Blindness (Harvest Book)

A great read that instills fear and wonder. Beautifully written, and well executed. I could not put this book down, and as I got to the end, I wanted the book to be longer so I could keep reading it. Saramago has a way with words that made me feel raw emotions that I have not felt in a while. He has written an exceptional book that reads like an orated story. I loved every minute of it.

I got this book because it sounded interesting and the author won a major writing prize. I'm an amateur writer trying to nail dialogue.To my dismay, this guy never uses quotes! It's really annoying and unconventional. Quotes are indicated by a comma and capitalization. It was cute for two seconds, but it got difficult to understand who was speaking (and because of this fact, I would never recommend it to younger readers). I had to upgrade to the audiobook to get through it.

I'm waiting for the Auschwitz stuff to end. I feel like I'm reading Ellie Weisel's "Night". For me, the story is so dark and negative, it makes me want to give up on it. Maybe it turns around to a story of hope in the end, but though I'm nearly finished with it (70%) I don't think I'll finish it.I can't remmber the last time I didn't finish a book (and I majored in literature in college). I guess it's not for me since so many others like it. Weird.

Although the author's explanation of the reason for the blindness is thin, the story itself is a page turner. I did not expect this book to be so suspenseful and engrossing. The characters are nameless, but that does not mean they lack personality and depth. If you are up for a well-written engaging story of something out of your wildest nightmares this is it.

Blindness is, without doubt, the best novel I've read this year and it goes on the best of all time list.
Not only does Saramago tell a tale of morality on several levels he does so in a style all his own which, when combined with the subject matter, only serves to emphasize the point: We are all blind.

This book really shows the best and worse in human nature. When faced with a terrible predicament the main character of the book shows the reader a way to behave in life. I was totally moved by the doctor's wife shear bravery under terrible conditions.

There is no question that the author is superb. A little tedious at times, but this recreation of true human nature could not be in any better form. Extreme to prove the point yes, but not sure how he could have explained the subject any better. It drives at the core of us humans.

A very interesting book. Apparently, the author did not live to finish it, but only the very ending is missing - and by then, everything important has been handled.

The book is about the spread of a disease that leaves its victims blind. The author effectively tells the story, giving the reader a heavy dose of the frustration and despair that one would go through becoming suddenly completely blind. The book is written in a difficult style - few discernable paragraphs, it can be difficult to follow dialogue. This may simply be a matter of the book having been a first draft, but as I thought about it, it was also a very effective way to tell a story about people who could no longer use normal visual cues to guide them. If the form was intended, it is brilliant. If it is an accident of the author's untimely demise, it is serendipity.

First book I ever read where the characters didn't have names. The author painted a compelling picture of the environment and he presented a good humanistic story that really reflects how our society would react if similar circumstances were to occur today.

Due to the lack of sentance structure, I found this book difficult to read. Keeping track of who was speaking and thinking. This dramatically slowed down my speed. I believe that it was intentional to give the reader a sense of Blindness while reading. Slow to start, but by the half way mark I was hooked and needed to see how this novel played out! Give it shot and don't give up on it!

The entire book was probably symbolic. My eyes started scanning the pages quickly, without paying too much attention to detail because of those long sentences. Reading text in that way, chapters that are one long sentence, was too hard for me. My eyes didn't know where to focus. I spent too much time trying to figure out who was speaking. Ruined the reading experience for me. The plot was interesting, but I'd never recommend this book to read. Or, frankly, listen to.

Confession: I read this book because I am Portuguese-American and I thought this might be a good opportunity to read a Portuguese author for the first time.
To address a previous reviewer ("How in the world did this book win a Nobel Prize?") I want to point out that the Nobel Prize is frequently awarded to books that are allegorical, metaphorical and abstract. Saramago's work fits right in on the Nobel Prize shelf.
The book is neither compelling nor exciting. I found the inhumanity theme not very realistic. I didn't believe that people would be inhumane that way. And at other times, I could believe that people would be so cooperative. There is no overt moral urgency, only the vague feeling that the words written on the pages are mearly scribblings on the surface of some deeply looming moral iceburg.
On finishing the book (finally), I am left wondering what the epidemic blindness represented. Why the strange exception? Are we all blind to something obvious in our society? Have we lost the ability to see (or love) our fellow humans? Who among us is the one who can see? And why?
Read this book for posterity, not for excitement or edification. If you want the edification of it, I'll tell you the story in 150 words.

