Product Description
This haunting jungle of a novel has been hailed as "a masterpiece" by Luis Bunuel and "one of the great novels not only of Spanish America, but of our time" by Carlos Fuentes. The story of the last member of the aristocratic Azcoitia family, a monstrous mutation protected from the knowledge of his deformity by being surrounded with other freaks as companions, The Obscene Bird of Night is a triumph of imaginative, visionary writing. Its luxuriance, fecundity, horror, and energy will not soon fade from the reader's mind.
Customer Reviews:
multidimensional apnea.......2006-12-29
I have a really hard time finding fitting words for describing this work. I will, perhaps in the manner of the author and the formal lines the story follows, will make the following word association: voices, flux, silence, gravitational intermitence, mentalese, overcrowding, sensation overflow, vertiginous, fast, schizophrenic, haunting, implosive, relentlessness... extremes, circles, spirals, ouroboros that eventually finds that recursion leads to nothing; that is, indeed, the last word: Nothingness.
I tried to show you by way of just a chain of emotions and ideas what you will most certainly experience by reading it.
There are two advices I most heartily provide:
1) Read it in spanish. Please do try. No translation can do justice to this piece, specially in terms of rythm and word play.
2) Prepare your mental voice to adopt the rythms given by the author on each paragraph, on each sentence. I do know this may sound obvious, but in this specific case, it cannot be overstated. Almost every paragraph will be an extreme and wild travel, a rollercoaster of voices and emotions and images, all entwined and tangled together quite organically. The author made a strategic use of commas and dots, comply with his strategy and the trip, the mesmerizing experience, will be unavoidable.
This is by no means a literary critic, since I barely enjoy most kinds of novels but, in this very particular case, you cannot avoid the gravitation of the work, the way it draws you near as if it had a thousand hooks, the way it never completely lets go, even upon reaching its end. This is, by far, one of the most superbly accomplished works of narrative I've ever read. I thought no one could even begin to compare to Rulfo, Sartre or Kafka, three of my personal favorites, but this book, although essentially different, even surpasses them.
That much I recommend you this work of art, a supernova of images and spears and apneas, multi-dimensional apneas.
The darker side of magic realism........2006-09-18
I would not know where to begin to try to summarize this book. There are several story arcs, and several narrative voices which are actually all one voice-- different guises of Humberto Peñaloza. He is an unborn fetus (miracle baby), a frustrated nun, an improbable mute, and the secretary to a rich man who may or may not have fathered the rich man's deformed baby.
The Obscene Bird of Night is justly considered one of the best books in Chilean literature. Richly and skilfully written, its myth and metaphor wraps around itself to be moving, horrifying, mystifying and satisfying.
This is a book that needs some time. It is very far from an easy read. If I have not given it five stars, it is not a comment on the genius of the book. Rather, it is simply that it is more grotesque than I really have the stomach to enjoy in an unqualified way. I admire it immensely, and recommend it unhesitatingly.
Beyond times.......2005-09-12
This is one of the best latinamerican books, further than magic realismus (realismo mágico) this novel traspasses all the borders beyond time, gender, reality and absurd. Dark novel that takes you into your own clue du sac. This wonderful story narrated by a mute man, who becomes all the voices in the novel, is like a monad of humanity, himself represents all the human disgraces, inherited from generation to generation and unable to scape fate. Must not be missed if you want to take a deep immersion into human condition.
The best in surrealism.......2004-10-10
Rarely is a book more complex, more funny or more harrowing. The magical tale of Humberto Penazola who spends the last days of his life in a convent taking care of old women, is narrated through a series of surreal hallucinations. Questions of his identity and his sexuality are explored beyond the realms of imagination. Tumbling through a dark spiral of black magic - this book is a MUST read for one and all!!
Fantastical.......2004-05-22
This novel is the most weird and fantastical novel I have ever read. This, of course, means it is one of the best. The plot is surreal, the words are deep and rich, and it is so original, so beautiful and so brave, that any reader if affected by it.
When reading, you are plunged into such a different world that the images created encase you, lock you into the plot.
This novel, is a step into the mist for anyone who has only stuck to the odd thriller. It is a opening to wider horizons - that of magic realism.
Average customer rating:
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The Tension of Paradox: Jose Donoso's the Obscene Bird of Night As Spiritual Exercises (Research in International Studies Latin America Series)
Pamela May Finnegan
Manufacturer: Ohio University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0896801691 |
Book Description
This digital document is an article from The Review of Contemporary Fiction, published by Review of Contemporary Fiction on September 22, 1999. The length of the article is 7605 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: A Small Biography of The Obscene Bird of Night.
