Beatrice and Virgil
During the long weekend, a wonderful friend, D gave me a present, a book, titled “Beatrice and Virgil” by Yann Martel.
I am familiar with this author as I have read his award winning book, “Life of Pi” for at least 3 times. I enjoyed “Life of Pi” so much that, I insisted D to read it and in fact, bought him a copy as a present a few years back. And now, D returned the favor. ;)
"Beatrice and Virgil" is a captivating book, once I started, I could not stop. Luckily it was rather easy to read (but hard to digest), and I was able to complete the book in a day. And after that, I could not stop thinking about the book.
It’s the way Yann writes, the way he describes that make you go "hmmmmm". There is a particular section of the book where the lead character describes a pear to another character that has NEVER seen nor eaten a pear before. The description is so vivid and full of life that, I really felt like eating a pear at that very moment when I was reading the book.
Now, I ask myself how I’ll describe a simple object or event that I take for granted everyday, but yet, someone else might have never experienced before…
1) How would I describe the aroma of freshly ground coffee to someone who has never smelled coffee?
2) How would I describe the sight of a butterfly resting on a flower to someone who has never seen a butterfly?
3) How would I describe the thrill of sprinting down a slope to someone who cannot walk?
By forcing myself to describe each object/action in details, allowed me to internalize and then truly appreciate the very object/action that I’m about to describe.
The book is easy to read but hard to digest… the book is about the Holocaust and how 2 different men, but with the same name dealt with it.
How would you describe the horror that you have witnessed to someone who has never been through hardship?
How would you describe the pain and anguish that you have suffered to someone who lives the privileged life?
How would you describe the senseless violence that you have gone through to someone who has never been through unrest or war?
Personally, I find the ending of the book too abrupt and there are parts of the book that I do not understand. Compared to “Life of Pi”, which I think has a better closure and development of the characters; “Beatrice and Virgil” seems a little chaotic and unfinished. But is that intentional?
Nonetheless, it is a worthy read. Highly recommended.
During the long weekend, a wonderful friend, D gave me a present, a book, titled “Beatrice and Virgil” by Yann Martel.
I am familiar with this author as I have read his award winning book, “Life of Pi” for at least 3 times. I enjoyed “Life of Pi” so much that, I insisted D to read it and in fact, bought him a copy as a present a few years back. And now, D returned the favor. ;)
"Beatrice and Virgil" is a captivating book, once I started, I could not stop. Luckily it was rather easy to read (but hard to digest), and I was able to complete the book in a day. And after that, I could not stop thinking about the book.
It’s the way Yann writes, the way he describes that make you go "hmmmmm". There is a particular section of the book where the lead character describes a pear to another character that has NEVER seen nor eaten a pear before. The description is so vivid and full of life that, I really felt like eating a pear at that very moment when I was reading the book.
Now, I ask myself how I’ll describe a simple object or event that I take for granted everyday, but yet, someone else might have never experienced before…
1) How would I describe the aroma of freshly ground coffee to someone who has never smelled coffee?
2) How would I describe the sight of a butterfly resting on a flower to someone who has never seen a butterfly?
3) How would I describe the thrill of sprinting down a slope to someone who cannot walk?
By forcing myself to describe each object/action in details, allowed me to internalize and then truly appreciate the very object/action that I’m about to describe.
The book is easy to read but hard to digest… the book is about the Holocaust and how 2 different men, but with the same name dealt with it.
How would you describe the horror that you have witnessed to someone who has never been through hardship?
How would you describe the pain and anguish that you have suffered to someone who lives the privileged life?
How would you describe the senseless violence that you have gone through to someone who has never been through unrest or war?
Personally, I find the ending of the book too abrupt and there are parts of the book that I do not understand. Compared to “Life of Pi”, which I think has a better closure and development of the characters; “Beatrice and Virgil” seems a little chaotic and unfinished. But is that intentional?
Nonetheless, it is a worthy read. Highly recommended.
p/s: so is "The Life of Pi"
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