless as a piece of the finest silk.

91 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

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About the author

Alessandro Baricco

94books3,792followers
Alessandro Baricco is an Italian writer, born at Torino in 1958. He's the author of several works, including the novels Lands of Glass (Selezione Campiello Award and Prix M茅dicis 脡tranger), Ocean Sea (Viareggio Prize), Silk, City, Emmaus or Mr. Gwyn, among others.

He is also the author of the majestic rewrite of Homer鈥檚 Iliad, the theatrical monologue Novecento, the essays Next: On Globalization and the World to Come or The Game.

Baricco hosted the book program "Pickwick" for Rai Tre, which, according to Claudio Paglieri, "invited Italians to rediscover the pleasure of reading." In 1994, he founded a school of "writing techniques" in Turin called Holden (as a tribute to Salinger), which, under his direction, has been a resounding success. Since the publication of Silk, which has become a long-standing bestseller both in Italy and internationally, Baricco has established himself as one of the great Italian writers of the new generations.

He was awarded the Fondazione Il Campiello Prize in 2020 and the Penna d鈥橭ro Prize in 2022 for his body of work.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 6,051 reviews
Profile Image for Nicholas Sparks.
Author听320 books235k followers
July 28, 2017
This is another form of love story, one written in almost poetic form. It was a major world-wide bestseller years ago -- millions of copies -- and if you haven't had the chance to read it, you should do yourself a favor. It's short and poignant and beautiful, in every way.
Profile Image for Juan Naranjo.
Author听14 books4,066 followers
June 4, 2021
Hay una corriente literaria que me parece terrible: la de los libros que parecen dise帽ados en un laboratorio para tener siempre alrededor de 500 p谩ginas y que su grosor de tres dedos (y su portada como de serie de Netflix) le confieran el aspecto y el peso perfecto como para estar presentable en una mesa de novedades de unos grandes almacenes y representar ostensiblemente los veinte euros que quien lo compra se va a gastar en el regalo del D铆a del Padre, del D铆a de la Madre o de San Valent铆n. Yo no creo que la literatura sea algo que se mida en arrobas. De hecho, cuanto mayor me hago y m谩s leo, m谩s admiro la habilidad de los autores y autoras que son capaces de condensar una buena historia en un n煤mero prudente y sensato de p谩ginas. Cada vez tengo m谩s claro que quienes escriben bien no necesitan 500 p谩ginas para contar una historia y que muy pocas narraciones merecen realmente el tiempo y el esfuerzo de una obra que supere las 600.

Baricco cuenta una historia hermos铆sima en 鈥楽eda鈥�, s铆, de las que se te quedan en el alma y en la imaginaci贸n por mucho tiempo. Pero, sobre todo, lo que hace es dar una clase magistral de escritura: una lecci贸n de que un universo, un amor legendario, un cara a cara entre dos mundos... se puede condensar en poco m谩s de cien p谩ginas. 鈥楽eda鈥� es un cuento hist贸rico y una novela de amor: la historia de un contrabandista de huevos de gusano de seda japoneses que, en primavera, se convertir谩n en telas de lujo y en riquezas para una peque帽a aldea francesa. Tambi茅n es un libro de viajes que nos recuerda c贸mo, hasta hace bien poco, el mundo era mucho m谩s grande y mucho m谩s hostil de lo que podamos recordar. Pero sobre todo es, como digo, la demostraci贸n de que se puede hacer mucho en muy poco, de que el ritmo y las elipsis pueden suplir perfectamente a p谩ginas y p谩ginas de redacci贸n hueca y de que, en literatura, a menudo menos es m谩s.
Profile Image for Pakinam Mahmoud.
990 reviews4,690 followers
November 22, 2024
賳賵冥賷賱丕 賳丕毓賲丞 夭賷 廿爻賲賴丕 亘丕賱囟亘胤..丨亘賷鬲賴丕 噩丿丕賸 毓賱賷 丕賱乇睾賲 賲賳 鬲賮丕氐賷賱賴丕 丕賱亘爻賷胤丞 亘爻 賵乇丕亍 丕賱鬲賮丕氐賷賱 丕賱亘爻賷胤丞 丿賷 賲卮丕毓乇 賰鬲賷乇 丨賱賵丞 亘爻 賲爻鬲禺亘賷丞 亘賷賳 丕賱爻胤賵乇..
丕賱賳賴丕賷丞 睾賷乇 賲鬲賵賯毓丞 亘丕賱賲乇丞..
禺丕賮賵丕 賲賳 丕賱爻鬲丕鬲 賷丕 噩賲丕毓丞..廿丨賳丕 賲卮 爻賴賱賷賳 兀亘丿丕賸:)
Profile Image for Dolors.
584 reviews2,695 followers
March 19, 2013
A tale, but not a tale. A novel, but not a novel. A sad story, but not a sad story. A love story, but not a love story. Silk is everything summed up in a few lines. A masterpiece.
Profile Image for 賴丿賶 賷丨賷賶.
Author听12 books17.6k followers
April 30, 2018

鈥庘€� 鈥� 兀賳 鬲賲賵鬲 卮賵賯賸丕 廿賱賶 卮卅 賱賳 鬲噩乇亘賴 兀亘丿丕鈥庘€�

丿毓 兀賳丕賲賱賰 鬲賳夭賱賯 毓賱賶 禺賷賵胤 丕賱丨乇賷乇
丿毓 賲卮丕毓乇賰 鬲賳爻丕亘 賳毓賵賲丞 賱鬲禺鬲賱胤 亘賲卮丕賯 丕賱丨賷丕丞
賮鬲禺賮賮賴丕 丨賷賳丕
賵鬲亘乇夭賴丕 丨賷賳丕

賵賱丕 鬲賳爻
賴匕丕 丕賱丨乇賷乇 兀丿賲賶 賯賱賵亘 賷乇賯丕鬲 氐睾賷乇丕鬲
賰丿賾鬲 賵鬲毓亘鬲 賰賷 鬲鬲賲鬲毓 兀賳鬲 亘賴匕丕 丕賱賲賱賲爻
賵賴匕丕 丕賱卮毓賵乇

廿賳賴 賳夭賷賮賴賳 賵匕乇賵丞 賰賮丕丨賴賳
匕賱賰 丕賱賰賮丕丨 丕賱匕賷 賱丕 賷噩賳賷賳 賲賳 賵乇丕卅賴 卮賷卅丕

賵賱賰賳 鬲匕賰乇 兀賷囟丕 兀賳 丕賱丨乇賷乇 匕賵 賲鬲丕賳丞 毓丕賱賷丞
賮賴賳 賱爻賳 賲賳賰爻乇丕鬲 兀賵 囟毓賷賮丕鬲
兀賳賴賳 賷賳囟丨賳 賯賵丞 賱丕 鬲毓乇賮 賲丿丕賴丕 亘毓丿

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毓賱賶 賴匕賴 丕賱賲賮丕乇賯丞 賷賱毓亘 亘丕乇賷賰賵 賱毓亘鬲賴 丕賱氐睾賷乇丞 鬲賱賰
賵賷賰鬲亘 乇賵丕賷丞 亘爻丕胤鬲賴丕 賱丕 鬲賯賱賱 賲賳 噩賲丕賱賴丕 兀賵 毓賲賯賴丕

鬲亘丿賵 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 賰兀賳賴丕 丨賱賲 賯氐賷乇
賵賵氐賮 丕賱賰丕鬲亘 賷賯鬲乇亘 賯賱賷賱丕 賲賳 丕賱兀噩賵丕亍 丕賱氐賵賮賷丞
廿賳賴 賷賰鬲亘 毓亘丕乇丕鬲 丿賯賷賯丞 賰賳爻賷噩 丕賱丨乇賷乇 丕賱賲禺賲賱賷 鈥�
賲爻亘賵賰丞 賵賳丕毓賲丞
亘爻賷胤丞 睾賷乇 賲睾乇賯丞 賮賷 丕賱賮賱爻賮丞 亘賱丕 丿丕毓

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丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 鬲賮丕氐賷賱賴丕 賯賱賷賱丞 鈥�
賮鬲乇賰賷夭 丕賱賰丕鬲亘 丕賱兀賵賱 賴賵 毓賱賶 丕賱賵氐賮 鈥�
賵賴賵 賷毓賵丿 亘賳丕 廿賱賶 鬲丕乇賷禺 賯丿賷賲
賷鬲乇賵丕丨 賲丕 亘賷賳 賮乇賳爻丕 賵丕賱賷丕亘丕賳
賮賷 賵賯鬲 兀氐賷亘鬲 賮賷賴 丕賱丿賷丿丕賳 亘丕賱賲乇囟
賵氐毓亘鬲 毓賱賶 丕賱鬲噩丕乇 丕賱兀賲賵乇 賰孬賷乇丕
賰賱賳丕 賲賯夭夭賵賳..賰賱賳丕 乇丕卅毓賵賳.. 賵賲賯夭夭賵賳鈥�
赌赌赌赌赌赌赌赌赌赌赌

噩賵賳賰賵乇 丕賱卮丕亘 丕賱賵爻賷賲鈥�
賵丕賱匕賷 鬲氐賱 賵爻丕賲鬲賴 賱兀賳 賷賰賵賳 兀卮亘賴 賮鬲丕丞
賷毓賲賱 鬲丕噩乇 賱亘賷毓 賵卮乇丕亍 丿賷丿丕賳 丕賱賯夭
賲鬲夭賵噩 賲賳 乇賯賷賯丞 鬲丿毓賶 賴賷賱賷賳
孬賲 賴賳丕賰 丨亘 賷睾夭賱 禺賷賵胤賴 丕賱丨乇賷乇賷丞 亘賷賳賴 賵亘賷賳 賮鬲丕丞 賷丕亘丕賳賷丞
亘毓賷賵賳 賲禺鬲賱賮丞 毓賳 亘賯賷丞 丕賱賷丕亘丕賳賷丕鬲
鈥� 鈥庂佖ж� 卮亘賷賴丞 亘卮乇賳賯丞
賵賷賳賲賵 賲丕 亘賷賳賴賲丕 亘卮丕毓乇賷丞 乇賯賷賯丞
鬲鬲爻乇亘 丿丕禺賱賰 " 賰丕賱賱賴亘 丕賱乇賯賷賯 丕賱賲乇鬲噩賮 丿丕禺賱 丕賱賯賳丿賷賱"鈥�

兀賵 賰丌孬丕乇 丕賯丿丕賲 毓氐丕賮賷乇 氐睾賷乇丞 丿賯賷賯丞 乇賯賷賯丞鈥�

賰賯胤毓丞 丕賱丨乇賷乇 丕賱鬲賷
"賱賵 囟睾胤鬲 毓賱賷賴丕 亘賯亘囟丞 賷丿賰 賱丕賳鬲丕亘賰 卮毓賵乇 亘兀賳賰 賱丕 鬲賲爻賰 卮賷卅丕 亘兀氐丕亘毓賰鈥�"
鈥�
賵賱丕 兀賳爻賶 丕賱乇爻丕賱丞 丕賱廿賷乇賵鬲賷賰賷丞 丕賱乇賯賷賯丞 賵丕賱賲卮鬲毓賱丞 賮賷 丌賳
賮賴賷 賲賳 兀睾乇亘 賵兀噩賲賱 丕賱賳氐賵氐 丕賱廿賷乇賵鬲賷賰賷丞 丕賱鬲賷 賰鬲亘鬲 賮賷 鈥徹必Y娰�

