I have read this book multiple times in the original Croatian language and it always astonishes me how original and contemporary it seems today. At thI have read this book multiple times in the original Croatian language and it always astonishes me how original and contemporary it seems today. At the moment of this writing (January 2023) Europe is in a deep crisis as much as it was during Krleža's era. We now have Russian-Ukrainian war, nuclear threats, unhinged politicians at each other's throats... In short, we are on the edge of reason once again which could even surpass the collective madness of the Western (European) civilization between World War I and II which is central to Krleža's book....more
A typical superhero sci-fi planetary adventure featuring Curt Newton (Captain Future) and his three nonhuman assistants: Otho the Android -synthetic mA typical superhero sci-fi planetary adventure featuring Curt Newton (Captain Future) and his three nonhuman assistants: Otho the Android -synthetic man or rubbery android; Grag, metal robot, and Simon Wright, the living Brain. They all reside on the moon and whenever the Earth government needs their help the flare is set off on the North Pole to notify them of an emergency. ...more
This is one of those rare literary gems that I wanted to read again as soon as I had finished it. In short, it's a real literary masterpiece that certThis is one of those rare literary gems that I wanted to read again as soon as I had finished it. In short, it's a real literary masterpiece that certainly deserved the Nobel Prize.
Most people know little about what goes through the mind of a highly depressed or mentally sick person. I believe that "The Goalie's Anxiety at the Penalty Kick" by Peter Handke masterfully illuminates this complex psychological disorder.
This novella should be read in small segments, no more than one hour per day, so the reader could gain the full benefits of it. This is not an ordinary prose where each chapter brings something new in terms of plot enrichment and character development. It should be read as an essay, even prose poetry, slowly and with concentration.
The tone of the story and its main character, a former football (soccer) goalie named Joseph Bloch, remain the same throughout the book. Only the background scenes seem to be different, yet quite similar - taverns, hotels, uneventful daily routines (eating, reading newspaper, chatting, using public transportation, etc).
As for the book's writing style, it seems to be purposefully colloquial, almost banal. Its overall tone is flat, unaffectionate, and detached, and, as such, not attractive to readers. However, that's the beauty of this literary masterpiece! The topic of this novel is very serious (mental illness), and it requires an appropriate style devoid of any literary embellishments or elegant poeticism in language.
It's interesting to me how the author effectively uses the verbs to invigorate the narrative. Even though the story appears almost plotless and, as such, should bring boredom to its readers, it's surprising how lively it actually looks. This is achieved by the author's persistent use of the action verbs in almost every sentence.
The author doesn't directly dissect the protagonist's thoughts. The protagonist's innermost self is revealed by the author's skillful attempts to register all of his external gestures or movements. Also, any sensory stimuli, regardless of their (in)significance, which elicit a response from the protagonist, are rendered in their naked form. These outward triggers are manyfold: a fly on the faucet, a crumpled piece of paper on the floor, sounds in the bar, light, heat, etc. All of it is faithfully brought to life as if recorded through the impersonal camera lenses.
Yes, a murder is committed by Joseph Bloch, but this novella is not a murder mystery. In fact, it’s author's bold attempt to bring to life the misery and darkness inflicted on this depressed individual whose brain has difficulty in receiving, processing, and responding to information that comes in through his senses.
To amplify the protagonist's feelings of detachment and alienation, the author uses strong sensory imagery: sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell. The emphasis is not given to human interaction, as one may expect. In fact, meaningful interaction between the protagonist and his social environment is completely broken.
We expect Joseph Bloch to be captured by the police or locked up in a mental institution by the end of the book. (Note: this notion is more implied than directly expressed by the narrator.) However, it doesn't happen.
The ending is quite anticlimactic. It is marked by the scenes detailing the actual football match with a penalty kick as its culmination. The protagonist's fixation on the penalty taker and the goalie's reaction to the shot is, in fact, a metaphor of the protagonist's anxieties exhibited throughout the book. Just as the ball has crossed the goal line, so too Joseph has passed a point-of-no-return. In short, his detour from the blurred reality to the total darkness has finally come to a full fruition....more
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