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Bezig met laden... Keep the aspidistra flying (origineel 1936; editie 2000)door George Orwell
Informatie over het werkHoud de sanseferia hoog door George Orwell (1936)
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Meld je aan bij LibraryThing om erachter te komen of je dit boek goed zult vinden. Op dit moment geen Discussie gesprekken over dit boek. Protagonist Gordon Comstock quits his job at an advertising agency to write poetry. He has major issues with money and despises his reliance on it. He refuses to accept assistance from his girlfriend. He becomes obsessed, punishing himself and his girlfriend in his stubborn refusal to do anything about his poverty. Gordon is an unlikeable character and I found it difficult to feel much sympathy for him. He treats his girlfriend abominably, while believing he is the one being mistreated. Orwell’s writing is the best part of the novel. I liked it but didn’t love it. The last of Orwell's novels for me to re-read, and I struggled. The writing is fine, but the topic is so formidably ugly! The lead character has chosen a literary life, and foregoes a well paid job in order to succeed in writing. We then spend 30% of the book, in tattered clothes, cold because his coat is in hock, hungry, lonely and sad. So sad. It is never explained why he couldn't retain the better paid job and write at night - as he does, fitfully, in his chosen literary life. I was pleased to read later that Orwell wasn't proud of the book, and refused permission for it to be reprinted in his lifetime. The publishers should have continued to observe his wishes!
The book received mixed reviews. Cyril Connolly complained that the book's obsession with money prevented it being considered a work of art. The Daily Mail praised the novel's vigour but was unconvinced by its demolition of middle England: "among the aspidistra, Mr Orwell seems to lose the plot". The misfortunes did not end there. Many of the first print run of 3,000 were lost in a bombing raid in the early years of world war two. Onderdeel van de uitgeversreeks(en)Is opgenomen inHeeft de bewerkingOnderscheidingenErelijsten
"Keep the Aspidistra Flying," though it is one of Orwell's least known novels, explores his usual themes--the various forms of oppression of the individual by society. Here the comfortable middle class life is symbolised by the aspidistra, and is governed by the "Money God." Gordon struggles to break free of the Money God, but will he eventually keep the aspidistra flying? Geen bibliotheekbeschrijvingen gevonden. |
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Google Books — Bezig met laden... GenresDewey Decimale Classificatie (DDC)828.91209Literature English English miscellaneous writings English miscellaneous writings 1900- English miscellaneous writings 1900-1999 English miscellaneous writings 1900-1945 Individual authorsLC-classificatieWaarderingGemiddelde:
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Capisco che i pensieri ossessivi di Gordon nei confronti del dio Quattrino e di come riuscire a vivere in una società capitalista senza diventarne schiavз cerchino di rendere l’enormità dello sforzo e la pervasività del pensiero borghese dell’importanza di un buon posto di lavoro rispettabile, ma il romanzo finisce per mancare di equilibrio e questo rende più difficile empatizzare con Gordon, che alla fine sembra quasi farla troppo lunga e quasi inizi a tifare per un suo cedimento che lo riporti nei ranghi del futuro radioso che la sua famiglia si aspettava da lui.
Tuttavia, è pur sempre di Orwell che stiamo parlando e, sebbene non esposte in maniera eccelsa, le sue critiche alla società capitalista rimangono lucide, spietate e tristemente attuali. Penso che potrebbe essere un buon romanzo per introdurre lз ragazzз a Orwell: il fatto che sia un romanzo pieno di rabbia e che sembra scritto di getto (e lo sembra soltanto, visto che è stato scritto tra il 1932 e il 1936) potrebbe renderlo appetibile a persone già piuttosto incazzate con questa società – e non a torto.
Potrebbe essere un libro scritto oggi che si ricomincia a puntare il dito verso un sistema economico accomodante solo nei confronti di una sparuta minoranza che, oltre a essere ben pasciuta, si permette anche di disprezzare chi non può, in alcun modo, migliorare la propria condizione. ( )