"The Gospel According to Jesus Christ" is the funniest, most blasphemous, theological novel since Mikhail Bulgakov's "The Master and Margarita." It really deserves to be better known...
This is sad news. I have read many of his books and found them enjoyable, although he used the same formula many times: the world - something we take for granted = interesting story.
Saramago was also an awesome blogger. Well, technically not a blogger per se -- His wife would post his writings for him. But his entries are fascinating and thought-provoking:
The first book of his that I read was "The History of the Siege of Lisbon". I had to read the first pages a few times before I could understand it all, but I ended up hooked. I've read almost all his books and finally got interesed in literature written in my own language. I prefered English and Spanish before he finally made me see how wonderful Portuguese is.
I am not sure if you are Portuguese or Brazilian, and this is probably way too obvious but... if you haven't: do read Guimarães Rosa.
Like Saramago, his writing takes a while to sink in, but once it does, you're hooked. To me he's the best Portuguese language writer in the 20th century.
Because his writing was of ideas as well as of people, and therefore gratifies the intellect. He belongs to a special group of writers who makes you re-examine many things you take for granted, by assuming a small variation on reality, and taking it to its logical conclusion.
He was really a language hacker. Most people looked at his writing as most programmers look at Lisp. Ignoring some syntax facilities and abusing on others he could convey meaning as nobody else.
While most writers use syntax conventions to communicate as clearly as possible, Saramago adulterated syntax to communicate on a different level.
At first it's frustrating, and his lack of respect for most of the conventions or beliefs may throw you off, but then you understand he mastered writing expression as few to transmit his thoughts.
His writing is a landmark for me as an example of Portuguese language use. While I envy and admire English simplicity, Saramago's work remembers me why it is a privilege to be born as a native Portuguese speaker.
I also would like to speak/write better English, no disrespect intended.
I don't think so. He is a great writer. I use HN as my home page and if I did not know about Saramago this post would have introduced me to his writing and I would have been grateful for this.
Sad day for me and for Portugal. We've lost one of our greatest ones. Remember the day I knew he won the Nobel Prize as if it was now. Not a consensual man, but a great man, and a great writer.
I just saw this in HN. I was reading the History of the Siege of Lisbon today at work. I think All the Names is his best book. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_the_Names What a great writer
