Hello, Joe! 😃 Thank you so much for watching and commenting! It really is a magical, unforgettable experience. So glad to hear you're enjoying it. Have a fantastic weekend, my friend, and happy reading!
I stumbled upon him in my early days of travel writing. I began reading "Bitter Lemons of Cyprus", one of the few accounts of when Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots lived in peace, and then moved on to other books. Except in the book I mentioned, his style was, as far as non-fiction is concerned, too lyrical for me, often requiring re-reading of entire passages. He loved beautiful, artistic language, and I can't rule out the fact that he made me love it too, slowly, over time, when I was not reading him, despite my initial distaste for his craft. We change.
Thank you so much, Francesco, for your wonderful assessment of Durrell's style! 😃 I agree with you 100%. I also had some trouble with his style at first, and it actually may be the reason why I started and put down Justine so many times before finally letting the Quartet captivate me. It's amazing how we change as readers, absolutely; how the very act of reading changes us. I should read Bitter Lemons of Cyprus, about which I have heard great things. Thanks again for stopping by, my friend, and have an amazing day!
A very interesting review - thank you ! Lawrence Durrell spent about 18 months in Argentina from 1947 onwards, working as the Director of the British Council Institute in Córdoba giving lectures on cultural topics. Would he have actually met the author Julio Cortázar you mentioned, who I believe was still living in Argentina at that time ?
Thank you so much for watching and commenting, Ewen! 😃 Wow, I had no idea that Durrell had been in Argentina. You're absolutely right: Cortázar was still living in Argentina in 1947. He had just resigned (the previous year) his teaching post at the National University of Cuyo, in Mendoza. I wonder if they ever met. I'll do some research and see what I can find. Thanks again, my friend, and have an amazing day!
Hi Jorge,thanks very much for this insightful analysis of what is an important but rather neglected work.I read it when I was too young to understand its many complexities but you make me want to go back to it.I still remember vividly Justine,Clea and Pursewarden.As you say it is rather Proustian in prioritising style and characterisation over a strong narrative .I remember watching the film Justine with the wonderful Anouk Aimee but it was not really a novel which could be successfully filmed,like Proust ,although in his case a very good attempt was made by Raoul Ruiz.Have a good weekend.
Hello, Richard! 😃 Thank you so much for your excellent comments. I hope you will reexperience this amazing "writerly" (as Barthes might have described it) text. I love authors who prioritize style over narrative. Another clear connection with Cortázar (at least in his facet as a novelist). I will watch the adaptation of Justine, as I haven't had the opportunity yet. Sometimes these "unadaptable" texts make for the most interesting films, thought they are often disliked by the general public. The Raoul Ruiz film managed to be excellent, interesting, and successful. It's the only one of his films I have seen, but I plan to change that soon. Thanks again, my friend, and have a fantastic day!
After reading Justine twice i decided to read the whole quartet. I am right now 100 pages into Mountolive and liking it a lot. Am curious to see what other revelations are in store about these characters. Just checked your channel and it looks great. I'm panamanian so am very interested in your takes and recommendations for latin american literature. Subscribed!
Thank you so much, Carlos, for watching, commenting and subscribing! Welcome to Jorge's Corner. 😃 The Quartet is one of those stunning works of literature. I can't wait to go back to it someday. There will definitely be more to come about Latin American literature. I am trying to promote our great authors among those who read them in translation, and I am also developing more book reviews in Spanish. Have a fantastic day, my friend, ¡y viva Panamá! 🇵🇦
Thank you so much, my friend! 😃 I need to explore the work of Colleen McCullough. I'm only familiar with the film version of The Thorn Birds. I will check her out. Thank you for watching and commenting, and have a wonderful day!
Just got through the first 35 pages of Justine and can already tell that this is going to be magical.
Hello, Joe! 😃 Thank you so much for watching and commenting! It really is a magical, unforgettable experience. So glad to hear you're enjoying it. Have a fantastic weekend, my friend, and happy reading!
