The Melancholy of Resistance

[Anonymous No.10418046]

I picked up this book in Budapest recently on the recommendation of a bookstore clerk. Quite amazed by it so far, somewhat difficult to read though since the sentences are very long and obtuse.

It's not that it's the writing is bad in any sense, it is just that getting a sense of what the author is trying to convey can be challenging at times. Perhaps its due to the loss of meaning or fluidity when translating into an inferior language like english.

In any case, what do you (the ones who even read here anymore.. ) think about this book and/or the author, László Krasznahorkai?

Also, hungarian literature thread or something, if any knowledgeable person is willing to pitch in.

[Anonymous No.10418476]

He's really good, he pops up here now and then.

[Anonymous No.10418536]

>>10418046
His sentences are just as long in Hungarian as they are in English. His writing is great if you are in the mood for crushing depression. His vocabulary can be a bit obscure and archaic at times. Of course what I wrote applies to the Hungarian originals, I've never encountered his work in English.
I've only read his asian themed works though, haven't peaked into his main works like War and War or The Melancholy of Resistance.

[Anonymous No.10418788]

I really want to read any book by him but haven't been able to get any.
Only hungrarian lit i've read is nostalgia by Cartarescu, which is a magic realist-like novel divided in 4 (I think) stories.
He also released a new book this year which got translated into spanish, so i'm planning on reading

[Anonymous No.10419144]

>>10418788
That is a romanian author you twat.

[Anonymous No.10419165]

>>10419144
Ah fuck you are right sorry

[Anonymous No.10419178]

i find his style very natural and easy to read (in english translation anyway) once i settle into the rhythm of it. i have to go slightly slower than normal, but once i hit the groove it's super readable and lucid. i've heard him say that his style is meant to mirror how people think and that you don't have periods in your thoughts and i think there's something to that

also the six pages on the academic trying to figure out to use a hammer was fucking hilarious

[Anonymous No.10419270]

How does this book compares to Satantango ? Read that one (in french) and thought it was a very engaging, complex read.

[Anonymous No.10419329]

>>10419178
I feel you on the prose. When a text makes you concentrate so much just to keep up it gets incredibly immersive once you get the hang of it. Can’t wait to read more by him.

[Anonymous No.10419339]

>>10419270
it's very comparable, basically more of the same. his later books start to get a bit different as he gets more interested in asian stuff and art and his long paragraphs formalise into chapter long sentences

[Anonymous No.10419392]

I recently read Satantango and loved it. The writing feels very viscous and like it is pulling you under. In my mind, similar to Under the Volcano. Haunting work that was by turns hilarious and soul crushing. Esti's chapter literally made me cry and put the book down for the day. Never had that happen before with a book. Hope to read Melancholy soon.

I did have to check to make sure my kindle edition wasn't fucked up and failing to show paragraph breaks. Was relieved to discover that was not an error.

[Anonymous No.10419414]

>>10419392
>that one chapter where they fall asleep and the text continues seemlessly intotheir dreamsand thesen tencesstar tcascadingto getherinwei rdlyunbr okenbutbrok entext
esti's chapter also ruined me too. fuck me

[Anonymous No.10419430]

>>10419414
I remember looking at that and wondering what the fuck I was supposed to do with it for a few seconds before I noticed what he'd done.

[Anonymous No.10419446]

>>10418046
>an inferior language like english

[Anonymous No.10419465]

>>10419446
hungarian is like the final boss of languages for literature
so much great literature hidden behind such a tortuously complicated language

[Anonymous No.10419471]

>>10419465
I just finished Nadas’ Book of Memoirs and I must admit i’m impressed. Need to look into hungarian lit for sure. Up next : Marai.