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Kalliope's Reviews > Caim
Caim
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I enjoyed revisiting Genesis accompanying Saramago’s Cain.
With this rebellious murderer who, after all, is a man who seeks justice, we are offered to time-travel with him through that first Book of Everything. We jump forwards and jump backwards in the genesis narrative, and every time there is a change in gear the reader is given a jolt. And a new breath and freshness sweeps over this reverted genesis.
Saramago’s Cain is a disappointed man. And it is his disappointment that has created all his troubles. Granted, there was jealousy in the deed for which he is known. But at the root of the jealousy there was a drive towards god. And there lies the disappointment. The story then becomes a quixotic quest (for there is always an explicit quixotic element in Saramago’s characters � part of Saramago’s mark) as Cain searches through the holy book for the presence of the love and justice that he expects out of his god. And the search turns out to be quixotic indeed.
Saramago’s mark can also be felt in one’s ribs (not the one from which Cain’s mother originated), but because humour and laughter always spring out of his writing.
by
Kalliope's review
bookshelves: fiction-portuguese, historical-fiction, middle-east, portugal, 2015
Nov 05, 2015
bookshelves: fiction-portuguese, historical-fiction, middle-east, portugal, 2015
The Mark of.CAINSaramago.
I enjoyed revisiting Genesis accompanying Saramago’s Cain.
With this rebellious murderer who, after all, is a man who seeks justice, we are offered to time-travel with him through that first Book of Everything. We jump forwards and jump backwards in the genesis narrative, and every time there is a change in gear the reader is given a jolt. And a new breath and freshness sweeps over this reverted genesis.
Saramago’s Cain is a disappointed man. And it is his disappointment that has created all his troubles. Granted, there was jealousy in the deed for which he is known. But at the root of the jealousy there was a drive towards god. And there lies the disappointment. The story then becomes a quixotic quest (for there is always an explicit quixotic element in Saramago’s characters � part of Saramago’s mark) as Cain searches through the holy book for the presence of the love and justice that he expects out of his god. And the search turns out to be quixotic indeed.
Saramago’s mark can also be felt in one’s ribs (not the one from which Cain’s mother originated), but because humour and laughter always spring out of his writing.
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Reading Progress
November 5, 2015
– Shelved as:
to-read
November 5, 2015
– Shelved
November 5, 2015
– Shelved as:
fiction-portuguese
November 5, 2015
– Shelved as:
historical-fiction
November 5, 2015
– Shelved as:
middle-east
November 5, 2015
– Shelved as:
portugal
December 2, 2015
–
Started Reading
December 8, 2015
–
Finished Reading
December 16, 2015
– Shelved as:
2015
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Ray
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rated it 4 stars
Dec 14, 2015 08:34AM
Thanks for this. I read Death at Intervals and found it so-so. I want to have another go at Saramago and I have been advised that Cain would be good to try - you can recommend it?
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Ray wrote: "Thanks for this. I read Death at Intervals and found it so-so. I want to have another go at Saramago and I have been advised that Cain would be good to try - you can recommend it?"Thank you, Ray... Well, I enjoyed it.. I like Saramago's writing style and his humour... I have not read Death at Intervals but plan to read it (the title is a reference to Proust)... but I wonder if you would like this one.. it is short and you could give it a try.. It is darker than others I have read... it is his last finished work. That may explain the darkness.
Sharp, hard-hitting review, Kall! I don't why I still haven't read Saramago. Perhaps I am not in a mood of gloom and terminal stories right now. Can you suggest any work of his' which isn't too hard-hitting in its plot? I mean 'Blindness' is certainly very heart-wrenching.
Seemita wrote: "Sharp, hard-hitting review, Kall! I don't why I still haven't read Saramago. Perhaps I am not in a mood of gloom and terminal stories right now. Can you suggest any work of his' which isn't too har..."I know what you mean, Seemita... may be I would recommend The Cave.. there it s strange mix between sweetness, candour and gloom in Saramago's writings.. I also enjoyed The Stone Raft but I think this latter one has a more focused readership (Portuguese and Spaniards.. inhabitants of the Iberian peninsula).
Lovely review! Saramago is always a joy, glad to see he has his characteristic charm and humor in this one too. I've been really interested to read this one since it came out, I'll have to do so. Have you read his Gospel According to Jesus? Is this similar in it's religious criticisms? I might have to buy this ASAP
YES to the humor and laughter always springing from Saramago's work!And yes to the quixotic nature of his writing and of the characters he creates.
I love Saramago for exactly those reasons and Cain is one of my favorites.
You read it in Portuguese, Kall? How was that experience?
s.penkevich wrote: "Lovely review! Saramago is always a joy, glad to see he has his characteristic charm and humor in this one too. I've been really interested to read this one since it came out, I'll have to do so. H..."I have read The Gospel too.. It was my first Saramago and read years ago so I may reread it.. He wrote it much before Cain and it created more of a turmoil than Cain... And yes, it is similar in the religious criticism.
Fionnuala wrote: "YES to the humor and laughter always springing from Saramago's work!And yes to the quixotic nature of his writing and of the characters he creates.
I love Saramago for exactly those reasons and C..."
Thank you, Fio... yes, Saramago's humour is his Mark.... And even if this one was at times darker than, lets say A Caverna or particularly A Jangada de Pedra.... I still laughed out loud a few times...
Yes, I read it Portuguese.. I love it... Cervantes qualified Portugueses as one of the most mellifluous languages...
s.penkevich wrote: "Have you read his Gospel According to Jesus? Is this similar in it's religious criticisms? I might have to buy this ASAP"Allow me intrude and say YES! Do read Gospel asap! Became one of my all time favorites..
Kall, you nailed it..."...as Cain searches through the holy book for the presence of the love and justice that he expects out of his god."
I have not thought of this image before... how many were those literally searching through the holy book for answers? Perfect.
Renato wrote: "Allow me intrude and say YES! Do read Gospel asap! Bec..."
Definitely a reread for me....
Renato wrote: "I have not thought of this image before... how many..."
Yes... good question... how many?... can they be counted?