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賴賳丕賰 鬲賰乇丕乇 賱亘毓囟 丕賱賲卮丕賴丿 賱兀賰孬乇 賲賳 賲乇丞
賵賴匕丕 鬲賰賳賷賰 睾乇賷亘 賯賱賷賱丕 賮賷 丕賱爻乇丿
賵乇亘賲丕 賱賲 賷爻鬲賴賵賳賷 賰孬賷乇丕
賱賰賳賳賷 兀馗賳賴 兀乇丕丿 丕賱鬲兀賰賷丿 毓賱賶 丕賱氐毓賵亘丕鬲 丕賱鬲賷 賷賲乇 亘賴丕 丕賱鬲噩丕乇
毓賱賶 胤乇賷賯 丕賱丨乇賷乇 丕賱鬲丕乇賷禺賷
賵鬲亘賷丕賳 丕賱賲卮賯丞 丕賱鬲賷 毓丕賳賵丕 賲賳賴丕 亘胤乇賷賯丞 賲禺鬲賱賮丞

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鬲賳鬲賴賷 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 賵賱丕 鬲賳鬲賴賷 丿賴卮鬲賰 亘睾乇丕亘鬲賴丕
廿賳賴丕 亘丕賱賮毓賱 賯胤毓丞 丨乇賷乇 鬲賳爻丕亘 亘爻乇毓丞 賲丕 亘賷賳 兀賳丕賲賱賰
賵鬲鬲乇賰 賱賰 匕賰乇賶 賮鬲丕丞 賷丕亘丕賳賷丞 亘毓賷賵賳 睾賷乇 卮乇賯賷丞
賵賲賱賲爻 賳爻賷噩 鬲毓匕亘 賱兀噩賱賴 兀賱賵賮 丕賱亘卮乇 毓亘乇 丕賱毓氐賵乇
Profile Image for Guille.
916 reviews2,797 followers
November 18, 2024

Esto que les voy a contar es del todo cierto, una prueba m谩s de que en ocasiones parece que son los libros los que le buscan a uno y no al rev茅s.

Har谩 un par de a帽os que decid铆 releer y dispuse hacerlo a libro por mes. A este ritmo, mi lista actual de posibles relecturas da para varios a帽os. En ella no se encontraba Baricco, a cuyas dos novelas que por aqu铆 tengo les hab铆a otorgado hace un porr贸n de a帽os una puntuaci贸n de 2 sobre 10. Pues bien, tras dos lecturas exigentes, y posiblemente influido por un problema personal que no viene al caso, andaba yo algo desafecto con la lectura que ten铆a entre manos, me costaba avanzar. No es que hubiera tenido noticia del autor italiano recientemente o que hubiera le铆do algo acerca de alguno de los dos t铆tulos que llevaban m谩s de 30 a帽os en mi estanter铆a (los conserv茅 porque me gustaba la edici贸n que de ellos ten铆a), el caso es que de pronto, mientras luchaba contra mi apat铆a lectora en la p谩gina 23 de esa novela que se me resist铆a, me vino a la mente este autor y seguidamente el recuerdo de esas dos obras. No me pude resistir, y aunque ten铆a planeado releer este mes 芦Pedro P谩ramo禄 (posponer su lectura era un fastidio pues quer铆a hacerla antes de ver la pel铆cula que sobre la novela se ha estrenado recientemente con muy buenas cr铆ticas) escog铆, todav铆a esc茅ptico, la m谩s cortita, 芦Novecientos禄. La acab茅 en un rato que result贸 ser delicioso. Inmediatamente me dispuse a leer esta que ahora comento. Lo hice en dos ratos, ambos igualmente gozosos.

Si en 芦Novecientos禄 el personaje no era capaz de enfrentarse a las incertidumbres e inseguridades del mundo en tierra, aqu铆, su protagonista, 鈥渦no de esos hombres que prefieren asistir a su propia vida y consideran improcedente cualquier aspiraci贸n a vivirla鈥�, decide (驴decide?) de forma sorpresiva vivir la aventura.
鈥淭en铆a consigo la indestructible calma de los hombres que se sienten en su lugar鈥�
La novela tiene muchos de los ingredientes de los cuentos. Es parca en palabras y hechos, solo lo imprescindible, muy visual, con frases cortas y rotundas, sugerentes. Los personajes son simples esbozos al servicio de su final sorpresivo y de su moraleja.
Baricco relata aqu铆 los viajes de Herv茅 Joncour, un joven casado con una mujer dotada de una preciosa voz, que ha sido elegido por el consorcio de fabricantes de seda de su tranquilo pueblo para viajar hasta Jap贸n, pa铆s que en el siglo XIX se encontraba pr谩cticamente aislado del mundo y, por tanto, uno de los pocos territorios libre de la epidemia que ataca a los huevos de los gusanos que estaba arruinando el negocio y, por ende, al pueblo entero. Herv茅 deber谩 sacrificarse para salvar a su comunidad y para ello tendr谩 que llegar a un lugar misterioso atravesando inmensos territorios en la incertidumbre de qu茅 le deparar谩 el camino. Cuando llega a su destino, resuelve con astucia la prueba a la que un noble le somete consiguiendo as铆 la partida de huevos de gusanos que ven铆a buscando. Volver谩 en varias ocasiones y en los encuentros con este noble japon茅s siempre se encontrar谩 presente una preciosa joven. Esta carec铆a de rasgos asi谩ticos y su presencia no se sabe si era o no consentida. Entre ellos se estableci贸 desde el primer encuentro una conexi贸n muda a trav茅s de intensas miradas que se repetir谩n en cada visita.
鈥淢il veces busc贸 los ojos de ella y mil veces ella encontr贸 los suyos. Era una especie de triste danza, secreta e imponente鈥�
Leo en casi cualquier comentario que 芦Seda禄 es una historia de amor, y no ser茅 yo quien lo niegue. El protagonista experimenta una de esas mutaciones que el amor provoca a veces en la personalidad de sus v铆ctimas, sacando de ellas aspectos ocultos e inesperados. Pero creo que es fundamentalmente una novela sobre la incomunicaci贸n: a su amor oscuro e il铆cito y pasionalmente idealizado nunca le oy贸 una sola palabra y las que le llegaron de ella, escritas en un peque帽o papel, tuvieron que ser traducidas por otra persona; la otra, su amor apacible y tranquilamente satisfactorio, ten铆a una preciosa voz con la que, parad贸jicamente, nunca expres贸 las palabras que sent铆a.

Con ambas tuvo razones para sentir ese dolor extra帽o de 鈥淢orir de nostalgia por algo que no vivir谩s nunca鈥�.
Profile Image for Jim Fonseca.
1,139 reviews8,083 followers
March 7, 2020
A great historical novel focused on the production of silk in France around the time of the American Civil War. It鈥檚 a novella written in a lyrical style almost like a fable or even a fairy tale. You can read its 90 pages 鈥� 65 chapters - in a sitting.

description

The local silkworms catch a disease, so a young merchant is paid by the townsmen to leave his loving wife to go purchase larvae eggs from Japan. He travels across Europe and Siberia by train and horse and then by ship to Japan. Japan is still closed to foreigners, so this is a clandestine operation.

While he negotiates with the local warlord, he and the warlord鈥檚 mistress fall in love, a passion that continues without a word exchanged or a touch felt over the four years of his travels. In all this time they mange to exchange two letters but the French merchant pines for her most of the rest of his life. In later years, after he stops his travels, he discovers a shocking secret about the letters.

description

I liked the story and the historical background about the silk industry and the disease is accurate. Even Louis Pasteur makes an appearance attempting to corral the silkworm disease and that is true. It鈥檚 set in Lavilledieu, north of Marseilles.

description

The book is translated from the Italian and the author (b. 1958) has written several other novels. I read and enjoyed his book Emmaus. That鈥檚 a contemporary novel on a very different subject: four Italian boys discovering their sexuality.

Top photo of a silk workshop in Lyon, about the time of the story, from media.lyon-france.com
Lavilledieu from
The author from
Profile Image for Valeriu Gherghel.
Author听6 books1,939 followers
November 11, 2024
O povestire de dragoste greu de estimat. Respect膬 regulile unei parabole: te las膬 vis膬tor, cu ochii 卯n soare. Oare ce a vrut s膬 spun膬 autorul? Eu am str膬b膬tut-o de vreo trei ori 葯i am r膬mas cu impresii foarte amestecate. Nu s卯nt deloc sigur c膬 am 卯n葲eles-o. Povestirea lui Baricco e un exemplu interesant de ambiguitate deliberat膬.

Ac葲iunea e simpl膬 葯i este narat膬 卯n propozi葲ii repetitive, ca ni葯te versete. Unii au vorbit de minimalism: enun葲uri laconice, adjective pu葲ine, nici un personaj complet conturat, doar o schi葲膬, un abur. O excep葲ie face so葲ia protagonistului, H茅l猫ne: 鈥濫ra o femeie 卯nalt膬, se mi艧ca lin, avea un bogat p膬r negru pe care nu-l putea str卯nge niciodat膬 pe cre艧tet. Avea un glas minunat鈥�.

Francezul Herv茅 Joncour c膬l膬tore葯te de patru ori 卯n Japonia cu misiunea de a cump膬ra viermi de m膬tase. Acolo 卯nt卯lne葯te o femeie, concubina unui contrabandist bogat, Hara Kei (膬sta nu e nume japonez, mais passons). Nu 葯tim cum arat膬 copila, Baricco nu ne spune nimic. Afirm膬 c膬 鈥瀘chii ei nu au o t膬ietur膬 oriental膬鈥�. 葮i mai insinueaz膬 c膬 e 卯ndr膬znea葲膬. At卯t. Ar putea sem膬na cu H茅l猫ne, de ce nu?

Dup膬 a patra c膬l膬torie, 卯ntors 卯n Fran葲a, protagonistul e b卯ntuit de chipul femeii de dincolo (pe care a pierdut-o definitiv), simte un amor de lonh, cum au spus trubadurii, o iubire de departe: 鈥濻e vorbea c膬 Herv茅 Joncour 卯艧i cheltuise tot capitalul. Se mai spunea c膬 se 卯ntorsese altul, poate bolnav, din Japonia. Se spunea c膬 era un escroc. Se spunea c膬 este un sf卯nt. Cineva zicea: poart膬 ceva 卯n spate, ca un soi de nefericire鈥�. Dup膬 葯ase luni, prime葯te o scrisoare 卯n ideograme japoneze - pe care i-o traduce Madame Blanche, patroana unui bordel - scrisoare de un erotism delirant. Oare cine a redactat aceast膬 epistol膬? R膬spunsul e 卯n povestire, 卯n aceast膬 not膬, n-am voie s膬-l divulg.

