Julio Cortazar's Bestiary: A Review | The New York Public Library
- Summary: A brief overview of the eight stories in the collection - Analysis: A deeper look at the themes, symbols, and techniques of Cortazar's writing - Conclusion: A final evaluation of the book and its relevance for today's readers H2: Introduction: What is Bestiary and why is it worth reading? - Background: Who was Julio Cortazar and what was his contribution to Latin American literature? - Genre: How did Cortazar redefine the fantastic genre and challenge the boundaries of reality and fiction? - Influence: How did Bestiary influence other writers and artists, such as Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Jorge Luis Borges, and Guillermo del Toro? H2: Summary: A brief overview of the eight stories in the collection - Casa tomada (House Taken Over): A brother and sister are forced to abandon their ancestral home by an unseen presence - Carta a una señorita en ParÃs (Letter to a Young Lady in Paris): A man who vomits rabbits writes a letter to his landlady explaining his situation - Lejana (Distant): A woman in Buenos Aires feels a connection with a homeless man in Helsinki - Ómnibus (Bus): A young woman is harassed by a group of strangers on a bus - Cefalea (Headache): A group of people suffer from migraines while taking care of mysterious creatures called mancuspias - Circe (Circe): A man falls in love with a woman who has a dark secret involving poison and animals - Las puertas del cielo (The Gates of Heaven): A man tries to console his friend who has lost his wife by taking him to a tango club - Bestiario (Bestiary): A girl visits her cousins who live with a tiger in their house H2: Analysis: A deeper look at the themes, symbols, and techniques of Cortazar's writing - Themes: Some of the common themes in Bestiary are alienation, identity, violence, metamorphosis, and the uncanny - Symbols: Some of the recurring symbols in Bestiary are animals, houses, letters, and games - Techniques: Some of the distinctive techniques that Cortazar uses are ambiguity, irony, intertextuality, and fragmentation H2: Conclusion: A final evaluation of the book and its relevance for today's readers - Evaluation: Why is Bestiary a masterpiece of fantastic literature and a showcase of Cortazar's genius? - Relevance: How can Bestiary help us to question our perception of reality and explore our imagination? Table 2: Article with HTML formatting Julio Cortazar Bestiary Pdf Free -- A Review of the Classic Collection of Fantastic Stories
If you are looking for a book that will surprise you, challenge you, and transport you to a world where anything is possible, then you should read Julio Cortazar's Bestiary. This book is a collection of eight short stories that blend realism and fantasy, humor and horror, logic and absurdity. In this article, I will give you an overview of what Bestiary is about, who wrote it, and why it is worth reading. I will also summarize each story briefly and analyze some of the main themes, symbols, and techniques that Cortazar uses. Finally, I will conclude with my personal opinion of the book and its relevance for today's readers.
Julio Cortazar Bestiary Pdf Free --
Introduction: What is Bestiary and why is it worth reading?
Bestiary is the first book of stories that Julio Cortazar published under his real name in 1951. It is considered one of his most important works and one of the landmarks of Latin American literature. Julio Cortazar was an Argentine writer who lived most of his life in France. He was part of the so-called Boom generation, a group of writers who revolutionized the Latin American novel in the 1960s and 1970s. Some of his most famous novels are Hopscotch, Blow-Up, and 62: A Model Kit. He also wrote many short stories, poems, essays, and translations.
Cortazar was a master of the fantastic genre, which is a type of literature that creates a sense of wonder and strangeness by introducing supernatural or irrational elements into a realistic setting. Unlike science fiction or fantasy, which usually explain the origin and logic of their imaginary worlds, the fantastic genre leaves the reader in doubt and uncertainty about the nature of reality and fiction. Cortazar was influenced by writers such as Edgar Allan Poe, Franz Kafka, and Lewis Carroll, but he also created his own style and voice. He used the fantastic genre as a way of exploring the human condition, the subconscious, and the political and social issues of his time.
