I just want to let known that I'm always really happy to see you making an effort to pronounce names and words that are not in your native language correctly.
"That's the crazy thing about life. Sometimes the things you think would save you artistically can't compensate for the day to day reality of the shit you're forced to deal with. It's a sad truth, but it's one we need to prepare for and guard against."
That's literally what I do haha. Thanks to Cliff, I've read Kafka, Dostoyevsky, Knut Hamsun, Jean Lorrain, and a few more awaiting my attention already on the shelf!
Just found your channel. Now I have another plethora of books to read on my list. Right now I'm reading a couple Joan Grant books. Then I'll read the next thousand books on my list before I can get to some of the books you've reviewed. I will....my 2020 goal. 😎👍📚📚📚📚 Love your channel! It's so good to find other book nerds in the world. I can't tell if we are a rare species these days or not. Cheers!
Lu Xun - A madman's diary. A short story about a guy who becomes really paranoic and thinks that everybody around him want to eat him. He becomes suspicious of everything and everyone around him. Every gesture people do is seen by our hero as a sign that those around him want him eaten. He starts to consult old confucian classics and, much to his regard, he finds out that the old and wise masters advocated for cannibalism! The story was written in 1918 and was an attack on the traditional chinese culture. I highly recomand you to read this, it's only a few pages long, goes well with Pinera and you can read it here for free: www.marxists.org/archive/lu-xun/1918/04/x01.htm
I would recommend a film called Santa y Andres that talks about the struggles of Cuban authors like Piñera or Reinaldo Arenas. It was also censored in Cuba. I haven't read this book but I feel like I should.
Hi! Have you ever read anything by Moacyr Scliar? It's one of my favourite brazilian authors, and, based on your reviews, I think you might enjoy his style. My favorites are: "A Centaur in the Garden", "The Woman who wrote the bible" and "Vendilhões do Tempo (not sure about the english translation of this title)". Cheers!
I believe I'm late to the conversation, but if you plan to read more by Mr. Piñera, I can recommend Cold Tales. It's a collection of the stories published in his life as well as some they found among his papers after his death. They have the same surrealism and dream logic present in René's Flesh. I think they're all incredible. Edit: I ordered my own copy of René's Flesh and I already had a copy of Cold Tales, so since I read his stories already, I think I know what I'm getting myself into.
I read lezama lima and reinaldo arena but nothing of pinera mainly because his books are hard to find. Your awesome review interested me very much. I think i'll give a shot to rene's flesh. Thanks!
Have you heard of the film Strawberry and Chocolate at all? Sounds like some of the factors in the authors life you mentioned are touched upon there also. Give it a try if you haven't already!
This was an excellent video! You have peaked my interest in this book, however I cannot find a copy anywhere, online or in store for a reasonable price. Where did you find your copy? Do you have suggestions for additional places to look
Finally read this and must say I don’t know what to think. Clearly see the Kafka influence, and find it to be a clever analogy of the mystery of growing into adulthood, it did have its dull and a bit too transgressive for the sake of it moments.
Dude you gotta read Paradiso by another Cuban writer, Lezama Lima, if you like dreamlike epics Paradiso is as good as 100 years of solitude, but very different
@@liquidpebbles7475 I agree but It's funny that while growing up in Cuba, I would read mostly no Cuban books and that now after I'm older I can actually be able to read and understand these books. 😁
"...so better than food..." ~ 0_0 That expression considering the 'carne' explanation made me tittering. Hopefuly not so inappropriate. Hopefuly. There is a Hungarian play that came across my mind during your review: if not you others might get interested in ... The Tragedy of Man - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tragedy_of_Man
Do you ever review books that you cannot find any value in after having read them? Bad books do exist and their existence is a challenge to any lover of the good ones. Good work here, by the way.
Hearing you talking some spanish brought a smile to my face.
I just want to let known that I'm always really happy to see you making an effort to pronounce names and words that are not in your native language correctly.
I want to recall you pleading u, your watchers, to call you out if you ever used the term ’Kafkaesque’. This is me, now calling you out
I recommend a very unappreciated 20th century novel called “ Silence” by Shūsaku Endo. Very beautifully written but devastating at the same time.
"That's the crazy thing about life. Sometimes the things you think would save you artistically can't compensate for the day to day reality of the shit you're forced to deal with. It's a sad truth, but it's one we need to prepare for and guard against."
BOOM! That's the nut right there, eh?
How do you find all these interesting books??
From now on, I'll just watch your videos to know what to read next. :)
That's what I do 😂
That's literally what I do haha. Thanks to Cliff, I've read Kafka, Dostoyevsky, Knut Hamsun, Jean Lorrain, and a few more awaiting my attention already on the shelf!
It’s what I do 😆
Same here👊
Same here 😂
Just found your channel. Now I have another plethora of books to read on my list. Right now I'm reading a couple Joan Grant books. Then I'll read the next thousand books on my list before I can get to some of the books you've reviewed. I will....my 2020 goal. 😎👍📚📚📚📚 Love your channel! It's so good to find other book nerds in the world. I can't tell if we are a rare species these days or not. Cheers!
Another great turn on, thanks Cliff, and congratulations on all your success. I remember when you only had a few _hundred_ subs, man!
Lu Xun - A madman's diary.
A short story about a guy who becomes really paranoic and thinks that everybody around him want to eat him. He becomes suspicious of everything and everyone around him. Every gesture people do is seen by our hero as a sign that those around him want him eaten. He starts to consult old confucian classics and, much to his regard, he finds out that the old and wise masters advocated for cannibalism! The story was written in 1918 and was an attack on the traditional chinese culture. I highly recomand you to read this, it's only a few pages long, goes well with Pinera and you can read it here for free:
www.marxists.org/archive/lu-xun/1918/04/x01.htm
Thank you for the link
This definitely reminds me of a absurdist fable. Kind-of like Kafka and Camus had a baby who had a pension for floral prose.