Author: Jose Donoso
Publication:
The Review of Contemporary Fiction (Refereed)
Date: September 22, 1999
Publisher: Review of Contemporary Fiction
Volume: 19
Issue: 3
Page: 123
Distributed by Thomson Gale
Average customer rating:
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OBSCENE BIRD OF NIGHT, THE
Jose Donoso
Manufacturer: Jonathan Cape
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
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| Classics
| Comic
| Contemporary
| Literary
ASIN: 022400932X |
Customer Reviews:
Seals and vikings oh my!.......2007-03-21
What the heck do you expect from Sandra Hill - anything less than excellence? As usual, an awesome viking/seal adventure just waiting for you to buy it, take it home and treat it right - read it!! But pay attention: this is a fantasy so don't expect reality; suspend belief (such as "there is no such thing as time travel") and just ENJOY the book. If you don't like fantasy, don't buy then review the book in a negative; that's not fair. Warning: sex scenes are R.
good dialogue.......2007-01-05
This is my first Sandra Hill. I am pleasantly surprised. the humor was good and realistic. sure a little far-fetched but very enjoyable. I am calling borders now to order the rest.
Really a 3 1/2.......2006-02-12
I had some problems with this book:
1. The whole marriage thing was pretty far fetched.
2. Maddie should think about breast reduction surgery since we heard about the size of her breasts constantly.
3. She was a shrew; she was always shrieking about something & never shut up. I'm surprised Ian didn't wear ear plugs around her.
4. This is the same problem I have with many books. The male and female leads have an area of expertise due to career, training, etc. Yet one of the leads, usually the female, refuses to let that person call the shots, even though in that particular area, THEY KNOW MORE. EX: Maddie knows squat about the 21st century, has no clue about covert ops. Yet every time Ian tells her to do/not do something that he knows will be dangerous she pouts, is insulted, says it's because she's a woman and if at all possible does it anyway. Completely irresponsible, particularly as her acts can put people in a lot of danger. If she were a photographer & told Ian not to open the darkroom door she'd expect him to adhere to what she says because SHE KNOWS more about it.
I would have given it a three but I enjoyed the follow up on the earlier stories in the series and I like Sandra Hill's writing style.
Pass.......2006-02-01
I read the other reviews and wonder if I should have picked another book to start out with this author. I couldn't get into it, way too far-fetched. Not enjoyable.
Hot & Heavy.......2005-08-01
Over the past few years, Madrene's Viking family has steadily been vanishing; logical probability indicates that they are dead. Despite Madrene's valor, she finds her lands overtaken by invaders and herself sold into harem after harem as a slave. However, since she tends to have an unfortunate effect on her owners' ability to make use of her as a harem girl, she never stays anywhere long. Then, out of the blue, she finds herself free, and a thousand years in the future. Madrene does not know what has happened or what to make of this new world. When she is found by a group of Navy SEALS, they at first think she's a terrorist, but soon become otherwise persuaded. A marriage of convenience, or possibly inconvenience, is the only way to get her legally into the States, and Ian MacLean is chosen as the groom. He is sure that they'll be able to annul it after she's safely established as a citizen, but he hadn't counted on attraction bringing them into a real marriage. The only problem is, Ian is convinced he's married to a lunatic who might be a terrorist, [prostitute], or burglar, albeit a pretty one. There is no way she could be so innocent of all modern things, yet she is. None of it makes a bit of sense. The only thing either is sure of is that they are falling for each other, and it can't possibly work.
**** Granted, this book is replete with places nitpickers can dismantle gleefully, such as how could a woman from the distant past, from the Viking lands, speak English? However, fans of Ms. Hill's broad humor will be pleased as she adheres to all her trademark mechanisms to create a story with zip and a heartwarming end. ****
Book Description
The mean streets of Boston in the 1970s played host to a nefarious underworld of pimps, pushers, and addicts, and Paul "Sully" Doyle was there. From Kenmore Square hippies to South Boston junkies to Combat Zone prostitutes, this undercover operative with the federal Drug Enforcement Administration met every type of unsavory character in town in his fight to bust violent rings of dope, coke, and smack dealers during a turbulent era in the city's history.
Now Special Agent Doyle bluntly chronicles the riveting, true stories from his years on the inside. Known on the street by his alias, "Paulie Sullivan," he recalls his rookie days, trying to infiltrate the criminal drug world under the tutelage of his veteran partner, through his coming of age as an experienced narc-sharing his keen observations on ruined lives, personal peril, and government red tape along the way. A former prizefighter not at all shy about punching his way out of trouble, the author divulges a candid, worm's-eye-view of the drug war with all its blemishes and glories. With abiding humanity and graphic detail, the memoir richly describes exploits with junkie stool pigeons and hooker informants, college burnouts and Chinatown mobsters, ghetto pimps and violent thugs, bureaucratic obstacles and uncooperative foreign governments, successful busts and brushes with death. Marijuana, cocaine, heroin, amphetamines, LSD-no illegal substance failed to tempt those seeking the ultimate high, resulting in the long nights, sudden danger, and uncertain outcomes that faced Sully and his partners.
