Other inquisitions 1937-1952 (alkuperäinen julkaisuvuosi 1952; vuoden 1965 painos)

This was a very peculiar, yet interesting, series of essays by Borges. I was impressed with what they had to offer, but often the style seemed abrupt and so complex that it was hard to grasp the meanings of some of the pieces. Nonetheless, I feel they are worth reading for anyone who admires the writer.

3.25 stars. ( )

Relata la historia de varias familias adineradas que tratan de descubrir quien asesino a uno de los integrantes de una de las familias

Testimonios y problemas que se cuestiona Borges en su recorrido por Buenos Aires y las Historia del mundo.

First, my copy of this book is from 1966 and bought at a used bookstore for 45 cents. Once I started reading it, I thought I died and went to heaven. There are some unbelievably great stories in this book. I was thinking "If I could only have one book..", but I would also need access to Wikipedia to make sense of all the obscure references.

My favorites:
The Enigma of Edward FitzGerald-Tells the story of Renaissance Man Omar Khayam, and the man who pulled him out of a dusty corner of oblivion. Touched the theme of reincarnation of Omar into the person of Fitz Gerald.

Chesterton-Previously known to me only for witty one liners, JLB comments on the Father Brown stories and talks up his other fiction writing. Compares him favorably to Poe,saying that Chesterton successfully combined detective stories w elements of horror. There is also an interesting reference to "How I found a Superman." ( )

Even when writing about an obscure writer or concept, Borges is always an agreeable companion. He spent his entire life absorbing books, both fiction and nonfiction, in every imaginable genre and several languages. His insights are usually clear, and certainly enough to make those of us who enjoy living in our own heads a bit jealous. These essays touch on many of the themes that lie behind his fiction--the nature of reality, the life of their own that books take on when separated from their authors, paradoxes, and ways of organizing things, to name just a few. Many times, he deals with the same subjects in more than on essay, or at least interposes a favorite idea or anecdote that will cause you to make sure you haven't lost your place in the book and are reading an essay you already finished.

The abstract ideas Borges is so fascinated with, however, are usually easier to understand in his fiction. The most interesting essays in this volume tend to be those about authors--Hawthorne, Whitman, Wilde--that you are at least somewhat familiar with. Certainly this is not the place to start an exploration of Borges. That would be his masterpiece FICCIONES. But if you already love his writing, you will find pleasure and a bit of enlightenment among the obscure erudition and repetition. ( )