More than a novel, "the intermissions of death" in the form of a philosophical tale. What would life without death? The death paradox of course is that if it ceases to exist, it starts to be desirable. It is feared the only addition, the same desires. In a country where death constantly take its toll, José Saramago auscultates "a society divided between the hope to live forever and never be afraid to die." To reach a conclusion, we must not forget to distinguish the little death of others. Besides the philosophical aspect, although the author also captures the comic potential of the situation. The humor is born from the reversal of codes (including language) between life and death and is based on the absurd (we laugh yellow ... it is not far Kafka). I do not know to question the literary qualities as I have enjoyed reading some passages even noted a few sentences ... "We must use infinitely precautions with words, because they change their minds as Human beings
Yet I must admit that this book I was not completely passionate. It happened to me bored. There was first for me something too systematic in philosophical bias and in the choice of disembodied character (they did not even name). I felt more in a demonstration that in a novel. Then the absurd is used so repetitive that if I ended up tired. Finally, the absence of punctuation that turns the story into a long uninterrupted flow did not convince me and style so I do not completely seduced.
