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Blow-Up and Other Stories

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'Blow-Up and Other Stories' by Julio Cortazar is a collection of short stories that masterfully blend the fantastic with the mundane, often leaving readers with a sense of unease or disturbing dreams. From the opening tale of 'Axolotl' to the grisly fate of characters in stories like 'The Night Face Up' and 'The Bestiary', Cortazar takes readers on a journey across invisible lines between incompatible states, exploring themes of identity, perception, and reality. The writing style of Cortazar is described as unique, with sentences that are intimate, slightly illogical, and filled with lovely imagery, creating a chthonic slow turning over and over that lingers in the reader's mind.

Characters:

The characters are complex and highlight themes of existential struggle and identity, often experiencing turmoil or detachment from reality.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is characterized by fluid, dynamic prose with a rich, surreal quality that evokes strong imagery and vivid sensory experiences.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot intertwines the surreal and the mundane, utilizing characters whose lives and identities are complexly interwoven, creating moments of emotional and physical transitions.

Setting:

The settings primarily take place in urban landscapes, particularly Paris, often infused with surreal elements that enhance the dreamlike atmosphere.

Pacing:

The pacing varies throughout the stories, with some unfolding quickly and others more slowly, often building tension gradually to enhance the atmospheric experience.
There was a time when I thought a great deal about the axolotls. I went to see them in the aquarium at the Jardin des Plantes and stayed for hours watching them, observing their immobility, their fain...

Notes:

The collection offers a break from daily stress, providing an escape into various intriguing stories.
Rereading the stories feels like discovering new narratives, as the reader gains fresh perspectives.
The story 'Axolotl' features a man's obsessive connection with these unique salamanders, suggesting themes of identity.
'House Taken Over' explores psychological themes of defeat and detachment through siblings trapped in their own home.
Cortázar's stories create a surreal atmosphere that blurs the lines between reality and dreams.
'The Pursuer' provides deep insights into creative yet self-destructive personalities, reflective of cultural figures like jazz musicians.
Many stories evoke feelings of helplessness and social anxiety, particularly 'Letter to a Young Lady in Paris.'
Cortázar employs abrupt narrative shifts, leaving readers hanging for interpretations of events.
The mix of mundane life and bizarre occurrences creates a sense of menace throughout the collection.
Characters often experience profound realizations, revealing their inner struggles.
The writing uniquely blends fantasy and reality, reminiscent of literary giants like Borges and Nabokov.
Readers expressed a need for patience as the stories unfold, often requiring them to piece together narrative clues.
'Axolotl' significantly connects with readers, emphasizing the theme of becoming the Other.
Cortázar's writing is described as fluid and dynamic, capturing the reader's imagination and sensory experiences.
Emotions and existential questions permeate his stories, prompting reflections on identity and memory.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings may include themes of social anxiety, existential dread, family dysfunction, and instances of violence.

Has Romance?

There are elements of romance, but they are often subtle and intertwined with existential themes.

From The Publisher:

A young girl spends her summer vacation in a country house where a tiger roams . . . A man reading a mystery finds out too late that he is the murderer's intended victim . . .

Ratings (2)

Loved It (1)
Liked It (1)

Reader Stats (9):

Read It (2)
Want To Read (6)
Not Interested (1)

About the Author:

Julio Cortázar, born Julio Florencio Cortázar was an Argentine-French novelist, short story writer, essayist, and translator. Known as one of the founders of the Latin American Boom, Cortázar influenced an entire generation of Spanish-speaking readers and writers in America and Europe.

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