tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7152718742879204887.post4055068581985575084..comments2024-02-23T02:48:48.336-06:00Comments on Shea's Zibaldone: Caravana de recuerdos Ibero-American Readalong: The Year of the Death of Ricardo ReisAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16763659094408522105noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7152718742879204887.post-49585444723741763822014-04-02T13:54:34.454-05:002014-04-02T13:54:34.454-05:00These are excellent observations, gentlemen. I st...These are excellent observations, gentlemen. I still feel there is a certain amount of inaction, on the part of Reis, a certain detachment (which in itself is a conscious choice, more of an action than is usually given credit), but I must concede that he was changing at the end, and that the change was indeed cut off by death. Couldn't that be the final line of so many honest obituaries? "Things were starting to go so well, and then look what happens." <br /><br />Life is returning to normal here, so my participation in read-alongs should be much more frequent. Thank you again for the feedback. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16763659094408522105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7152718742879204887.post-44773578135487598982014-04-01T16:03:45.835-05:002014-04-01T16:03:45.835-05:00I agree, and I see some changes in Reis. His cold ...I agree, and I see some changes in Reis. His cold intellectual exterior cracks when he hears of Lydia's brother's death. He leaves her pregnant, leaving a bit of himself behind, averting the fate of becoming a mere shadow. It seems he <i>was</i> changing but, like Pessoa, he could have achieved a lot more if he hadn't died. Pessoa was also a man who died when he was experiencing a turn of mentalities regarding the regime, so it's fitting creator and creature dissolve in the afterlife on the same footing.LMRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08538873868140070018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7152718742879204887.post-86507677773474530422014-04-01T14:23:36.573-05:002014-04-01T14:23:36.573-05:00I agree about the book's excellence, Richard, ...I agree about the book's excellence, Richard, even if I'm not sure I totally agree that Reis remains totally unchanged at the end. His decision to join Pessoa, for example, <em>is</em> a decision--an act of non-neutrality, if you will--which explains the "pain" and dismay I felt at the character's decision to flee rather than to stay and attempt to comfort Lydia. That destiny is the real protagonist of the book is an arresting thought and one which explains why such a gracefully written work still managed to get under my skin. Thanks for reading this along with the other readalongers.Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01746599416342846897noreply@blogger.com