Dac膬 nu m膬 卯n葯el, ideea lui Alessandro Baricco vine dintr-o cunoscut膬 parabol膬. Un om din Praga viseaz膬 c膬 sub un pod din Cracovia e ascuns膬 o comoar膬. C卯nd ajunge la Cracovia, un soldat 卯i declar膬 c膬 葯i el a visat o comoar膬 sub un pod din Praga. Revine luminat acas膬 葯i g膬se葯te comoara.

Din p膬cate, Herv茅 Joncour afl膬 unde e comoara. 脦ntors acas膬, 卯n satul Lavilledieu, uit膬 de ea, o ignor膬 pe minunata H茅l猫ne. Comoara se afl膬 chiar l卯ng膬 el, dar Herv茅 nu e 卯n stare s-o vad膬. Imaginea curtezanei din Japonia l-a orbit. Nu mai are chef de via葲膬. Dar 卯葯i merit膬 soarta...

P. S. Exist膬 mai multe lucruri pe care nu le pricep:
a) De pild膬, indiferen葲a ini葲ial膬 a lui Hara Kei. El pare a ignora complet interesul curtezanei pentru str膬in. Aminti葲i-v膬 scena cu cea葯ca de ceai: 鈥濬eti牛a aceea continua s膬-l fixeze, cu o violen牛膬 care-i smulgea fiec膬rui cuv卯nt obliga牛ia de a suna memorabil. 脦nc膬perea p膬rea c膬 lunecase de-acum 卯ntr-o imobilitate f膬r膬 卯ntoarcere. Pentru prima dat膬 卯艧i desprinse ochii de la Herv茅 Joncour, 艧i-i 卯ndrept膬 spre cea艧c膬. Lent, o roti, p卯n膬 c卯nd avu sub buze punctul exact din care b膬use el. 脦nchiz芒nd ochii, b膬u o gur膬 de ceai. 脦ndep膬rt膬 cea艧ca de la buze. O l膬s膬 s膬 alunece iar acolo de unde o culesese鈥�. Doar un orb nu ar sesiza provocarea. Sau un ins c膬ruia nu-i pas膬 de fat膬. Mai mult, curtezana 卯l viziteaz膬 卯ntr-o noapte (la a treia c膬l膬torie a lui Herv茅, episodul e imposibil de descifrat), dar Hara Kei - cel plin de iscoade - se face a nu b膬ga de seam膬 nelegiuirea. Abia la a patra venire a francezului, st膬p卯nul satului ia m膬suri.
b) C卯nd revine 卯n Fran葲a, Herv茅 Joncour nu pare a fi 卯ndr膬gostit de curtezan膬. Dimpotriv膬: 鈥濷 v膬zu pe so牛ia sa H茅l猫ne alerg卯ndu-i 卯n 卯nt卯mpinare, 艧i-i sim牛i parfumul pielii c卯nd o str卯nse la piept, 艧i catifeaua vocii c卯nd 卯i murmura鈥�. Sau: 鈥瀃Herv茅 & H茅l猫ne] petrecur膬 al膬turi trei s膬pt膬m卯ni de o delicat膬, inatacabil膬 fericire鈥�. 脦n fine: 鈥濶oaptea intr膬 卯n camera lui H茅l猫ne 艧i o iubi cu at卯ta ner膬bdare, 卯nc卯t ea se sperie 艧i nu reu艧i s膬-艧i re牛in膬 lacrimile鈥�. Singura concluzie ar fi c膬 Herv茅 le iube葯te 卯n mod egal pe am卯ndou膬. Sau pe r卯nd, 卯n Fran葲a o iube葯te pe H茅l猫ne, 卯n Japonia pe curtezan膬.
c) 葮i dac膬 e a葯a, m膬 卯ntreb de unde afl膬 H茅l猫ne c膬 b膬rbatul ei ascunde o mare suferin葲膬? 葮tiu, ascult膬 b卯rfele care circul膬 prin Lavilledieu...
d) Ultima nedumerire e legat膬 de vizita nocturn膬 a curtezanei. Nu intr膬 卯n odaia lui singur膬. E 卯nso葲it膬 de o femeie 卯n kchimono alb, o oriental膬. Ia lampa 葯i se retrage. Herv茅 r膬m卯ne cu orientala, un substitut: 鈥灻巒 卯nc膬perea 卯ntunecat膬 sim牛i doar frumuse牛ea corpului ei, 卯i descoperi m卯inile 艧i gura. Le iubi c卯teva ceasuri cu gesturi pe care nu le mai f膬cuse vreodat膬, l膬s卯ndu-se s膬 se deprind膬 cu o lentoare pe care nu o mai cunoscuse. 脦n 卯ntuneric, era neantul cel pe care-l iubea, nu o iubea pe ea. Cu pu牛in 卯nainte de rev膬rsatul zorilor, t卯n膬ra se ridic膬, 卯艧i 卯mbr膬c膬 albul kimono 艧i plec膬鈥�. Probabil c膬 葯i H茅l猫ne este un substitut al imaculatei curtezane...
Profile Image for TK421.
574 reviews286 followers
April 26, 2012
I never imagined I would like a book where the main character makes a living by buying silkworms. But I did. In fact, I not only liked it, I loved it. SILK is easily one of the top ten books I have read in the past eighteen months or so. It has a sparse writing style, and passages are repeated almost verbatim in no less than three different spots. The characters are there, fully realized, but at the same time, each character is a mystery or a ghost without definite shape. The prose is smooth, dreamlike.

SILK is an easy story to relate to: it is about the idea of love. Herve Joncour is a silkworm buyer who, at first, travels across Europe, past the Mediterranean, into Syria and Egypt to buy the precious silkworm eggs. However, an epidemic hits the silkworms of Europe, and before long, the epidemic spreads to the far reaches of Egypt. Worried that this enterprise is in danger, a man named Baldabiou convinces Herve that to ensure a profit Herve needs to go a land that is known for only being at the end of the world: Japan. But Japan is closed to outsiders. In fact, it is closed off to anyone who leaves the island. Now, it would have been easy for the author, Alessandro Baricco, to bombard the reader with fascinating details about the politics of Japan, and the history of opening the island to outsiders. I would have really liked that. But Baricco had other ideas. He knew that if he heaped detail upon detail, during this part, the mystery and intrigue of the story would become lost. Instead, Baricco uses only the least bit of detail to convey such a tumultuous time of Japanese and world history. And it is done in such a beautiful and remarkable way that this reader never felt as if important aspects of the novel were only glazed over.

It is while in Japan that Herve has a realization of love. (I wish I could tell you about the woman and the impact she had upon Herve, but that would ruin the story for you.) Herve replays this journey four times. Three of them are peaceful. On the fourth time, Japan is in the midst of a civil war. When Herve returns this last time, charred villages and a way of life that he remembers are black phantoms upon the landscape. (Not to mention the woman that Herve loves? adores? lusts? contributes to this bleak landscape in the form of silence.)

Okay, I know the past two paragraphs have been cryptic, I apologize. I hate when other reviewers do that, but it seems secrecy is the only way I can explain how powerful this story is. You see, the love Herve thinks he feels is not really love; it鈥檚 not not really love as well. And this is the beauty of Baricco鈥檚 storytelling. At only a 112 pages, this is an easy read. But when you have finished the story, I am willing to bet it will be a long time before the images and situations leave your mind.

HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION POSSIBLE
Profile Image for Chiara Pagliochini.
Author听5 books432 followers
July 24, 2014
芦 Dicevano che era un truffatore. Dicevano che era un santo. Qualcuno diceva: ha qualcosa addosso, come una specie di infelicit脿. 禄

Ordine, prego! Silenzio in aula. Silenzio, prego (due colpi col martelletto).
La Corte di Giustizia si riunisce oggi per decretare l鈥檃ssoluzione o la condanna a pena da stabilirsi per il signor Baricco Alessandro, classe 1958.
Tra i capi d鈥檃ccusa imputati al signor Baricco, ricordiamo: 鈥渇aciloneria鈥�, 鈥渇accia da ruffiano鈥�, 鈥渟pocchia鈥�, 鈥渁mmiccamenti al lettore鈥�, 鈥渆gocentrismo ovvero il gusto dell鈥檃utocitazione鈥�, 鈥渟inteticit脿鈥�.
La difesa del signor Baricco si avvale della facolt脿 di produrre testimoni a suo favore. Entri il primo testimone!
Signorina, si sieda. Vuol dirci come si chiama?

芦 Chiara Pagliochini, Vostro Onore. 禄

Signorina Pagliochini, giura di dire la verit脿 e soltanto la verit脿?

芦 Lo giuro, Vostro Onore. Nei limiti del possibile. 禄

Questa 猫 un鈥檃ula di tribunale, signorina. Voglia fare in modo di non porre limiti al suo possibile.

芦 Le giuro che 猫 mia intenzione, signore. Ma sa anche lei quanto le vicissitudini legate al signor Baricco siano controverse. 禄

脠 il motivo per cui siamo qui, signorina. Per sbrogliare queste controversie. Voglia riassumere innanzitutto a favore della giuria i contenuti di questo libello, questa sorta di鈥� cartiglio, se cos矛 vogliamo chiamarlo. Insomma, questo coso (sbatte la copertina di 鈥淪eta鈥� sulla cattedra). La prego, innanzitutto, di chiarircene la natura.

芦 La natura, signore? 禄

Proprio cos矛. Dovesse classificare questo coso (percuote di nuovo la cattedra con 鈥淪eta鈥�) che definizione ne darebbe? 脠 un romanzo breve, un racconto, una lista della spesa?

芦 脠 una fiaba, Vostro Onore. 禄

Una鈥� fiaba? Le confesso che questa testimonianza non era mai stata prodotta in aula. Scrivano, sta prendendo nota? (lo scrivano si deterge il sudore dalla fronte e annuisce)

芦 Una fiaba, signore. Questo romanzetto di cento pagine non 猫 altro che una fiaba. La forma narrativa per eccellenza, la pi霉 antica al mondo. E chiunque abbia anche solo un minimo di cognizioni in merito si accorger脿 che dico il vero. Una prova piuttosto lampante della natura fiabistica di questo scritto 猫 la ricorrenza di formule tipiche. Non sto parlando di 鈥渃鈥檈ra una volta鈥� o di 鈥渧issero felici e contenti鈥�, ma di qualcosa che somiglia a questo nella funzione. Prenda per esempio i brani che ricorrono identici nella narrazione. Il signor Baricco 猫 stato accusato di aver fatto copia-incolla col mouse al solo fine di risparmiare tempo e fatica. Ma non 猫 cos矛. Il signor Baricco sapeva bene quel che faceva incastonando nella narrazione brani che ricorrono identici. Stava rifacendosi alla forma narrativa della fiaba, la quale prevede l鈥檜so di un formulario, il ricorrere di certe espressioni sempre uguali. Vuoi per facilitare la memorizzazione del racconto, vuoi per conferirgli quel carattere magico e sacrale che la fiaba spesso riveste in una comunit脿. Pensi soltanto a Sherazade, pensi al potere salvifico del raccontare a voce alta. Si accorger脿 che i copia-incolla del signor Baricco non sono un tentativo di evadere da una narrazione di pi霉 ampio respiro, ma il semplice adeguarsi a una forma narrativa per sua natura sintetica e formulaica. 禄

Pu貌 portare altre evidenze della natura fiabistica di questo scritto?