Great book! Beautifully written. Amazing premise for a book. Very entertaining, readable and challenging. I see the headlines about the current ebola crisis and can't help drawing parallels with 'Blindness'.

Sounds like a little too much hyperbole, but I loved this book and recommend it to everyone I meet. The tough part is that since I have finished reading it, very few books even come close to its concept, pace, and meaning. A treat for any reader.

Really excellent read. The way it's written can be a bit tedious to follow, but once you get a feel for the style of the narrative it's hard to put down. I ended up watching the movie after and while the movie does a very good job at following the same progression as the book, it's still missing some of the "magic" or detail that this book has that makes it much more compelling.

I picked up "Seeing" the follow up if you will to this book by Saramago. It hasn't quite gripped me the same as this, but I am not too far into that one yet, so we'll see.

What is it all for? The internal struggle of man in the dark and who he becomes when humanity as it is taken for granted... you contemplate your life. The characters are real, cozy in their everyday life until the mystery changes them... it's very sad that the author passed away before he could pin a follow up to this story. A short aftermath that follows the characters and maybe introduces others who fled or were marginal roles in the story.

I wonder how it changes and impacts the future and what that future looks like and if the ripples that spread into the realities affect the world...

It makes you lost in a realty and question the basics of human nature - how we survive and do what we need to ensure that survival.

Would highly recommend this book and look forward to delving into further works.

First, as being noted by other reviewers, I couldn't see straight after reading through such a poor translation, full of run on sentences and disconjuncted grammar. It was such an interference to my train of thought while reading. The story was totally unrelatable (I know it's fiction, but still). The violence/rape/sex portrayed was a poor attempt at shock value and did not help the story. Poor character development. I could care less if any of the characters lived, died, regained their sight, etc. I was terribly disappointed after reading such high rated reviews. Would not recommend.

A ghastly, horrifying story depicting the absolute chaos resulting from all but one person in a city going blind. As you can imagine, ALL systems broke down, people suffered terribly, deaths were frequent and gruesome. The love and caring of the one sighted person, the doctor's wife, was the only comforting thread in the story.

The format and writing were just as difficult to stomach as the storyline - interminable sentences, and paragraphs, sparse and inadequate punctuation.

Revolting as the scenes and events described were, I kept on reading as I had to know if there would be any reprieve for those poor souls.

I find blindness to be quite the interesting take on the human condition, and what we do in the face of danger and fear, but also what we do when subjected to unnatural and explainable conditions taking hold of family, loved ones, or strangers.

I found reading this a gruesome experience. The concept was interesting, however the ending seemed forced and contrived, as if the author had run out of impetus. The descriptions of human behaviour during the forced internments were extreme, I found myself hoping for a better outcome if faced with a similar experience.

A somewhat compelling story which reflects the many weaknesses of humanity with little emphasis on its many positives. I found the book to be somewhat boring at times as some sections were overly detailed - particularly when focusing on human filth and deprivation - while other areas seemed so lacking in detail that it was difficult to care about the characters. Would not recommend unless you are into depressing books as even the more positive ending was not enough to reverse the darkness of the story.

This was interesting subject and book. However I didn't like the verity. I teach blind and visually impaired children and I was constantly measuring my knowledge of blindness with what I was reading. Mr. Saramango grossly underestimated the abilities of people who become blind. This seemed more akin to Lord of the Flies than to Corrie Ten Boom's books.

This book is a literary masterpiece. Saramago is philosophical and suspenseful in this science fiction tale about everyone losing their sight. He brilliantly uses this disability to tackle human issues like love, marriage, family, morality, justice, and equal rights. He manages to cover this vast landscape without being preachy or accusatory. Instead, he tells the story and shows readers how precious the gift of sight is- both literally and figuratively. The challenge in reading this book begins and ends with Saramago's choice to write his prose sans punctuated dialogue, and paragraphs are used sparingly. This choice creates a disorienting atmosphere for readers that mimics the blindness of the characters. This is just one example of Sarmago's genius. The book is filled with masterful storytelling techniques that leave readers awestruck. In short, Blindness is a beautiful work of art that I am grateful to have read.

I enjoyed how this story took place in the middle ground between a rather civilized society and a dystopian one. I had a hard time with the structure of the story. There was little. But as soon as I adjusted to the structure, the book opened up.