The Invention Of Morel (New York Review Books Classics)

Essentially the diary of a fugitive stuck on a strange tropical island where day after day he observes "the others".The story unfolds quite slowly -- think Robinson Crusoe meets the TV series LOST.The first half is intriguing in a realistic way; the second half veers into the fantastic (though remains wistful in tone).A fascinating little fiction that provokes possibilities of existence beyond normality.

Like many sci-fi stories this short book starts with a brilliant concept. The main character is on the run and has escaped to a seemingly abondoned hotel on a deserted island. Here he survives okay until suddenly people start to arrive. Initially he flees and hides from them but soon comes to realise they are totally unable to see or hear him. What distinguishes this story though is the perfectly logical explanation for these events that is slowly revealed. Whilst many such tales have pretty lame, unexplained or purely ridiculous reasons for their bizarre beginnings "The Invention of Morel" never wavers from it's clear and precise plot and it's implications are rather profound.

Enjoyable. I took a punt with this title and I wasn't disappointed.

Totally absorbing.

Although quite short, this is a very thought provoking book. Toward the end of the book, I started thinking about re-reading it to try and increase my understanding. Cesares is a fantastic author.Even after our book club discussion, including several latin americans who are more familiar with Cesares work, I am not 100% sure what the book was saying.

I feel a little unfair giving this poor rating this being classic and rated by Borges and all that but I really did not enjoy reading it. To me it read like a good essay by a schoolboy and it felt like a big inside joke where all the insiders who would have understood the joke had died. But I read it for a book club and I really enjoyed the discussion of the book at the book club which is the reason I am writing this review - if you would like a book that gives rise to very deep and meaningful discussions over the meaning of life and other profound things under the sun - choose this book.

In his preface, Borges upholds the value of plot as the means of holding and rewarding the reader's attention. But he omits character. In this instance, there is less a central character than a thinly personified predicament. As I felt not the smallest interest in or sympathy for him, I also lost any interest in finding out what happened to him; and gave up reading about half way.

Goods OK - reasonable delivery