Combining gripping action with perceptive commentary, this unvarnished snapshot of one agent's experiences undercover adeptly captures the violence, futility, and endless frustration of the war on drugs. As engrossing as a fiction thriller, Hot Shots and Heavy Hits provides a rare glimpse into a harsh world unknown to most of us.
Customer Reviews:
Kept waiting for the excitement.......2007-08-18
While the story chapters in the book are individually interesting, they somehow don't make a whole. The book feels choppy, as if it needed additional narrative to make if flow more smoothly. I expected, based on other reviews, to become immersed in the life of a narcotics officer. Just a average read.
One of the Good Guys.......2006-09-13
I truly enjoyed this book. Paul Doyle's experiences were something that needed to be put on paper and published for the world to see. Although the names and the places may change, the core root of the drug world remains the same. In reading this book I found that other than the bell bottom pants and silk shirts, the happenings of the underground drug world are in so many ways similar today. The difference being the technology used and the way the intelligence is gained. I bought this book at a fair where the author was present and signed my copy. I spoke to him for a few moments and told him that I worked for a police department in a neighboring town and that my husband was also a police officer. He suggested that I read it and have my husband do the same. This book was a real page turner and I wasn't able to put it down until I was finished. I was truly impressed with his compassion for people which can easily be lost in the investigative and enforcement field. He points out that he actually had to become 'one of them' in order to take some of these criminals down. It was a different day and age. God Bless Paul and the guys that he worked with. It's not a job for the meek and mild.
Outstanding! Opened my eyes - a must read.......2005-07-30
Read this book at the advice of a friend and it is a must read for every caring American. Opened my eyes to the sacrifice some people are doing on our behalf and opened my eyes to a life most of us cant imagine. These folks do it for us and then in the end the Author takes us on a learning experience about where the drug money goes and who is behind it - the terrorist connection. He also lets you know the solution to cracking the incredible drug problem in this country lies in our families and not in Washington. Read it
Hot Shots and Heavy Hits: Tales of an Undercover Drug Agent.......2005-07-24
Excellent. Didn't want to stop reading until I was finished the book.
Superlative tale telling- and guess what- it's all true.......2005-02-17
Paul Doyle delivers edge of your seat excitement. Poignantly related, this warrior served as an undercover drug agent in the seamy sixties and seventies, in Boston's most rag-tag blighted neighborhoods.What is most refreshing is the lack of moral ambiguity in this narration.While remaining compassionate to the true victims of drugs- the addicts themselves, Paul Doyle mercilessly hunts down the perps on the top of the food chain, the major dealers and manufacturers- in an effort to staunch the flow of the drug epidemic.
I really enjoyed the book, my hope is that if it does get made into a film that the director has as subtle a touch as the memoirist.
Average customer rating:
- learning alot about myself
- It feels like an older sister is coaching me to blossom!
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Hot & Heavy: Finding Your Soul Through Food and Sex
Judi Hollis
Manufacturer: Health Communications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General | Diets | Diets & Weight Loss | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
General | Nutrition | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
Eating Disorders | Mental Health | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
Drug Dependency | Recovery | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
General | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
General | Sex | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
General | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
General | Diabetes | Disorders & Diseases | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
General | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
New Age | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books | Astrology | Chakras | Channeling | Divination | Dreams | General | Goddesses | Meditation | Mental & Spiritual Healing | Mysticism | New Thought | Reference | Reincarnation | Self-Help | Theosophy | Urantia | Visionary Fiction
General | Occult | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Internal Medicine | Medicine | Subjects | Books | Cardiology | Critical Care | Endocrinology & Metabolism | Gastroenterology | General | Hematology | Hepatology | Infectious Disease | Nephrology | Neurology | Oncology | Pulmonary | Rheumatology | Urology
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Fat and Furious
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Fat Is a Family Affair, Second Edition: How Food Obsessions Affect Relationships
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Fat and Furious: Overcome Your Body's Resistance to Weight Loss Now!
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Food Addiction: The Body Knows: Revised & Expanded Edition
Accessories:
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Tanita BC533 Glass Innerscan Body Composition Monitor
ASIN: 1558746331 |
Customer Reviews:
learning alot about myself.......1999-12-12
Dr Hollis's book was fascinating. It isnt just some diet book, its a personal journey. I learned alot about myself.