Hey Cliff! I started reading Dennis Johnson while in a period where I found Fellini and I have you to thank for helping me find perfect literature!
Since you are starting to read Denis Johnson, like I am, Jesus's Son is so very, very good.
On 2666 and Agua Viva rn, so far haven’t disappointed, loving the review man!
I would recommend a film called Santa y Andres that talks about the struggles of Cuban authors like Piñera or Reinaldo Arenas. It was also censored in Cuba. I haven't read this book but I feel like I should.
The movie (and the book) Before Night Falls explores similar themes.
@@vins1979 yup. The 70s and 80s in Cuba were dark times for a lot of authors. Well, it is still pretty dark times for independent artists.
I loved Before Night Falls with Javier Bardem!
Hi! Have you ever read anything by Moacyr Scliar? It's one of my favourite brazilian authors, and, based on your reviews, I think you might enjoy his style. My favorites are: "A Centaur in the Garden", "The Woman who wrote the bible" and "Vendilhões do Tempo (not sure about the english translation of this title)". Cheers!
Man, Virgilio Piñera is amazing! I remember the first time I read him. You should also look into Alejo Carpentier's work!
Alejo Carpentier's The Lost Steps, is a good one, that worked for me. Someone said once, to bring it with you, whenever you travel.
I believe I'm late to the conversation, but if you plan to read more by Mr. Piñera, I can recommend Cold Tales. It's a collection of the stories published in his life as well as some they found among his papers after his death. They have the same surrealism and dream logic present in René's Flesh. I think they're all incredible.
Edit: I ordered my own copy of René's Flesh and I already had a copy of Cold Tales, so since I read his stories already, I think I know what I'm getting myself into.
I'm yet to read this book, but the way you describe it somewhat reminds me of the 1989 movie Society! I'm definitely checking the book out!
Really happy to see you review a book from a Cuban writer, keep up the good work!
I came to YT after reading Piñera’s short story, ‘The One Who Came to Save Me’ and now I want to buy this book too.
I read lezama lima and reinaldo arena but nothing of pinera mainly because his books are hard to find. Your awesome review interested me very much. I think i'll give a shot to rene's flesh. Thanks!
Have you heard of the film Strawberry and Chocolate at all? Sounds like some of the factors in the authors life you mentioned are touched upon there also. Give it a try if you haven't already!
I watched that movie!
Así es la vida. Love you!
This was an excellent video! You have peaked my interest in this book, however I cannot find a copy anywhere, online or in store for a reasonable price. Where did you find your copy? Do you have suggestions for additional places to look
You sold me at Kafka and Cronenberg, have you read Consumed by Cronenberg? Much love
Finally read this and must say I don’t know what to think. Clearly see the Kafka influence, and find it to be a clever analogy of the mystery of growing into adulthood, it did have its dull and a bit too transgressive for the sake of it moments.
I like this channel. The books covered are pretty much the opposite of what I enjoy reading.
Just ordered! Thanks, Cliff.
Best booktuber out there
Just ordered a copy, hope it's as good as this review makes it out to be. It seems like a masterpiece.
Where did you find a copy? I can't find one for a reasonable price.
MyBookishEmpire abebooks.com
dood best reading channel on the web.
Recommendation: our lady of flowers
You had me at cuban gothic
😅
Another awesome vid, Cliff. Would love to see/hear your thoughts on The Uninhabitable Planet by David Wallace-Wells.
hi, does anyone know authors who write similarly to Clarice Lispector and Silvina Ocampo.
thanks for the reviews, Cliff.
Simone Weil -> Gravity and grace
Dude you gotta read Paradiso by another Cuban writer, Lezama Lima, if you like dreamlike epics Paradiso is as good as 100 years of solitude, but very different
I was going to recommend this book. 😁
@@Cubannerd aye! Cuba has great literature, currently reading "el siglo de las luces" by alejo carpentier, loving it :)
@@liquidpebbles7475 I agree but It's funny that while growing up in Cuba, I would read mostly no Cuban books and that now after I'm older I can actually be able to read and understand these books. 😁
Keep the Cuban authors coming!
Long live the new flesh!
Please review The Desert of The Tartars by Dino Buzzati! Such an exciting author.
"...so better than food..." ~ 0_0
That expression considering the 'carne' explanation made me tittering.
Hopefuly not so inappropriate.
Hopefuly.
There is a Hungarian play that came across my mind during your review: if not you others might get interested in ...
The Tragedy of Man - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tragedy_of_Man
Better than food, all right. But would you say this was better than... carne? Me gusta como hablas Español, by the way.
For a moment I thought you were talking about the Chilean president lol
Bueno... tampoco seria tan incorrecto.
Better than eating flesh!....(?)
That sounds like more in the style of Cortazar and Jose Donoso
Review "I've been down so goddamn long that it looks like up to me" by Farina. Por favore.
I like this guy.
Its 260$ on amazon now...
Wow I have to find this book.
Hey man, great review. Check out Ricardo Piglia if you want to read some amazing contemporary Argentine fiction.
Perfect pronunciation. I think you could learn spanish in months.
If you want a quick and easy take on homesexuality during the cuban revolution, watch "antes de que anochezca" by Julián schnabel.
Do you ever review books that you cannot find any value in after having read them? Bad books do exist and their existence is a challenge to any lover of the good ones. Good work here, by the way.
first
You lucky fish
2 months; Rip and Tear.