I stumbled upon him in my early days of travel writing. I began reading "Bitter Lemons of Cyprus", one of the few accounts of when Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots lived in peace, and then moved on to other books. Except in the book I mentioned, his style was, as far as non-fiction is concerned, too lyrical for me, often requiring re-reading of entire passages. He loved beautiful, artistic language, and I can't rule out the fact that he made me love it too, slowly, over time, when I was not reading him, despite my initial distaste for his craft.
We change.
Thank you so much, Francesco, for your wonderful assessment of Durrell's style! 😃 I agree with you 100%. I also had some trouble with his style at first, and it actually may be the reason why I started and put down Justine so many times before finally letting the Quartet captivate me. It's amazing how we change as readers, absolutely; how the very act of reading changes us. I should read Bitter Lemons of Cyprus, about which I have heard great things. Thanks again for stopping by, my friend, and have an amazing day!
@@JorgesCorner Thank you for always posting videos about meaningful works. Never dull, never obvious, never boring.
1000 thanks, my friend! 😃
A very interesting review - thank you ! Lawrence Durrell spent about 18 months in Argentina from 1947 onwards, working as the Director of the British Council Institute in Córdoba giving lectures on cultural topics. Would he have actually met the author Julio Cortázar you mentioned, who I believe was still living in Argentina at that time ?
Thank you so much for watching and commenting, Ewen! 😃 Wow, I had no idea that Durrell had been in Argentina. You're absolutely right: Cortázar was still living in Argentina in 1947. He had just resigned (the previous year) his teaching post at the National University of Cuyo, in Mendoza. I wonder if they ever met. I'll do some research and see what I can find. Thanks again, my friend, and have an amazing day!
Hi Jorge,thanks very much for this insightful analysis of what is an important but rather neglected work.I read it when I was too young to understand its many complexities but you make me want to go back to it.I still remember vividly Justine,Clea and Pursewarden.As you say it is rather Proustian in prioritising style and characterisation over a strong narrative .I remember watching the film Justine with the wonderful Anouk Aimee but it was not really a novel which could be successfully filmed,like Proust ,although in his case a very good attempt was made by Raoul Ruiz.Have a good weekend.
Hello, Richard! 😃 Thank you so much for your excellent comments. I hope you will reexperience this amazing "writerly" (as Barthes might have described it) text. I love authors who prioritize style over narrative. Another clear connection with Cortázar (at least in his facet as a novelist). I will watch the adaptation of Justine, as I haven't had the opportunity yet. Sometimes these "unadaptable" texts make for the most interesting films, thought they are often disliked by the general public. The Raoul Ruiz film managed to be excellent, interesting, and successful. It's the only one of his films I have seen, but I plan to change that soon. Thanks again, my friend, and have a fantastic day!
After reading Justine twice i decided to read the whole quartet. I am right now 100 pages into Mountolive and liking it a lot. Am curious to see what other revelations are in store about these characters. Just checked your channel and it looks great. I'm panamanian so am very interested in your takes and recommendations for latin american literature. Subscribed!
Thank you so much, Carlos, for watching, commenting and subscribing! Welcome to Jorge's Corner. 😃 The Quartet is one of those stunning works of literature. I can't wait to go back to it someday. There will definitely be more to come about Latin American literature. I am trying to promote our great authors among those who read them in translation, and I am also developing more book reviews in Spanish. Have a fantastic day, my friend, ¡y viva Panamá! 🇵🇦
The lushest of books.
I agree 100%. What an unforgettable reading experience. Thank you for watching, Matt, and have an excellent day! 😃
Oh this video reminds of another series, Colleen McCullough somehow, have you done a video on her Roman series. I'm glad I stumbled on your channel.
Thank you so much, my friend! 😃 I need to explore the work of Colleen McCullough. I'm only familiar with the film version of The Thorn Birds. I will check her out. Thank you for watching and commenting, and have a wonderful day!