芦 Ma certo. Anche la struttura della narrazione si rif脿 senza dubbio all鈥檌ntelaiatura della fiaba come definita dai formalisti russi, Propp tra tutti. Un eroe, il nostro Herv茅 Joncour, viene incaricato di compiere un viaggio solitario in un paese lontano da cui dovr脿 riportare un manufatto, in un certo senso, 鈥渕agico鈥�. La magia del manufatto, nel nostro caso uova di baco da seta, consiste nel loro essere intatte e perfette, non contaminate dalla malattia che sta invece contagiando i bachi europei. Queste uova permetterebbero quindi alla comunit脿 di Lavilladieu di continuare a prosperare. La partenza dell鈥檈roe per un paese mitico, irrimediabilmente diverso, 猫 un elemento ricorrente della struttura fiabistica. Non dimentichiamo, poi, che stiamo parlando di un viaggio circolare, compiuto pi霉 volte a intervalli regolari. N茅 sottovalutiamo i cambiamenti progressivi che vanno operandosi nell鈥檈roe stesso e che lo portano a una progressiva emancipazione dalla comunit脿 originaria. Il contatto con l鈥檃ltro mondo rende il nostro eroe 鈥渄iverso鈥�: 猫 una costante della fiaba. E come non accorgersi di quanto la bidimensionalit脿 dei personaggi femminili, i due poli magnetici di questo racconto, come non accorgersi di quanto il loro apparire quasi in controluce, la loro impalpabilit脿 caratterizzi sempre pi霉 evidentemente questo scritto come una fiaba pura e semplice? 禄

Pura e semplice, eh? E cos矛 per lei la narrativa dovrebbe essere tutta pura e semplice? E l鈥檌mpegno letterario? E il comunicare messaggi forti dove lo lasciamo? Lo scuotere il lettore fin nelle viscere, il cambiargli la vita non interessa pi霉 a nessuno? Non dovremmo dare il buon esempio ai giovani scrittori d鈥檕ggi?

芦 Sono dell鈥檌dea, signore, che una forma di narrativa pura e semplice, la narrativa 鈥減er il gusto del narrare鈥�, non infici e non comprometta l鈥檈sistenza di un鈥檃ltra narrativa, cosiddetta 鈥渋mpegnata鈥�. Non possiamo condannare il signor Baricco per il suo non appartenere alla schiera degli 鈥渋mpegnati鈥�. Lo guardi bene. Lo guardi in faccia. Non vede ancora che ragazzino 猫? 脠 vero, potrebbe essere mio padre, ma ha ancora quell鈥檈spressione da ragazzo entusiasta, quel gusto di raccontare storie che gli stanno in punta di lingua. Lo vede?, non si trattiene. Anche adesso ne sta pensando una delle sue. Molti lo accusano di voler essere eccessivamente popolare. Altri lo accusano di essere volutamente oscuro. Nessuna delle due. Il signor Baricco racconta. E racconta essenzialmente storie che piacciono a lui. Se non gli piacessero, non gli verrebbero cos矛 facili gi霉 dalla penna, cos矛 facili che si bevono in una sorsata. E non mi venga a dire che non sente anche lei quanto il signor Baricco ami ogni storia che scrive. Lo sente. Il signor Baricco 猫 un ragazzino innamorato. Di se stesso. 脠 questo che ci d脿 cos矛 fastidio? E poi, questa fissa di raccontare storie la ha sempre avuta. 脠 per questo che, tra tutti gli scrittori, ama gli americani e, tra gli inglesi, Conrad. 脠 per questo che ha avuto quell鈥檌deuzza di riscrivere l鈥橧liade (e quante gliene hanno dette!). Il signor Baricco 猫 uno di quelli che crede nel potere misterico del raccontare storie accanto al fuoco, del raccontare storie che salvano. L鈥檃tto del raccontare 猫 cos矛 importante per lui che ne fa un altarino in ogni romanzo, cio猫 racconto, cio猫鈥� questi libretti, insomma. 禄

Quindi lei sta dicendo che il signor Baricco non vuole鈥� comunicare nulla? Lei ci sta dicendo che scrive per il gusto puro di scrivere e non per far passare dei messaggi?

芦 Il messaggio che vuol far passare 猫 uno solo, sempre quello. Che raccontare 猫 bello. Che bisogna raccontare. 禄

E lei non pensa che sia proprio questo il motivo per cui la qui presente Corte debba condannarlo?

芦 Se quello che racconta 猫 piacevole, se lo racconta bene, perch茅 bisogna condannarlo? 禄

Ma condannarlo pur bisogna, se non vuol dire niente!

芦 Vuol dire esattamente quello che dice.
Vuol dire che c鈥櫭� un uomo che parte per un paese lontano come il Giappone e quel paese lo avvelena.
Vuol dire che si innamora di una donna che non gli dice mai nulla, se non 鈥淭ornate, o morir貌鈥�. E non 猫 la cosa pi霉 bella che qualcuno possa dirci? 鈥淭ornate, o morir貌鈥� significa consegnare alla persona che amiamo il potere di decidere della nostra vita e della nostra morte.
Vuol dire che si possono amare due donne contemporaneamente o amare la stessa donna scissa in due persone. Vuol dire che per la persona che amiamo siamo disposte a diventare 鈥渓鈥檃ltra donna鈥�. Mi dica se questo non 猫 commovente, mi dica se non l鈥檋a fatta piangere.
Vuol dire che si pu貌 essere spettatori passivi della propria vita (鈥淧ioveva la sua vita, davanti ai suoi occhi, spettacolo quieto鈥�) eppure ritrovarsi a osservare eventi che non si comprendono (鈥淥gni tanto, nelle giornate di vento, scendeva fino al lago e passava ore a guardarlo, giacch茅, disegnato sull鈥檃cqua, gli pareva di vedere l鈥檌nspiegabile spettacolo, lieve, che era stata la sua vita鈥�).
Vuol dire che certi messaggi possono passare solo attraverso una penna, attraverso caratteri arcaici, mai attraverso le labbra. Vuol dire che si pu貌 fare l鈥檃more anche con le parole scritte.
Vuol dire che s矛, 鈥渟iamo tutti meravigliosi, e facciamo tutti schifo鈥�.
E vuol dire che, certo, 鈥溍� uno strano dolore. (Piano) Morire di nostalgia per qualcosa che non vivrai mai鈥�. 禄

Signorina, la Corte conosce gi脿 il testo da lei citato. Voglia fare il favore di non indulgere in simili romanticherie. Non saranno utili all鈥檌mputato pi霉 di quanto il suo libello lo sia per noi.

芦 Ma non deve esserlo. 禄

Essere cosa?

芦 Utile. 禄

Cos矛 lei pensa che la letteratura non debba essere utile? La prego, signorina, voglia accomodarsi. Che l鈥檃ccusa produca il suo primo testimone.

芦 Deve essere seducente. La letteratura deve essere seducente. Come la carezza di una mano avvolta in una seta impalpabile. 禄

FUORI DI QUI. Voglia accomodarsi, ho detto. E subito!
Profile Image for Justo Martia帽ez.
513 reviews214 followers
December 1, 2021
3/5 Estrellas

Hubiera querido que me gustara m谩s, pero no ha sido as铆.

Hubiera querido entenderlo mejor, pero mi obtusa mente masculino-anal铆tica y de ciencias, creo que no tiene la suficiente sensibilidad para apreciarlo adecuadamente.

No entiendo esa historia de amor, surgida de la nada al primer vistazo, sin ni siquiera intercambiar una palabra.
No entiendo a ese hombre pach贸n, flem谩tico, con horchata en las venas, que de repente es capaz de ir a las ant铆podas y jugarse la vida por poco m谩s que una ilusi贸n, un amor fugaz e imposible.
No entiendo a esa mujer, que por conservar a este hombre a su lado se rebaja a ofrecerle un suced谩neo sexual virtual, suplantando a la nipona fugaz.

La prosa es preciosista, el formato es original, la lectura es agradable, la historia de la industria de la seda en Francia en la segunda mitad del siglo XIX muy interesante, las referencias al Jap贸n en plena efervescencia previa a la restauraci贸n Meiji tambi茅n.....pero que le vamos a hacer, no me ha llegado.
En cualquier caso leer茅 algo m谩s del autor, su escritura lo merece.

Y adem谩s he aprendido lo que es la Pebrina, un hongo que diezmaba los cultivos de huevos de gusanos de seda y que puso en jaque a esta industria en esta 茅poca (deformaci贸n profesional, lo siento).
Profile Image for Kalliope.
708 reviews22 followers
April 3, 2013

This read was a nice break after reading long books. Silk reads like a gauzy flowing breeze. An almost fairy tale with the exotic as background and with travel and some suspense as some of its most palpable elements, it is a not an easy book to put down, precisely because it is so easy to read. The next short chapter with big print draws you immediately in until you suddenly reach the end. As a tale it also has an element of the oral tradition, with periodic repetitions to help its audience remember, repetitions which have bothered some readers, but which for me made the reading faster.

It also has some historical pegs, such as 1861 and Abraham Lincoln and the American Civil War, or the effects of the earlier Treaty that Commodore Perry forced on Japan to open up its borders to Western Trade, or the geopolitical setting of an Asia as the theatre for the colonial wars between the various European powers, when the UK was selling arms to the Japanese government, while the Netherlands supported the rebels as the Japanese civil war erupted. We are also reminded of the opening of the Suez Canal, and more pertinent to the tale, the scientific discoveries of Pasteur related to parasites and silkworms. This was the age when a new explosion of trade changed the nature of the already long established Silk-Route.

But the historical content is just pegs. A different context could have also served for these historical components seem no more than a setting made of cardboard planks. The narration is not factual, but essentially evocative. The language comes across in a poetic mode in the Spanish translation from the original Italian. Many sentences are left open and others are placed here or there, as if they were loose brushstrokes painted with Japanese ink.

Seda or Silk, then comes across as a lyrical legend in which the underlying feeling or theme would seem to be Love. But to me it expressed the more general sentiment of Longing, the longing that is experienced in love, but also in other imaginary trips and landscapes and desires and yearnings.

Because Longing is as slippery and shiny and as smooth as silk.


Profile Image for Adina (notifications back, log out, clear cache) .
1,213 reviews4,929 followers
February 18, 2015
3.5*

I read this in almost one seating while waiting at the hairdresser. A much better choice than the gossip magazines that were scattered around the place.

I enjoyed the book but I have a problem with short novels/novellas. I cannot seem to be able to be as moved by shorter stories as by bigger volumes. There are only a few exceptions: Animal Farm, Slaughterhouse 5. I remember that at one point in my life I was only reading books over 500 pages. I prefer them because you have time to know better the characters, to discover their secrets, the way they think. There is also time for character development. Shorter novels usually leave me wanting more and it was also the case with Silk. Having said that, I liked the writing, I thought it had an interesting construction and I am planning to read more by the author.
Profile Image for Kelly.
893 reviews4,730 followers
December 29, 2008
"I never even heard her voice."
And after a while:
"It is a strange grief."
Softly:
"To die of nostalgia for something you will never live."


