I recently picked up The Invention of Morel by Adolfo Bioy Casares. The back blurb mentioned both Borges (Casares was a protege) and Philp K. Dick, so how could I not buy it? Plus it was slim. I was in the mood for slim.
But I made the mistake of reading the introduction first. There are two, actually, one by Borges (recommended) and one by the academic Suzanne Jill Levine. Toward the end of her introduction, Prof. Levine says something along the lines of, "The central literary device of the novel, [spoiler redacted], was also the inspiration for [famous foreign film I've never seen.]" Great. Now you've ruined both the book I'm about to read and the movie I wanted to see at some point. Thanks a lot, Prof.
And the book? It's pretty good, although I had to keep trying to imagine myself as the reader who didn't know what was happening, instead of the reader who did. (A pretty Borgesian trick, actually.) It's hard, though, to follow the protagonist around a mysterious island filled with strange machinery and not think, "didn't I play this video game"?
Speaking of Borges, here's a bibliography of the books he invented, reviewed, and described but never wrote. (Link via.) And there's even cover art! I'm still looking for the right word for this process -- to create a work of art by describing it as if it existed, without actually going through the process of writing the book, painting the painting, etc. (For example, this fellow describes all the pictures he did not take.) Rescription? Dereification? Mutasimication? Any suggestions are welcome, or tell me if such a word does exist. I need it.
| Borges | Adolfo Bioy Casares | Imaginary Books |
Nice comment. Probably Borges would have said that Levine only made the reading more exciting, or something like "she only added more confusion to the already existing one". The Myst and Morel connection is a very good one, it would be nice to have a Borges game.
bye
(from Palermo, Buenos Aires)
Nice comment. Probably Borges would have said that Levine only made the reading more exciting, or something like "she only added more confusion to the already existing one". The Myst and Morel connection is a very good one, it would be nice to have a Borges game.
bye
(from Palermo, Buenos Aires)
Recomendation: never read the introduction first.
Last night, I finished reading "La invención de Morel" and when I did, I read the introduction, by Daniel Alcoba. And I was amazed to see that in the introduction he told the readers....the hole plot!! I was thanked I hadn`t read it at the begginig... But I ask: How can an introduction, witch is at the very begginig of the book, reveal you what's interesting about reading it? It's as if the trailer of a movie told you the ending...
I think that kind of "introductions" should be placed at the end of the book, or at least have a "warning" about their content.
Sorry about my english, it's not perfect, I know.
Kisses,
Cecilia, from Argentina.