Bestiary was one of the first books that introduced the fantastic genre to Latin America and the world. It was praised by critics and readers alike for its originality, creativity, and quality. It also influenced many other writers and artists, such as Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Jorge Luis Borges, and Guillermo del Toro, who admired Cortazar's ability to create captivating stories that blur the boundaries between reality and imagination.
Summary: A brief overview of the eight stories in the collection
Bestiary consists of eight short stories that vary in length, tone, and theme. However, they all share some common features: they are set in everyday situations that are disrupted by unexpected or inexplicable events; they have ambiguous endings that leave the reader wondering what really happened; they have complex and unreliable narrators who often address the reader directly or indirectly; they have multiple layers of meaning that invite different interpretations; and they have a touch of humor that balances the tension and horror. Here is a brief summary of each story:
Casa tomada (House Taken Over): A brother and sister live in a large and old house that they inherited from their parents. They spend their days reading, knitting, and listening to music. One day, they hear a noise coming from the other side of the house. They decide to lock themselves in their part of the house and ignore the intruders. However, as time passes, they realize that they are losing more and more space to the unknown presence.
Carta a una señorita en ParÃs (Letter to a Young Lady in Paris): A man who is staying at his friend's apartment in Paris writes a letter to his landlady explaining why he has to leave. He confesses that he has a strange condition: he vomits rabbits. He tries to hide them in his closet, but they multiply rapidly and escape. He apologizes for the inconvenience and asks for her forgiveness.
Lejana (Distant): A woman named Alina Reyes lives in Buenos Aires. She has a comfortable life, but she feels bored and unhappy. She dreams of traveling to distant places and having adventures. She also feels a connection with a homeless man who lives in Helsinki. She believes that he is her alter ego, her other self. One day, she decides to take a boat to Finland to meet him.
Ómnibus (Bus): A young woman named Clara takes a bus to go to her piano lesson. She notices that there are two groups of passengers on the bus: one group is composed of normal people who act politely and indifferently; the other group is composed of strange people who stare at her, whisper among themselves, and make gestures that seem to mock her or threaten her. She feels scared and confused by their behavior.
Cefalea (Headache): A group of people live in an isolated farm where they take care of mysterious creatures called mancuspias. The mancuspias are like plants or animals that have different shapes and colors. They need constant attention and care, otherwise they die or become aggressive. The people suffer from terrible headaches that are caused by the mancuspias' cries or movements. They try to cope with their pain and their duty, but they also wonder if there is a way out.
she claims to have transformed from her former lovers. He is not afraid of her, but he is curious about her secret.
Las puertas del cielo (The Gates of Heaven): A man named Ramon tries to console his friend César who has lost his wife to cancer. He takes him to a tango club where they meet a couple of dancers who resemble César's wife and Ramon's ex-girlfriend. They dance with them and feel a moment of joy and nostalgia. However, they also realize that they cannot escape their grief and loneliness.
Bestiario (Bestiary): A girl named Isabel visits her cousins who live in a modern and luxurious house. The house has a peculiar feature: there is a tiger that roams freely in one of the sections of the house. The family has learned to live with the tiger and avoid crossing its path. They have a strict schedule and a set of rules that they follow religiously. Isabel is intrigued by the tiger and tries to catch a glimpse of it.
Analysis: A deeper look at the themes, symbols, and techniques of Cortazar's writing
Bestiary is not only a collection of entertaining stories, but also a rich and complex work of art that invites the reader to reflect on various aspects of human nature and society. Cortazar uses the fantastic genre as a tool to explore different themes, symbols, and techniques that give his stories multiple meanings and dimensions. Here are some of the most prominent ones:
Themes: Some of the common themes in Bestiary are alienation, identity, violence, metamorphosis, and the uncanny. Cortazar portrays characters who feel isolated, unhappy, or misunderstood in their environments. They often have a split or dual identity that makes them question their sense of self and reality. They also face situations that involve physical or psychological violence, either as victims or perpetrators. They undergo transformations or witness changes that affect their bodies or minds. They encounter phenomena that are familiar and unfamiliar at the same time, creating a sense of wonder and horror.