I finished this in a matter of hours. My advice on this book would be: do not let that, nor its slim size, nor the whispering, simple voice that it adopts, fool you into thinking that it is insubstantial in any way. The end got to me even after my short acquaintance with the book. At times, it may feel as if you don't understand the significance of each passing symbol or action. In the end, it doesn't matter if you do or not. What matters most is the feeling you experience while you absorb it. I also recommend that you read it all in one sitting. Let it work its charm over you and don't let the world interfere. You'll miss out otherwise.
Profile Image for 賮丕賷夭 睾丕夭賷 Fayez Ghazi.
Author听2 books4,835 followers
August 11, 2023
- 鬲卮丕亍 丕賱兀賯丿丕乇 丕賳 鬲賰賵賳 賯乇丕亍丞 賴匕賴 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 亘毓丿 賵賯鬲 賯賱賷賱 賲賳 賯乇丕亍丞 丕賱賮乇丕卮丞 丕賱夭乇賯丕亍
賱乇亘賷毓 噩丕亘乇貙 賱賷賲鬲丿 禺賷胤 丕賱丨乇賷乇 賲賳 賱亘賳丕賳 丕賱賶 賮乇賳爻丕... 丨乇賷乇賹 毓賱賶 丨乇賷乇!

廿賳賴 丕賲乇 睾乇賷亘... 丕賱賲賵鬲 賲賳 丕賱丨賳賷賳 賱卮賷亍 賱賳 賳丨賷丕賴 賲噩丿丿丕賸 丕亘丿丕賸.


- 賴匕賴 丕賱噩賲賱丞 兀毓賱丕賴 賵丕賱鬲賷 丕鬲鬲 賮賷 丕賱氐賮丨丕鬲 丕賱兀禺賷乇丞 賱賱乇賵丕賷丞 賴賷 賲睾夭丕賴丕 賵睾丕賷鬲賴丕 丨爻亘賲丕 丕乇賶貙 賵亘匕賱賰 賮廿賳 賰賱 丕賱兀丨丿丕孬 賲亘賳賷丞 毓賱賶 賴匕丕 丕賱卮賵賯貙 丕賱卮賵賯 賱賲丕 賱賲 賳丨賷丕賴 賰丕賲賱丕賸 賵丕賱匕賷 賱賳 賳丨賷丕賴 亘噩夭卅賷鬲賴 賮賷 賷賵賲 噩丿賷丿!

- 鬲丿賵乇 丕丨丿丕孬 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 賮賷 賲賳鬲氐賮 丕賱賯乇賳 丕賱毓卮乇賷賳貙 毓丕賲 丕賱 1860 (爻賷卅 丕賱匕賰乇 賮賷 亘賱丕丿 丕賱卮丕賲)貙 賲乇囟 亘賵賷囟丕鬲 丿賵丿 丕賱賯夭 賮賷 丕賵乇賵亘丕貙 丕賰鬲卮丕賮丕鬲 亘丕爻鬲賵乇貙 賵賮鬲丨 丕賱賷丕亘丕賳 賱丨丿賵丿賴丕 丕賱亘丨乇賷丞 丕賲丕賲 丕賱睾乇亘貙 賵賱丕 亘丿 賲賳 賴匕丕 丕賱廿賯鬲亘丕爻 丕賱賲賯氐賵丿:

賷賯丕賱 丕賳 丕賱丨乇亘 丕賳丿賱毓鬲 賮賷 丕賱賷丕亘丕賳貙 丕賱廿賳賰賱賷夭 賷賯丿賲賵賳 丕賱爻賱丕丨 賱賱丨賰賵賲丞貙 丕賲丕 丕賱賴賵賱賳丿賷賵賳 賮賷賯丿賲賵賳 丕賱爻賱丕丨 賱賱孬賵丕乇. 賷亘丿賵 丕賳賴賲 賲鬲賮賯賵賳 賮賷 賲丕 亘賷賳賴賲. 爻賷丿毓賵賳 丕賱胤乇賮賷賳 賷鬲賯丕鬲賱丕賳貙 賵賲賳 孬賲 賷爻鬲賵賱賵賳 毓賱賶 賰賱 卮賷亍 賵賷鬲賯丕爻賲賵賳賴


- 丕賱兀丨丿丕孬 乇睾賲 亘爻丕胤鬲賴丕 賱賰賳賴丕 爻鬲賮丕噩卅 丕賱賯丕乇卅 賲毓 賳賴丕賷丞 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 賮賷 賳鬲丕卅噩賴丕 賵胤乇賷賯丞 鬲爻賱爻賱賴丕貙 賰賲丕 丕賳 丕賱乇賲夭賷丕鬲 丕賱毓丿賷丿丞 賵丕賱噩賳丕爻丕鬲 賰丕賳鬲 賲賵賮賯丞 丕賰鬲賮賷 亘丕賱乇亘胤 亘賷賳 丕賱賯丿賷爻丞 兀賳賷賷爻 賵丕賱賮鬲丕丞 丕賱孬丕賱孬丞 賱賲賷卮丕賱 賱丕乇賷賵. 賰賲丕 丕賳 賱丨馗丞 丕賱賵丿丕毓 亘賷賳 賴賷賱丕賳丞 賵亘丕賱丿丕亘賷賵 賰丕賳 賵丿丕毓 丕賲鬲賳丕賳 爻賷賰鬲卮賮 賰賳賴賴 賴賷乇賮賷賴 賱丕丨賯丕賸.

- 鬲賲賷賾夭 丕賱兀爻賱賵亘 丕賱賰鬲丕亘賷 亘丕賱賲賱丨賲賷丞 亘丕賱丿乇噩丞 丕賱兀賵賱賶 丨賷孬 丕賳 亘毓囟 丕賱賮賯乇丕鬲 賲賰乇乇丞 亘卮賰賱 爻亘賴 丨乇賮賷貙 禺氐賵氐丕賸 賵氐賮 丕賱乇丨賱丞 賲賳 賮乇賳爻丕 丕賱賶 丕賱賷丕亘丕賳 毓亘乇 乇賵爻賷丕貙 賵亘丕賱卮丕毓乇賷丞 丕賱乇賯乇丕賯丞 賮賷 丨丿賷孬 丕賱丨亘 賵丕賱卮賵賯 賵丕賱氐丿丕賯丞

- 丕賱鬲乇噩賲丞 賰丕賳鬲 爻賱爻丞貙 賱賰賳 賴賳丕賰 亘毓囟 丕賱兀禺胤丕亍 丕賱廿賲賱丕卅賷丞 賰丕賳 賷噩亘 丕賱廿賳鬲亘丕賴 賱賴丕 賵兀禺胤丕亍 賮賷 丕賱鬲丕乇賷禺 匕丕鬲賴 (1864 賵賱賷爻 1964 / 氐79)

兀賵丿 丕賳 丕賳賴賷 賴匕丕 丕賱鬲毓賱賷賯 亘賴匕丕 丕賱廿賯鬲亘丕爻:

兀賱賮 賲乇丞 亘丨孬 毓賳 毓賷賳賷賴丕貙 賵兀賱賮 賲乇丞 賵噩丿賻鬲 毓賷賳賷賴
Profile Image for Magrat Ajostiernos.
689 reviews4,648 followers
December 13, 2016
Una historia melanc贸lica, triste, sutil, evocadora.
Se lee de una sentada pero deja un buen poso tras de s铆
Profile Image for Agnieszka.
258 reviews1,091 followers
March 7, 2018

I have a tendency to picking up doom and gloom books. But not this time, not this time. Silk evoked images of distant Japan and the girl which eyes did not have an oriental slant ; elicited thoughts about things that couldn't happen and made me ponder over pain of longing and power of patience. Beguiled me with its ephemeral beauty and deceptive simplicity and I鈥檓 not even sure what it was. Was it a fable with its repetitive phrases and unreal aura? Was it a parable of human life with all its ambitions and failures? Or maybe just an unattainable dream? Whatever it was it was charming. Beautifully written, surrounded by a veil of mystery, fragile like silkworms eggs and delicate as silk thread.