It feels like an older sister is coaching me to blossom!.......1999-06-14
Judy Hollis candidly shares a lifetime of personal and professional experiences in this manual for women seekers. Somehow, I never ran into a sister, friend or slumber-party pal who says it like it is...or could be... when women indulge in the pleasures of food and sex for nourishment, without guilt. I'm savoring every page; thanks judy!
Customer Reviews:
Sometimes it could be a good one too.......2006-05-16
Good collection, Crumb is a comic genius with timeless and penetrating illustrations. A must have for true comic minds.
Complete Crumb Comics: "Hot 'N' Heavy" (Complete Crumb Comics Vol. 7).......2005-09-03
Almost new - barely handled. Three central pages with bent corners.
Crumb is a saint........2001-04-17
And Fantagraphics is saintly as well.
Product Description
Titles include: hot dog, my generation, full nelson, my way, rollin'(air raid vehicle), livin' it up, the one, getcha groove on, take a look around, it'll be ok , boiler, hold on and rollin'(urban assault vehicle)
Customer Reviews:
The music on this album is the s@?t!!!!!!!!!!!.......2003-10-07
The music on this album is amazing...Wes borland's riffs are very interesting and creative. Except for the parts where Fred does his usual stupid things to ruin the song example (yelling limp bizkit! or yea or the many other annoying things he tends to do) even his parts, on a select few songs, are well written. But this book is a great buy because Wes's riffs are great!
that's great.......2001-07-04
this book is the best book of limp bizkit that you can find.
Book Description
Cowboys, Roman warriors and even a Norse God are some of the horny, hairy, beefy guys you will encounter in this new collection of erotic fiction, featuring writers such as Jeff Mann, R.E. Neu, Hank Edwards and Simon Sheppard.
Ron Sureshais the editor of Bears on Bears and Bearotica. He lives in Providence, R.I.
Customer Reviews:
Bear Lust is a Must.......2004-11-10
This second erotic anthology, featuring the Bear genre is a wonderful, lusty romp throught the woods of bear fiction. the stories are varied and captivating and hot and ironic and funny and well written literature.
This book answers the question: What would Anais Nin have written if she were a bear.
Bravo and thanks and a big bearhug for Mr. Suresha and his latest accomplishment.
Book Description
Pop music comes and goes with dull regularity, but classic rock is always there. Led Zeppelin. Jimi Hendrix. The Eagles. The Doors. Creedence. The Who. These are the bands and artists who changed the face of American rock and whose innovations remain fresh and exciting today. This book is an unprecedented collection of hard-hitting & informative interviews with the artists who made rock classic, including David Gilmour, Angus Young, Robby Krieger (The Doors), Don Felder (The Eagles), Pete Townshend, Aerosmith, Gary Rossington (Lynyrd Skynyrd) and more. Includes a special tribute to Grateful Dead visionary Jerry Garcia, plus the stories behind rockÕs most famous songs, including: "Stairway to Heaven," "Sweet Home Alabama," "RamblinÕ Man," "Light My Fire," "Hotel California," and many others. 288 pages, 6 inch. x 9 inch.
Average customer rating:
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Heavy Metal in the Hot One Hundred: Guitar - Vocal
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill Companies
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Guitar | Instruments & Performers | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
Instruction & Study | Theory, Composition & Performance | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0895245213 |
Book Description
15 heavy metal hits by such chart-topping superstars as Guns N' Roses, Metallica, Van Halen, Tesla, Joe Satriani, and more! Includes special jam-packed color photo section.
Books:
- The Oppermanns: A Novel
- The Possibility of an Island
- The Sagas of Icelanders: Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition (World of the Sagas)
- The Stone Carvers
- The Tesseract
- The THOUGHT GANG
- The Yellow Wind: With a New Afterword by the Author
- This Noble Land:: My Vision for America
- Three Adventure Novels: She, King Solomon's Mines, Allan Quatermain
- Thunderland
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Solo Guitar Playing/Book 1 with CD
- History: Fiction or Science
- Everything's Eventual : 14 Dark Tales
- Death of a Poison Pen
- iMovie 6 & iDVD: The Missing Manual
- John Shaw's Closeups in Nature
- Hunting Trips of a Ranchman & The Wilderness Hunter
- Hunt Slonem: An Art Rich and Strange
- Ecologists and Environmental Politics: A History of Contemporary Ecology
- Falling Down for the Count
The Maimed
Hell
Maldoror and the Complete Works of the Comte de Lautréamont
Moravagine (New York Review Books Classics)
The Street of Crocodiles (Penguin Twentieth-Century Classics)
