The Obscure Reading Group discussion

We are starting the "second half" of the book from when the Dog, Joana, Jose, Joaquim and Pedro show up at Maria Guavaira's home in Galicia. Spoilers allowed as it's assumed you have finished the book, okay?

Geography and Displacement; Identity and Group; Pairing off; Government or lack thereof; Platitudes and Wisdom; Metaphors....
The book offers so much to discuss, compare, contrast. Where do you want to go?

Overall, I loved the book and would have given it 5 stars except the last 30 pages. It seemed to lose its energy as though the characters were tired of wandering around and the author had tired of the tale.

There were so many sterling moments of insight into human nature throughout this novel. For example, just before the peninsula was due to crash into the island of Santa Maria, it suddenly changed course, but few knew they were saved. The understated way Saramago describes these events further highlights his dark sense of humor, "During those moments, tragically, some began quarreling in the hope of being killed and perhaps had their wish granted...some implored pardon for their sins, thinking there was no time for repentance inquired of God and the Devil what new sins they might still commit." (p. 215 in my edition.)

Cindy wrote: "Overall, I loved the book and would have given it 5 stars except the last 30 pages. It seemed to lose its energy as though the characters were tired of wandering around and the author had tired of ..."

I am so glad you liked it, Cindy. The dark humor throughout and literal and figurative sense of displacement of the population was sustained pretty wonderfully. The flagging energy at the end seemed appropriate to me, kind of what happens when someone gets used to a new condition of existence. Like an "okay, this is how things are gonna be now" and excitement ebbs.