3.5/5
Profile Image for 亘孬賷賳丞 丕賱毓賷爻賶.
Author听30 books28.6k followers
January 14, 2010
賴賳丕賰 賯氐賷丿丞 賮賷 亘胤賳 賰賱 丨賰丕賷丞. 賲丕 賷賮鬲賳賳丕 賮賷 丕賱丨賰丕賷丞 兀氐賱丕 賴賵 鬲賱賰 丕賱賯氐賷丿丞 丕賱氐睾賷乇丞 丕賱賲鬲賰賵乇丞 賮賷 亘胤賳賴丕貙 丕賱賯氐賷丿丞 丕賱鬲賷 鬲丨鬲賵賷 丕賱毓丕賱賲 賰賱賴貙 丿丕禺賱 亘胤賳賴丕 兀賷囟丕賸貙 丕賱毓丕賱賲 丕賱匕賷 賷鬲卮賳噩 賵賷鬲賰孬賮 賵賷賯匕賮 賮賷 賯賱賵亘賳丕 亘睾鬲丞 丿賵賳 兀賳 賳賳鬲亘賴.
乇賵丕賷丞 芦丨乇賷乇禄 賱兀賱賷爻賳丿乇賵 亘丕乇賷賰賵 賴賷 賵丕丨丿丞 賲賳 鬲賱賰 丕賱兀毓賲丕賱 丕賱鬲賷 鬲鬲丨乇賰 賮賷 噩睾乇丕賮賷丕 賵爻賷胤丞 亘賷賳 丕賱爻乇丿 賵丕賱卮毓乇貙 丨賷孬 丕賱賰賱賲丞 賰丕卅賳 丨乇 賷鬲兀乇噩丨 亘賷賳 丕賱毓丕賱賲賷賳 丕賱賰鬲丕亘賷賷賳 丕賱賲賱鬲亘爻賷賳貙 孬賲丞 亘爻丕胤丞 丕爻鬲孬賳丕卅賷丞 賵賲亘丕卮乇丞 賮賷 爻乇丿 丕賱賵賯丕卅毓 賵鬲賱丕賵丞 丕賱兀丨丿丕孬貙 賲孬賱 賯賵賱賴 芦賴賷賱丕賳丞 賴賵 丕爻賲 夭賵噩鬲賴貙 賱賲 賷賳噩亘丕 兀胤賮丕賱丕賸禄貙 賵孬賲丞 睾賳丕卅賷丞 賵丕囟丨丞 賮賷 鬲乇丿賷丿 賲賯丕胤毓 賲毓賷賳丞 賲賳 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 亘賲丕 賷卮亘賴 賲丕 賳賯乇兀賴 賮賷 賯氐氐 丕賱胤賮賱貙 兀賵 賲丿丕禺賱丕鬲 (丕賱賰賵乇爻) 賮賷 丕賱賳氐賵氐 丕賱賲爻乇丨賷丞貙 賮賮賷 賰賱 賲乇丞 賷賲囟賷 賮賷賴丕 亘胤賱 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 芦賴賷乇賮賷賴 噩賵賳賰賵乇禄 賱賱爻賮乇貙 賷賯丿賲 賱賳丕 丕賱乇丕賵賷 卮乇丨丕 賲賮氐賱丕 毓賳 丕賱胤乇賷賯 賮賷 氐賮丨丞 賰丕賲賱丞: 芦丕噩鬲丕夭 丕賱丨丿賵丿 亘丕賱賯乇亘 賲賳 賲丿賷賳丞 賲賷鬲夭貙 賵賯胤毓 賵乇鬲賲亘乇睾 賵亘丕賮丕乇賷丕貙 丿禺賱 廿賱賶 丕賱賳賲爻丕貙 賵賵氐賱 亘丕賱賯胤丕乇 廿賱賶 賮賷賷賳丕 賵賲賳 孬賲 廿賱賶 亘賵丿丕亘爻鬲 賵鬲丕亘毓 爻賷乇賴 丨鬲賶 賰賷賷賮禄 賵丨鬲賶 丌禺乇 丕賱乇丨賱丞貙 賷賯賵賲 丕賱亘胤賱 禺賱丕賱 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 (賵禺賱丕賱 丨賷丕鬲賴 兀賷囟丕賸) 亘孬賱丕孬 乇丨賱丕鬲貙 賵賮賷 賰賱 乇丨賱丞 賷毓丕賵丿 丕賱乇丕賵賷 卮乇丨 丕賱賲丿賳 丕賱鬲賷 毓亘乇賴丕 賵丕賱丨丿賵丿 丕賱鬲賷 丕噩鬲丕夭賴丕貙 賵賴賵 賷賯賵賲 亘匕賱賰 噩夭卅賷丕賸貙 賱賰賷 賷丐賰丿 毓賱賶 丕賱毓賳丕亍 丕賱匕賷 鬲賰亘丿賴 亘胤賱賴 丕賱賲爻丕賮乇貙 賵兀賷囟丕賸 賱兀賳 丕賱鬲賰乇丕乇 賴賳丕貙 賷禺丿賲 睾賳丕卅賷丞 丕賱毓賲賱 丕賱乇賵丕卅賷貙 賵賷噩毓賱賴 丕賱爻乇丿 毓丕賲乇丕賸 亘丕賱丿賳丿賳丞貙 賵丕賱賴賲賴賲丞貙 賵丕賱乇賳賷賳貙 賵賷爻亘睾 毓賱賶 丕賱毓賲賱 -亘夭毓賲賷- 氐亘睾丞 賲孬賷賵賱賵噩賷丞 賵賲賱丨賲賷丞貙 廿匕 睾丕賱亘丕賸 賲丕 鬲鬲囟賲賳 丕賱賳氐賵氐 丕賱賲賱丨賲賷丞 鬲賰乇丕乇丕賸 賱賲賯丕胤毓 賲毓賷賳丞. 廿匕丕賸貙 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 -亘丨爻亘 乇兀賷賷- 鬲鬲賯丕胤毓 賲毓 丕賱卮毓乇貙 賵丕賱賲爻乇丨貙 賵丕賱兀睾賳賷丞貙 賵兀囟賷賮 賴賳丕: 賵賲毓 丕賱爻賷賳賲丕 兀賷囟丕賸貙 賱兀賳 丕賱毓賮賵賷丞 丕賱賲賱賮鬲丞 丕賱鬲賷 賷鬲丨乇賰 亘賲賵噩亘賴丕 丕賱爻乇丿 鬲噩毓賱 賲賳 丕賱賲鬲賱賯賷 賲鬲賮乇噩丕賸 兀賰孬乇 賲賳賴 賯丕乇卅丕賸貙 賮毓賱賶 爻亘賷賱 丕賱賲孬丕賱 賳噩丿 兀賳 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 鬲亘丿兀 毓賱賶 丕賱賳丨賵 丕賱鬲丕賱賷: 芦亘丕賱乇睾賲 賲賳 兀賳 賵丕賱丿賴 鬲賳亘兀 賱賴 亘賲爻鬲賯亘賱賺 賱丕賲毓 賮賷 丕賱噩賷卮貙 廿賱丕 兀賳 丕賱兀賲乇 丕賳鬲賴賶 亘賴賷乇賮賷賴 噩賵賳賰賵乇貙 亘兀賳 賷賰爻亘 賯賵鬲賴貙 亘賮囟賱 賲賴賳丞 卮丕匕丞貙 賱賲 鬲賰賳 睾乇賷亘丞 毓賳賴丕 -賵賱爻禺乇賷丞 丕賱賯丿乇- 鬲賱賰 丕賱爻賲丕鬲 丕賱賲丨亘亘丞 丕賱鬲賷 鬲賳賲貙 噩賷丿丕賸貙 毓賳 丕賳毓胤丕賮丞 賳爻丕卅賷丞 賲賱鬲亘爻丞. 賰賷 賷毓鬲丕卮貙 賰丕賳 賴賷乇賮賷賴 噩賵賳賰賵乇 賷卮鬲乇賷 丿賵丿 丕賱賯夭貙 賵賷亘賷毓賴. 賳丨賳 賮賷 丕賱毓丕賲 1861. 賮賱賵亘賷乇 賷賰鬲亘 乇賵丕賷鬲賴 芦爻丕賱丕賲亘賵禄 賵丕賱廿賳丕乇丞 丕賱賰賴乇亘丕卅賷丞 賱賲 鬲賰賳 亘毓丿 爻賵賶 賮乇囟賷丞貙 亘賷賳賲丕 兀亘乇丕賴丕賲 賱賳賰賵賱賳貙 賵毓賱賶 丕賱胤乇賮 丕賱丌禺乇 賲賳 丕賱賲丨賷胤貙 賷禺賵囟 丨乇亘丕 賱丕 賷毓乇賮 賲鬲賶 賳賴丕賷鬲賴丕. 賷亘賱睾 賴賷乇賮賷賴 噩賵賳賰賵乇 丕賱孬丕賳賷丞 賵丕賱孬賱丕孬賷賳 賲賳 丕賱毓賲乇. 賷卮鬲乇賷 賵賷亘賷毓 .. 丿賵丿 丕賱賯夭禄.
夭賲賳 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 賴賵 丕賱丨丕囟乇 丿丕卅賲丕貙 丨鬲賶 賱賵 賰丕賳 賮賷 丕賱賲丕囟賷貙 賵毓賵囟丕賸 毓賳 兀賳 賷賯賵賱 丕賱乇丕賵賷 芦賰丕賳 匕賱賰 賮賷 丕賱毓丕賲 1861禄 賮賴賵 賷賯賵賱 芦賳丨賳 賮賷 丕賱毓丕賲 1861禄 賵賴賵 丕賱鬲毓亘賷乇 丕賱兀賯丿乇 毓賱賶 丕賱賯亘囟 毓賱賶 爻賮乇賳丕 毓亘乇 丕賱夭賲賳貙 賵賱賮馗丞 芦賳丨賳禄 賴賳丕 鬲賲丕賴賷 亘賷賳 丕賱乇丕賵賷 賵丕賱賲鬲賱賯賷貙 賵鬲賵乇胤 丕賱賯丕乇卅 亘丕賱毓丕賱賲 丕賱乇賵丕卅賷 丕賱匕賷 賷鬲賮鬲丨 兀賲丕賲 毓賷賳賷賴貙 賵鬲噩毓賱 卮禺賵氐賴 兀賰孬乇 賲丨爻賵爻賷丞 賵丨囟賵乇丕賸貙 兀賳丕 卮禺氐賷丕賸 賵噩丿鬲 兀賳 丕賱賰丕鬲亘 芦賰乇賷賲 噩丿丕賸禄 賲毓賷 賰賯丕乇卅丞 亘賲賳丨賷 賲毓賷賾鬲賴!
賷賯賵賲 丕賱亘胤賱 亘孬賱丕孬 乇丨賱丕鬲 胤賵賷賱丞 賲賳 賯乇賷鬲賴 丕賱賮乇賳爻賷丞 芦賱丕賮賷賱 丿賷賵禄 廿賱賶 丕賱賷丕亘丕賳貙 賱兀噩賱 卮乇丕亍 亘賷賵囟 丿賵丿 丕賱賯夭 丕賱鬲賷 鬲氐賳毓 兀噩賲賱 丨乇賷乇賺 賮賷 丕賱毓丕賱賲貙 賵賱賰賳賴 賷賮毓賱 匕賱賰 兀賷囟丕賸 賱兀賳 丕賲乇兀丞 鬲毓賷卮 賲毓 丕賱乇噩賱 丕賱賷丕亘丕賳賷 丕賱匕賷 賷夭賵丿賴 亘丕賱亘賷賵囟 鬲孬賷乇 賮囟賵賱賴貙 賵乇亘賲丕 卮睾賮賴. 賷毓丕賵丿 丕賱亘胤賱 鬲乇賰 賯乇賷鬲賴貙 夭賵噩鬲賴貙 賵丨賷丕鬲賴 賰賱賴丕 賲賳 兀噩賱 鬲賱賰 丕賱賲乇兀丞 丕賱鬲賷 賱賲 賷爻賲毓 氐賵鬲賴丕 賯胤貙 賵賴賵 -亘丨爻亘 丕賱亘胤賱- 兀賲乇 睾乇賷亘貙 芦賷卮亘賴 丕賱賲賵鬲 賲賳 丕賱丨賳賷賳 賱卮賷亍 賱賳 鬲丨賷丕賴 賲噩丿丿丕賸禄貙 賮賷 睾賲乇丞 兀丨丿丕孬 丨賷丕鬲賴 鬲氐賱賴 乇爻丕賱丞 丨亘 賲丨賲賵賲丞 賰鬲亘鬲 亘丕賱賷丕亘丕賳賷丞貙 乇爻丕賱丞 賲丨賲賵賲丞 賵賲鬲賵賴噩丞 亘丕賱鬲賵賯貙 賷賰鬲卮賮 丕賱亘胤賱 賱丕丨賯丕 (賵賲鬲兀禺乇丕 噩丿丕) 兀賳 丕賱賲乇兀丞 丕賱鬲賷 賰鬲亘鬲 丕賱乇爻丕賱丞 賵丕賱鬲賷 爻丕賮乇 賲賳 兀噩賱賴丕 廿賱賶 丌禺乇 丕賱毓丕賱賲貙 賴賷 夭賵噩鬲賴 丕賱鬲賷 鬲卮丕乇賰賴 丨賷丕鬲賴 賵爻乇賷乇賴 賵毓丕賱賲賴 丕賱賲丨丿賵丿 賵賯乇賷鬲賴 丕賱賮乇賳爻賷丞 ..
320 reviews430 followers
September 19, 2020
丕賱爻賴賱 丕賱賲賲鬲賳毓 賮賶 賮賳 賰鬲丕亘丞 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞
賱兀賵賱 賲乇丞 丕賯乇兀 賱亘丕乇賷賰賵 .. 丕賰鬲卮丕丕丕丕丕丕丕丕丕丕丕丕丕丕丕丕丕丕丕丕丕丕丕丕丕丕丕賮
毓賲乇賰 兀禺丿鬲 丨賯賳丞 毓囟賱 兀賵 賵乇賷丿 賵賱賲 鬲丨爻 亘卮賰丞 丕賱兀亘乇丞 賮賶 噩爻賲賰責
賴賱 噩乇亘鬲 兀賳 鬲兀賰賱 兀賰賱丞 丿爻賲丞 噩丿丕賸 賵賱丕 鬲丨爻 亘毓丿賴丕 亘兀賶 鬲毓亘 兀賵 毓爻乇 賴囟賲責
賴賱 噩乇亘鬲 兀賳 鬲爻亘丨 賮賶 丕鬲噩丕賴 丕賱鬲賷丕乇 賮賱丕 鬲丨爻 鬲毓亘丕賸責
賴匕賴 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 賴賶 賮賶 丕賱賵丕賯毓 兀亘乇丞 賱賲 鬲丐賱賲賰 賵禺夭鬲賴丕 賵兀賰賱丞 丿爻賲丞 賱賲 鬲鬲毓亘 亘毓丿賴丕 賵爻亘丕丨 賲丕賴乇 賷爻亘丨 賲毓 丕賱鬲賷丕乇 賮賱丕 賷丨爻 噩賴丿丕賸
乇賵丕賷丞 賰丕賱丨乇賷乇 丕賱匕賶 賰購鬲亘鬲 毓賳賴 賷賳爻丕亘 亘賷賳 賷丿賷賰 賱丕 鬲丨爻 亘丕賳爻賷丕亘賴 賵賱丕 賲賱賲爻賴