Symbols: Some of the recurring symbols in Bestiary are animals, houses, letters, and games. Cortazar uses animals as metaphors for human emotions, desires, or fears. He also uses them to represent the natural or supernatural forces that challenge or threaten human rationality and order. He uses houses as symbols for the personal or social spaces that the characters inhabit or escape from. He also uses them to contrast the appearance and reality of the characters' lives. He uses letters as symbols for communication or miscommunication between the characters. He also uses them to reveal the characters' thoughts or feelings that they cannot express otherwise. He uses games as symbols for the rules or conventions that the characters follow or break. He also uses them to show the playful or ludic aspect of his writing.
Techniques: Some of the distinctive techniques that Cortazar uses are ambiguity, irony, intertextuality, and fragmentation. Cortazar creates ambiguity by leaving gaps or contradictions in his stories that prevent the reader from reaching a definitive conclusion or explanation. He also creates ambiguity by using unreliable narrators who may lie, omit, or distort information. He uses irony to create contrast or contradiction between what is said and what is meant, what is expected and what happens, or what is seen and what is hidden. He uses intertextuality to create connections or references to other texts, such as myths, legends, fairy tales, or literary works. He also uses intertextuality to challenge or parody existing genres or conventions. He uses fragmentation to break the linear or logical structure of his stories. He also uses fragmentation to reflect the complexity or diversity of reality and perception.
Conclusion: A final evaluation of the book and its relevance for today's readers
In conclusion, Bestiary is a masterpiece of fantastic literature and a showcase of Cortazar's genius. It is a book that offers both entertainment and enlightenment to its readers. It is a book that stimulates the imagination and challenges the reason. It is a book that reveals the beauty and horror of human nature and society.
Bestiary is also a book that is relevant for today's readers who live in a world where reality and fiction are often blurred or confused. It is a book that can help us to question our perception of reality and explore our imagination. It is a book that can inspire us to create our own stories and meanings.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about Bestiary and their answers:
Q: Where can I find Julio Cortazar Bestiary Pdf Free?
A: You can find Julio Cortazar Bestiary Pdf Free online on various websites, such as Google Sheets, Internet Archive, or Scribd. However, you should be careful about the quality and legality of the files. You should also consider buying the book or borrowing it from a library to support the author and the publisher.
Q: What is the best translation of Bestiary?
A: Bestiary has been translated into many languages, such as English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Russian. The quality and accuracy of the translations may vary depending on the translator and the edition. Some of the most recommended translations are those by Paul Blackburn, Alfred MacAdam, and Suzanne Jill Levine.
Q: What are some other books or stories by Julio Cortazar that I can read?
A: Julio Cortazar wrote many other books and stories that are worth reading. Some of his most famous ones are Hopscotch, Blow-Up, 62: A Model Kit, Cronopios and Famas, The Winners, All Fires the Fire, A Manual for Manuel, and We Love Glenda So Much.
Q: What are some other authors or works that are similar to Julio Cortazar or Bestiary?
A: Julio Cortazar was influenced by and influenced many other authors and works that belong to the fantastic genre or related genres. Some of them are Edgar Allan Poe, Franz Kafka, Lewis Carroll, Jorge Luis Borges, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Carlos Fuentes, Juan Rulfo, Alejo Carpentier, Italo Calvino, Angela Carter, Haruki Murakami, Salman Rushdie, and Neil Gaiman.
Q: How can I learn more about Julio Cortazar or Bestiary?
A: You can learn more about Julio Cortazar or Bestiary by reading some of the many books or articles that have been written about him or his works. Some of them are Julio Cortazar by Jaime Alazraki, Julio Cortazar: New Readings by Carlos J. Alonso, Critical Essays on Julio Cortazar by Jaime Concha and Scott Simpkins, The Final Island: The Fiction of Julio Cortazar by Steven Boldy, and Fantomas Versus the Multinational Vampires: An Attainable Utopia by Julio Cortazar.
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