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Summary: historia de un fracaso
Review: Carpe Diem Saul BellowLa historia, no solo de un fracaso, sino de un miedo generalizado al fracaso, por parte de una sociedad que te ve en términos e ganancias y beneficios, no solo para ti, sino para los tuyos y donde ser un fracasado implica ser una carga social para los demás, que no están dispuestos a tolerarte, a hacerse cargo de ti y mucho menos a oírte mientras te quejas de lo mal que te ha tratado la vida y lo injusto que han sido los demás para contigo.
De eso se trata esta historia, que no tiene desperdicios de ningún tipo, pues es corta, solo consta de 154 paginas, es precisa y cuenta el tema sin desvíos, muy frecuentes en la obra de Bellow. Tommy Wilhem es un fracasado de 44 años quien le gusta lamentarse de sus problemas con todo el mundo y es ese lloriqueo el que hace que el personaje nos resulte antipático, torpe y mediocre. En su juventud tomo las decisiones equivocadas, como muchos jóvenes han hecho, pero eso no es motivo para lloriquear por lo que se ha hecho o se ha dejado de hacer. Su problema no es ese, sino de actitud ante la vida. Su miedo a ser un inadaptado lo convierte en eso, en un inadaptado. La cosa de la que huimos a veces esta más cerca mientras más huimos de ella. Solo cuando nos enfrentamos a la vida con valor y con entereza estamos nosotros prestos a vencer nuestros demonios internos y llegar a ser alguien. Pero no se equivoquen en este punto; ser alguien no es ser un acaudalado millonario o un empresario prospero, por mucho que a usted se le quiera convencer de ello. Ser alguien es amarse como uno es, sin reservas y estar contento con lo que la vida y las circunstancias le han dado por el día de hoy, eso es ser alguien y alguien feliz.
Ya lo dice la cita completa del latín: carpe diem minimun crédula postera: Goza del día de hoy sin creer mucho en el mañana. Luis Méndez.
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Summary: The first book that ever scared me
Review: I stumbled upon this book quite by accident. Started reading it. Wow! We've all lived in fear of this nightmare coming true: to be middle aged, broke, angry, alone, alienated and generally, a loser. This slim novella captures the downside of the human condition with all the introspection that comes with it. This is a worthy successor to Joyce's "The Dead".
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Summary: To really live each day
Review: In every life there are days of reckoning, and moments of supreme truth. When those days occur and we look back on everything that has happened in our lives, then what is to be seen and known? In "Seize The Day", Tommy Wilhelm has such a day of reckoning, when everything in his life reaches a turning point of disintegration and despair. Everything seems to fall apart before his eyes, as old wounds from his past are laid completely bare. His deepest wish is for a measure of genuine love and respect, amid the ruins of a life that has never been fully lived. In many ways Tommy Wilhelm's story is the story of all of us, as we search for real meaning each day. Like Tommy Wilhelm we struggle to seize the day, and to find something of value in the ever passing moments of our lives.
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Summary: My Book Review
Review: In my opinion, this book is pretty boring. However the moral of the book is really good. As the reader learns one mans struggles in the world and how he trys to overcome them. But in the end... Read the book!!
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Summary: Seize the Day not an option for some
Review: In one of Bellow's best works, Seize the Day tackles many of the hardships faced in the capitalistic society of America. The main character, Wilhelm, has failed miserably at virtually everything he has ever attempted. This failure is a derivation from the fact that his father has never been able to show him love. Thus, Wilhelm accepts love from anyone who is offering, and constantly gets taken advantage of by those he trusts. Hidden within the text, is the issue of the Holocaust, and how the world must reflect and look at the sins of the past in order to progress into the future. Ironically, "Seizing the Day" is not the answer for Wilhelm, or the world. From this novella, we must realize that in order to move on with our lives, we must reflect upon and accept our sins and mistakes of the past. Very powerful and moving, this novella should force every reader to think about the direction of their lives, and the importance of love and compassion.
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Summary: Carpe Diem
Review: It is true, that on the exterior this book seems to be a great bore. We are subject to the lead characters complaining throughout the story, and the whole time we want to shout at him to grow up. It can be very frustrating and stirs up hostility towards the character. Which is a wonderful achievement by a book. The book is very good because it actually does stir up emotion. Most of all, it makes a major statement about the human condition in America. How many of us know people like Tommy Wilhelm? Read it and you'll find that you know plenty.
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Summary: Seize the day? Yes! Buy this book ? No!
Review: It took me longer to read this boring novella than it did to complete "Gone With the Wind!" I know, I know, Bellow is a Nobel prize winner, but just because his work has merit doesn't make me like this tedious book any better. This book is for you if the thought of endless talk about the price of soybeans and lard on the stock market, spoken by essentially dull characters, makes your heart beat faster and your pulse start racing. Thankfully, this book was not my introduction to Bellow; I started with his first two novels, "Dangling Man," and "The Victim," and I liked them. Then I read "Herzog" and "Mr. Sammler's Planet" and I LOVED them. I will never give up on this author -- he's a masterful writer, and his "The Adventures of Augie March" and "Humboldt's Gift" are waiting for me on my bookshelf. (Books are so patient.) But "Seize" was definitely a disappointing dud.
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Summary: carpe diem!
Review: Just kidding with my tittle. I can't help but connect Robin Williams and co. jumping off of desks in Dead Poet's Society to the phrase Carpe Diem/ Seize The Day. (I know, Saul Bellow wrote this book before Mr.Williams was even born!) I thought this book had a great start. I loved the characterizations in the first half, I felt I was really getting into it. Sadly, by the second half, I found the book a bit tedious and unsatisfying. The doctor character was just plain annoying, and although that very well may have been the point, it was irritating reading about him.
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Summary: Look, the Lard Has Held Its Place!
Review: Just wanted to say that although I can see why some of these people say nothing happend in this book, nothing could be further from the truth. Seize the Day is a book that has no action, no last miniute courthouse confessional, but is one of the most moving portraits of the American male I have read since Death of a Salesman.
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Summary: It's hard to put a car chase in a book.
Review: Just wanted to say that although I can see why some of these people say nothing happend in this book, nothing could be further from the truth. Seize the Day is a book that has no action, no last miniute courthouse confessional, but is one of the most moving portraits of the American male I have read since Death of a Salesman.
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