鬲丨賰賶 丕賱賳賵賮賷賱丕 毓賳 賴賷乇賮賷賴 噩賵賳賰賵乇 丕賱賮乇賳爻賶 賲賳 賯乇賷丞 賱丕賮賷賱 丿賷賵 丕賱匕賶 賷爻丕賮乇 爻賳賵賷丕賸 賱賲丿丞 爻鬲丞 兀卮賴乇 廿賱賶 丕賱賷丕亘丕賳 賱卮乇丕亍 賷乇賯丕鬲 丕賱丨乇賷乇 賳鬲賷噩丞 賱賲乇囟 賲爻鬲毓氐賶 兀氐丕亘 丕賱賷乇賯丕鬲 賮賶 兀賵乇賵亘丕 賵毓賱賷賴 賯乇乇 噩賵賳賰賵乇 亘賲爻丕毓丿丞 賵丿毓賲 氐丿賷賯賴 亘丕賱丿丕亘賷賵 賲賳 噩賲毓 丕賱賲丕賱 丕賱賰丕賮賶 賱賱乇丨賱丞 爻賳賵賷丕賸 賲賳 兀賴賱 丕賱賯乇賷丞 丕賱毓丕賲賱賷賳 亘賳爻噩 丕賱丨乇賷乇 賲丕 賷毓賵丿 毓賱賷賴賲 噩賲賷毓丕賸 亘禺賷乇 賵賮賷乇
噩賵賳賰賵乇 賲鬲夭賵噩 賲賳 賴賷賱丕賳丞 賵賱賲 賷賳噩亘丕 兀賶 兀胤賮丕賱 亘丕賱乇睾賲 賲賳 賲丨丕賵賱丕鬲賴賲丕 丕賱賲爻鬲賲乇丞貙 噩賵賳賰賵乇 賷毓賷卮 丨賷丕丞 亘爻賷胤丞 賵賲乇賷丨丞 賵賴丕賳卅丞 賲毓 賴賷賱丕賳丞 賵賱丕 賷胤賲毓 亘丕賱賲夭賷丿 賲賳 兀賶 卮卅
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賵賮賶 兀丨丿 乇丨賱丕鬲賴 廿賱賶 丕賱賷丕亘丕賳 賷賯毓 噩賵賳賰賵乇 賮賶 丨亘 賮鬲丕丞 賷丕亘丕賳賷丞 賱賰賳 丕賱丕毓乇丕賮 賵丕賱鬲賯丕賱賷丿 丕賱賷丕亘丕賳賷丞 丕賱鬲賶 鬲賲賳毓 亘賷毓 丿賵丿 丕賱賯夭 賱賱兀睾乇丕亘 賱賲 鬲賰賳 鬲爻賲丨 亘鬲夭賵噩 丕賱賮鬲丕丞 賲賳 噩賵賳賰賵乇 賵亘匕賱賰 賷賯毓 噩賵賳賰賵乇 賮乇賷爻丞 丕賱丨亘 丕賱賲爻鬲丨賷賱
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賮賷 毓卮賯 亘賷爻鬲賳賾丕賳丕 賵毓卮賯 亘賳爻鬲賳丕賴
賵毓卮賯 亘賷賳爻賷賳丕 丕賱毓卮賯 丕賱賱賷 毓卮賯賳丕賴
賴賷賱丕賳丞 賰丕賳鬲 賯丕丿乇丞 毓賱賶 鬲睾賷賷乇 賲噩乇賶 丕賱兀丨丿丕孬 賵賵賮丕鬲賴丕 賰賲丕 賰丕賳鬲 賲賮丕噩卅丞 賰丕賳鬲 賲丐賱賲丞
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Profile Image for Mrs.Martos .
155 reviews7 followers
July 7, 2023
"Morir de nostalgia por algo que no vivir谩s jam谩s."
Profile Image for Alvarohernandez_81.
71 reviews124 followers
September 25, 2022
芦Seda禄 es una historia muy cortita que recomiendo leer de una sentada.

La historia de un contrabandista de huevos de gusanos de seda japoneses que, en primavera, se convertir谩n en telas de lujo y riquezas para una peque帽a aldea Francesa.

Su historia de amor, su viaje, su cara a cara entre dos mundos, su tristeza, su fascinaci贸n, todo narrado con un calmado lenguaje po茅tico. Siempre va al punto y lo hace con las palabras justas.

Nos da la oportunidad de vivir su viaje junto a 茅l para transportarnos con cierta melancol铆a a tu propio pasado, por aquello que fue y por aquello que no puedo ser.


Final sorprendente y conmovedor.

Feliz lectura. 馃摍
Profile Image for Algernon (Darth Anyan).
1,722 reviews1,092 followers
November 13, 2016

It was 1861. Flaubert was writing Salammbo, electric light was still a hypothesis and Abraham Lincoln, on the other side of the ocean, was fighting a war whose end he would not see.
Herve Joncour was thirty-two years old.
He bought and sold.
Silkworms


Whimsical, ethereal, like air between your fingers, shimmering light reflected in the still waters of a lake at the end of the world, the flight path of a blue crane across a cloudless sky : Silk

I don't want to write a long review, scrutinizing the plot or the characters motivations. The beauty of this prose poem lies in its minimalist brush strokes. Barrico eliminates everything that is extraneous, superfluous or simply unnecessary until only the core of beauty and kindness is left to grace the page. Silk is a celebration of love, adventure and storytelling. It is intimate and sad and in the end it ask a question about what we want to be remembered for? A garden for the children to play in ... A tale of journeys to far places and of dangerous pursuits ... a silk veil so fine it is almost transparent, tranforming the world seen through it into a space for dreams.

In time he began to yield to a pleasure that in the past he had always denied himself: to those who came to see him, he recounted his travels. Listening to him, the people of Lavilledieu learned about the world, and the children discovered what marvel was. He spoke softly, staring into the air, at things the others couldn't see.

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notes:

- "The Unbearable Lightness of Being" would be a great title for this story, if only Milan Kundera didn't already owned it.

- No point in seeing the movie. The reviews are consistently negative. Too bad, because this whimsical tale should have worked well by the producers of 'Amelie' or by Tornatore.

- soundtrack listing : Sting "Fragile"

On and on the rain will fall
Like tears from a star, like tears from a star
On and on the rain will say
How fragile we are, how fragile we are


- soundtrack listing : Terence Trent D'Arby "Delicate"

Delicate like words
Delicate how time
So delicately runs
Then delicately dies
Delicate how eyes
So delicately breathe
Delicate like you my dear
Delicate like me my love
Delicate like you and
Delicate like me and
Delicate like
Delicate like you and me

Profile Image for Evan.
1,073 reviews869 followers
August 13, 2016

"He wasn't much cut out for serious conversations. And a goodbye is a serious conversation."

OK, for 125 pages I'm reading this thinking, "three stars, nice little story, fast read; wish more novelists could tell a sweeping romantic adventure tale with such dispatch. Vivid, enjoyable, and even educational, but no great shakes."

And then I get to the end, and realize the power of the wife's desire. What she does. How he realizes what she did, and how she had felt. How she knew about his inner life, and didn't want to be a surrogate. Goddamn it hit me hard. Made me cry, it did.

I'm trying to say why it was good without being too specific and giving much away.

(KR@KY, with slight fix in 2016)
Profile Image for sAmAnE.
1,242 reviews143 followers
March 12, 2025
讴鬲丕亘 丿丕爻鬲丕賳蹖 爻丕丿賴 丕夭 夭賳丿诏蹖 賲乇丿蹖賴 讴賴 丿乇 鬲丕乇蹖禺 賲卮禺氐 賴乇 爻丕賱 亘賴 爻賮乇 賲蹖乇賴 丕夭 賲爻蹖乇賴丕蹖蹖 賲蹖鈥屭柏辟� 賵 丿乇 丕賵賱蹖賳 蹖讴卮賳亘賴 賲丕賴 丌賵乇蹖賱 亘乇丕蹖 賳賲丕夭 亘夭乇诏 毓蹖丿 倬丕讴 亘賴 賯氐亘賴鈥屫ж� 亘乇賲蹖鈥屭必� 丿乇 馗丕賴乇 賴丿賮 爻賮乇 蹖丕賮鬲賳 賵 禺乇蹖丿 讴乇賲 丕亘乇蹖卮賲 賵 賲賯氐丿卮 賴賲 跇丕倬賳 賴爻鬲...丕賳賯丿乇 讴鬲丕亘 禺賵卮禺賵丕賳 賵 乇賵丕賳 亘賵丿 讴賴 丕賳诏丕乇 卮賲丕 賴賲 亘丕 丕蹖賳 賲乇丿 賴賲爻賮乇 賲蹖鈥屫篡屫� 賵 鬲丕 丕賳鬲賴丕蹖 噩丕蹖蹖 讴賴 诏賲丕賳 賲蹖鈥屫辟堌� 倬丕蹖丕賳 夭賳丿诏蹖 丕賵爻鬲 賵 趩蹖夭蹖 賳賲丕賳丿賴 噩夭 乇賵夭賴丕蹖蹖 丌賲蹖禺鬲賴 亘賴 鬲賳賴丕蹖蹖 賵 睾賲.. 禺賵丕賳賳丿賴 亘丕 夭賳丿诏蹖 亘賴 馗丕賴乇 蹖讴賳賵丕禺鬲 丕賵貙 禺胤乇丕鬲 丕賵 丿乇 賲蹖丕賳 丕蹖賳 爻賮乇賴丕貙 丿蹖丿丕乇 亘丕 丕賮乇丕丿 賲禺鬲賱賮貙 夭賳丿诏蹖 乇賲丕賳鬲蹖讴 丕賵 亘丕 賴賲爻乇卮 賴賲乇丕賴 丕爻鬲...賴乇賵賴 跇賳讴賵乇 卮禺氐蹖鬲 丕氐賱蹖 丕蹖賳 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 賴爻鬲 讴賴 亘乇丕蹖 诏匕乇丕賳丿賳 毓賲乇 丕亘乇蹖卮賲 禺乇蹖丿 賵 賮乇賵卮 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁囏� 賳丕賲 賴賲爻乇卮 賴賱賳 賴爻鬲 賵 丕賵賳鈥屬囏� 賮乇夭賳丿蹖 賳丿丕乇賳丿...丕賵 丕夭 噩賵丕賳蹖 賲卮睾賵賱 丕蹖賳 讴丕乇 賴爻鬲 鬲丕 丕蹖賳讴賴 丿乇 丕賵丕蹖賱 爻丕賱鈥屬囏й� 鄱郯 亘蹖賲丕乇蹖 賲爻乇蹖 鬲禺賲鈥屬囏й屰� 讴賴 丕亘乇蹖卮賲 乇丕 丿乇诏蹖乇 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁� 賵 毓賲賱丕賸 丌禺乇 讴丕乇賴...
Profile Image for Gabrielle.
1,136 reviews1,643 followers
February 11, 2017
I had heard so much praise about this little book: after spending a snowy morning in reading it, I have to confess I feel underwhelmed.

