The Invention Of Morel (New York Review Books Classics)

Excellent read.! A bit niche but still good.!

Enjoyable. I took a punt with this title and I wasn't disappointed.

Totally absorbing.

Like many sci-fi stories this short book starts with a brilliant concept. The main character is on the run and has escaped to a seemingly abondoned hotel on a deserted island. Here he survives okay until suddenly people start to arrive. Initially he flees and hides from them but soon comes to realise they are totally unable to see or hear him. What distinguishes this story though is the perfectly logical explanation for these events that is slowly revealed. Whilst many such tales have pretty lame, unexplained or purely ridiculous reasons for their bizarre beginnings "The Invention of Morel" never wavers from it's clear and precise plot and it's implications are rather profound.

yes

A great book with a fine, original plot. Tightly written, expertly translated, thought provoking, thoroughly enjoyable. Highly recommended. Do read A Reading Diary (Manguel)for lots of background on the author and the book.

A very strange novella, and one where in retrospect I think the reader actually benefits from having read spoilers as to what's going on, otherwise it all seems too weird and Kafka-esque for words for the first half. Our narrator, an unnamed Venezuelan, on the run from jail or death, has fled to an uninhabited island in the Ellice Archipelago.This is a strange and horrible island: there's a museum, chapel and swimming pool. There's awful and unpredictable tides, and unidentifiable machines in the basement. The narrator comments on how hard the trees are; how he thinks he can't see the skylight and has to go and check it's still there (later on you see where this was leading.) One day he finds a large group of people have arrived and taken over the museum, although he never saw a ship. In terror of discovery at first, he soon falls for gypsy-like Faustine.....The preface describes this as an adventure story, which you eventually find it is. It would undoubtedly be worth a second read, once you've understood the idea behind it.Quite a clever idea, but can't say I enjoyed it.

I'm generally not a sci-fi fan, but I simply loved this book. I wouldn't even classify it as a sci-fi novella. It's about love, and loss.