what were your favorite stories in ficciones? what about them really appealed to you? did you dislike any story in particular?
on my first read. just finished the garden of forking paths, and quite liked circular ruins and library of babel.
for those who delve really deep into borge: did he embed any particularly interesting secrets or layers or 'keys to the labyrinth'? Would a second read in the near future add a significant amount to the experience?
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Part One: The Garden of Focking Paths
The Library of Babel (1941)
El Sur and Pierre Menard, el autor del Quijote really left a strong impression on me. The former is one of my favorite short stories.
I guess that I really liked the latter half of El Sur and the unexpected things that happen as a result of fulfilling a dream of wanting to visit the south of Argentina after the heavy delirious experience the protagonist goes through.
I guess Borges’s wit is what pleased me the most. Especially in Pierre Menard
What a meh book for me. There wasn't anything that really intellectually or emotionally moved me.
Is this the book to start with Borges?
reread it all the time; the layers you hypothesize might exist, but I'm feeling inclined to say, they exist in the mirrored reflection of themselves, as complementary cul-de-sacs of circulation;
totally;
I started with Ficciones, but it's likely irrelevant where you begin. What matters is that you enjoy what you read, much like taking a stroll through nature trails: you're probably going to walk the same path as somebody else, whether it's been recently taken or long neglected, the sights are the same, the joys always individual. Poesía completa, Biblioteca personal, and Conversaciones are quite enjoyable, too.
I've always been curious on the non-spanish, non-english translations of fictions. How is the book received in other regions/languages?
I was not aware that Borges married a happa.
I did not know that the library of babel was such a big influence on eco. It was a strange tale, although thinking of the structural complexities of the building, it gave me a fucking headache, as well as the social implications that eveything is contained an infinite structure that expands with time.
Was he talking about the universe?
absolutely: bit ly 2Kie6f4
relatedly, do current day latin americans think highly of Borges?
I think the biggest key is actually Forking Paths, which sort of makes a 'labyrinth' out of several other stories which otherwise aren't. Otherwise "The Immortal' in the Aleph collection is probably the ur-Borges story, with a bit of all the themes/techniques, so it's also possible to read other stories as detailed extrapolations of some aspect of what it does.
There's a lot of qabbalistic and mystic/gnostic stuff going on, Borges is supposed to be reread with more meaning every time
would you recommend anything in particular to read between borges rereads?
This article was a pretty good read:
borges.pitt.edu
I enjoyed "Tlön, Uqbar, Orbis Tertius".
Two thoughts about the Library of Babel from my most recent reading:
- I liked the idea embodied by this quote: "[there exist languages that make use of the same vocabulary but have different meanings for each word] in some of them, the word 'library' admits of the correct definition: "ubiquitous and everlasting system of hexagonal galleries", but 'library' is "bread" or "pyramid" or anything else in others, and the seven words which define it possess another value. You who read me, are you sure you understand my language?"
- If in the Library all the books were arranged by their contents alphabetically, the story wouldn't be interesting.
>did you dislike any story in particular?
Beyond just Ficciones, but I don't enjoy the stories that are about people. I like his stories that are about objects, places, or concepts.
>'there exist languages that make use of the same vocabulary but have different meanings for each word'
That was the exact quote that intellectually clicked something in my head, when I first read Fictions way back when. Prior to reading that exact quote, a lot of the book came across as dull to me
...
most leftards consider him bourgeois and elitist, also anglophile (altought lefties consume nothing but anglo trash)
more like gardens of fucking paths
I loved them all. Lottery, Library, and Rite of the Phoenix are my favorite. Though I also have a softspot for Ruins, Garden, and Death and the Compass. Al-Mutasin and Judas are perhaps best to ponder, however... I've re-read all of them a number of times. Seven times through total, I think. Tlon and Menard impress me less now than at first. As my knowledge of philosophy has increased, however, so has my appreciation for most of his stories and their subtle sublimity.
Unfortunately, the rest of his fiction collections have not hit the same satisfaction for me. I mean to check out his nonfiction and poetry too. Any reccs?
>Prior to reading that exact quote
That wasn't the quote from the story, by the way. That was me paraphrasing for context.
I will always love and admire Three Versions of Judas, even though the catechists have partially undermined its premise.
His nonfictions are great, they're actually closer to the stories in Ficciones than most of his later fiction. Read "The Analytical Language of John Wilkins", for example, it could have been easily a story in Ficciones.
Get "Otras Inquisiciones" if you read Spanish, or the "Collected nonfictions" in English.
If you enjoyed the Three Versions of Judas, you'll probably like reading the Gospel of Judas, and The Scapegoat by Rene Girard. Very interesting stuff.
yes i do, dont know what's the general opinion of him.
retard
Gospel of Judas is great, thanks for the other rec. not that user