The beauty of the language is undeniable. It was originally written in Italian: I read a French translation, and the delicate rhythm of the sentences is quite lovely. The use of repetition obviously tries to make the narrative poetic and dream-like, and it succeeds... up to a point.

To be honest, I found it a wee bit clich茅: in 1860, a French silk worm merchant travels to Japan after an epidemic contaminates the more easily acquired silk worm eggs of the Middle East. There he meets a woman and after exchanging a glance, they are in love and he must find a way to go back and be with her.

I can see how some people would find this wildly romantic and fairy-tale like. I'm sure such a story would have made a perfect Scheherazade fable, but it did not move me half as much as I had expected. Don't get me wrong: it is a charming little book! But it is incredibly superficial: there's no character development, no description of the marvels encountered by our main character during his exotic travels, nothing! Some might argue that it is not the point, and they would not be wrong, but I like my love stories with a little meat around the bone (no pun intended).

Lovely, but shallow.
Profile Image for Federica.
343 reviews112 followers
September 6, 2015
Credo ormai di aver compreso che Baricco sia uno di quegli scrittori privi di vie di mezzo, per quanto riguarda il loro rapporto con il lettore: o piace, o non piace. E credo anche di aver capito che io rientro decisamente nella prima categoria.

Come per gli altri scritti, 猫 difficile per me scrivere una recensione di Seta. Ci貌 che i libri di Baricco mi lasciano 猫 qualcosa di indefinito e informe, e che tuttavia 猫 in grado di rimanere nel mio cuore per sempre. 脠 come se la narrazione avvenisse sottovoce, lentamente, mirando direttamente all'intima essenza del lettore. E se in Oceano Mare il sottofondo era quello dello sciabordare delle onde, qui 猫 il fruscio della seta di Lavilledieu, il canto degli uccelli nella voliera in Giappone, il dialogo muto tra gli sguardi di Herb茅 Joncour e la donna con il viso da ragazzina, ma anche e soprattutto l'amore di H茅l猫ne, cos矛 potente.

Una carezza sulla pelle, un battito di palpebre, una sensazione nel profondo dell'anima.
Tutto e niente.
Profile Image for Mohamed.
435 reviews244 followers
September 20, 2020
3.5*

兀賱賮 賲乇丞 亘丨孬 毓賳 毓賷賳賷賴丕 賵 兀賱賮 賲乇丞 賵噩丿鬲 毓賷賳賷賴


毓賳 賯氐丞 丨亘 賲爻鬲丨賷賱丞 亘賷賳 乇丨丕賱丞 賮乇賳爻賷 賵賮鬲丕丞 賷丕亘丕賳賷丞 鬲賯毓 兀丨丿丕孬 賴匕賴 丕賱賳賵賮賷賱丕 丕賱乇賯賷賯丞 毓賳 賴賷乇賮賷賴 噩賵賳賰賵乇 鬲丕噩乇 丕賱賷乇賯丕鬲 賵乇丨賱丕鬲賴 丕賱賲鬲賰乇乇丞 亘賷賳 賮乇賳爻丕 賵 丕賱賷丕亘丕賳 丕賱鬲賷 賰丕賳鬲 鬲爻鬲睾乇賯 毓丿丞 卮賴賵乇 毓亘乇 乇賵爻賷丕 賮賷 丕賱賯乇賳 丕賱鬲丕爻毓 毓卮乇 賵賯亘賱 丕賮鬲鬲丕丨 賯賳丕丞 丕賱爻賵賷爻 賵丿禺賵賱賴 丕賱賲鬲賰乇乇 爻乇丕 廿賱賶 丕賱賷丕亘丕賳 丕賱鬲賷 賰丕賳鬲 鬲賮乇囟 爻賷丕噩丕 賲賳 丕賱禺氐賵氐賷丞 賵 鬲賲賳毓 丕賱鬲噩丕乇丞 賲毓 丕賱亘賱丕丿 丕賱兀賵乇亘賷丞

兀卮賮賯鬲 毓賱賶 賴賷賱丕賳丞 丕賱夭賵噩丞 丕賱毓丕卮賯丞 丕賱鬲賷 賵賴亘鬲 夭賵噩賴丕 賲鬲毓丞 賲爻丕賲丨鬲賴.. 賱賰賲 鬲毓丕賳賷 丕賱夭賵噩丕鬲 丕賱賲丨亘丕鬲 賲賳 兀夭賵丕噩賴賳 賵賯氐氐 丨亘賴賲 賱丌購禺乇賷丕鬲

賸廿賳賴 兀賲乇 睾乇賷亘 .. 丕賱賲賵鬲 賲賳 丕賱丨賳賷賳 賱卮賷亍 賱賳 賳丨賷丕賴 賲噩丿丿丕賸 兀亘丿丕
Profile Image for Coos Burton.
880 reviews1,510 followers
July 24, 2020
Esta recomendaci贸n me la hizo alguien a quien admiro bastante, que me orienta y me ayuda a alinear un poco mis pensamientos. No me imaginaba leyendo nada muy rom谩ntico en estos d铆as, pero la verdad es que la historia me encant贸. Los viajes del protagonista, el enigma de las cartas, mucho suspenso, pocas situaciones que destilaban miel. Pero esas contadas situaciones id铆licas estaban tan bien construidas que daba gusto leerlas.
Profile Image for Ioana.
83 reviews31 followers
March 29, 2017
Magn铆fico, espectacular, sublime.

Como el tacto de la seda, esta novela est谩 relatada con una sutileza y una sensualidad que encandilan al lector desde las primeras l铆neas.

Suave, a ritmo acompasado, con delicadeza pero con soltura, vamos conociendo la historia de nuestro protagonista, Herv茅 Joncour.



Corr铆a el a帽o 1861 [鈥
Herv茅 Joncour ten铆a treinta y dos a帽os.
Compraba y vend铆a.
Gusanos de seda.


Y cuanto m谩s nos vamos adentrando en la historia m谩s aspectos de su vida conocemos.

Lavilledieu era el nombre del lugar en el cual viv铆a Herv茅 Joncour.
H茅lene el de su mujer.
No ten铆an hijos.


Este joven franc茅s, por requerimientos del oficio y debido a los da帽os que las epidemias aflig铆an, con cada vez m谩s intensidad y frecuencia, a los cultivos situados en las tierras europeas, se ve inmerso en largos viajes en busca de gusanos de seda sanos que llevar de vuelta a Lavilledieu.

Llega a cruzar mares, oc茅anos hasta toparse con las tierras lejanas de 脕frica y siempre, en todos y cada uno de los viajes escog铆a los huevos, discut铆a el precio, los compraba. Despu茅s se volv铆a...

Esta parte aventurera de su trabajo lo lleva, despu茅s de agotar todos los recursos, a embarcarse en un viaje a un lugar lejano, inh贸spito y totalmente desconocido, en busca de los ansiados y tanto necesitados, gusanos de seda.

- 驴Y d贸nde queda, exactamente, el tal Jap贸n?
- Siempre derecho hacia all谩. Hasta el fin del mundo.


Atraviesa el pa铆s, el continente y hasta m谩s de medio mundo para toparse con una cultura diferente, chocante, herm茅tica, para llegar a una casa, dentro de una regi贸n en aquel remoto pa铆s en el que destaca una sola cosa, que lo encandila, lo fascina y lo deslumbra.

De pronto,
sin moverse en lo m谩s m铆nimo, esa chiquilla
abri贸 los ojos.

Herv茅 Joncour no dej贸 de hablar, pero baj贸 instintivamente la mirada hacia ella y lo que vio, fue que esos ojos no ten铆an un aspecto oriental y estaban clavados, con una intensidad desconcertante, en 茅l.




Seda, en cuyas p谩ginas nace, crece, vive y se entrelaza una bell铆sima historia de amor que vive, crece y ahonda en las almas lectoras, envuelta de una sensualidad tal, solamente comparable con el delicado y sutil tacto de la seda.

Amor prohibido, pasi贸n a mares, sensualidad desbordante, sentimiento a flor de piel, todo esto y m谩s reviste y emana de las poco m谩s de 100 p谩ginas de esta obra literaria de procedencia italiana que nos lleva desde Francia a Jap贸n travesando as铆 medio mundo para culminar dej谩ndonos en herencia una de las cartas de amor m谩s maravillosas jam谩s escritas al lado de nuestro coraz贸n en un pu帽o afligido y hecho pedazos.

hasta que al final te bese en el coraz贸n porque te quiero, morder茅 la piel que late sobre tu coraz贸n, porque te quiero, y con el coraz贸n entre mis labios t煤 ser谩s m铆o, de verdad, con mi boca en tu coraz贸n tu ser谩s m铆o para siempre, y si no me crees abre los ojos se帽or amado m铆o y m铆rame, soy yo, qui茅n podr谩 borrar jam谩s este instante que pasa, y este mi cuerpo sin m谩s seda, tus manos que lo tocan, tus ojos que lo miran.

Profile Image for J.L.   Sutton.
666 reviews1,167 followers
August 12, 2022
鈥淚t's a strange sort of pain鈥o die of nostalgia for something you you will never experience.鈥�

SILK Cover Photo by Paul Donker Duyvis Silk by Alessandro Baricco Dreams, video, animation, sad, movie, film, war, refuge, Japan, Holland, oriental eyes, secret affair, passionate music, love story, trailer, train, station,

Alessandro Baricco's Silk is a short work, with short chapters, but it is lyrical and the emotion builds to the end. The story begins in 1861, with our main character, Herv茅 Joncour, buying and selling silkworms for a living. After an epidemic kills most of the world's supply of silkworms, he decides to travel to the country at the end of the world, a country that had only recently opened up for trade with the rest of the world, and a country that deemed the selling of silkworms as criminal, Japan. After Herv茅 repeated visits to Japan and his wife's death, the story takes on more poignancy with the discovery of his wife's secret.

鈥淵ou were dead.'
She said.
'And in the whole world there was nothing beautiful left.鈥�
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