As Intermitências Da Morte (2009) - Plot & Excerpts
"The following day, no one died." Suddenly, In an unknown country, people do not die anymore.It is not that they are not dying, they all linger on the edge of death but do not breathe their last breath.This causes various practical issues for various people and organizations (undertakers, hospitals, life insurance companies, pensions and many others). Except for that, the issue is addressed by the government, philosophers, the church, scientists and many others.In a cynical, ironical, practical and often humorous way, Jose Saramago puts a mirror in front of our face and the image is not always very nice.After a brilliant presentation of the hardships this situation causes and how they are dealt with by all the relevant sectors, the book has a major direction change, still dealing with death but from a completely different perspective.The book is written in a typical “Saramago” style. Long sentences with little punctuation marks, that seem more like a line of thought than narrative. The story is described with cynical satirical humor and combines philosophical thoughts and criticism of allot of pillars of society (the church, governments, monarchy, democracy and our general perspective of life and death)I connected more to the first part of the book.If you haven’t read it (and many other Saramago books) then go and read them. «En un país cuyo nombre no será mencionado se produce algo nunca visto desde el principio del mundo: la muerte decide suspender su trabajo letal, la gente deja de morir. La eurofia colectiva se desata, pero muy pronto dará paso a la desesperación y al caos.Sobran los motivos. Si es cierto que las personas ya no mueren, eso no significa que el tiempo haya parado. El destino de los humanos será una vejez eterna. Se buscarán maneras de forzar a la muerte a matar aunque no lo quiera, se corromperán las conciencias en los “acuerdos de caballeros” explícitos o tácitos entre el poder político, las mafias y las familias, los ancianos serán detestados por haberse convertido en estorbos irremovibles. Hasta el día en que la muerte decide volver…»
What do You think about As Intermitências Da Morte (2009)?
Interesting concept, surrealistic story. Didn't love it, but read it thinking any minute I would.
—sarah_86
Jose Saramago has such an awesome writing style.
—cookie
