El mundo como yuxtaposición

-Los pájaros no son nada -continuó Houellebecq-, manchitas de color vivas que incuban sus huevos y devoran miles de insectos revoloteando patéticamente de un lado a otro, una vida atareada y estúpida, completamente consagrada a devorar insectos (a veces se dan un modesto festín de larvas), y a la reproducción de su especie. Un perro lleva ya en sí un destino indvidual y una representación del mundo, pero su drama tiene un aspecto diferenciador, no es histórico y ni siquiera verdaderamente narrativo, y creo que yo he roto un poco con el mundo como narración, el mundo de las novelas y las películas, y también con el mundo de la música. Ya sólo me intereso por el mundo como yuxtaposición: el de la poesía, el de la pintura. ¿Quiere un poco más de cocido?

El mapa y el territorio, capítulo 13, segunda parte. Michel Houellebecq

Just one step from monkeys

After several minutes of intense thought he arrived at a brilliant explanation. It was a rock, of course, and it must have grown during the night. There were many plants that did this . white, pulpy things shaped like pebbles, that seemed to shoot up during the hours of darkness. It was true they were small and round, whereas this was large and sharp-edged; but greater and later philosophers than Moon-Watcher would be prepared to overlook equally striking exceptions to their theories.

2001 A space oddisey, Arthur C. Clarke

Justicia

Olga era dulce, era dulce y amable, Olga le amaba, se repitió con una tristeza creciente al mismo tiempo que comprendía que ya nunca habría nada entre ellos, que nunca podría haber nada entre ellos, la vida te ofrece una oportunidad a veces, se dijo, pero cuando eres demasiado cobarde o indeciso para aprovecharla, la vida recoge sus cartas, hay un momento para hacer las cosas y para abrazar una felicidad posible, ese momento dura algunos días, a veces unas semanas e incluso unos meses, pero sólo se presenta una única vez, y si quieres rectificar más tarde es simplemente imposible, ya no queda sitio para la esperanza, la creencia y la fe, subsiste una resignación suave, una piedad recíproca y entristecida, la sensación inútil y justa de que podría haber ocurrido algo, de que sencillamente uno se ha mostrado indigno del don que le acaban de hacer.

El mapa y el territorio, capítulo 13, segunda parte - Michel Houellebecq

Review - Halo, The Fall of Reach (Eric Nylund)

A nice introduction to the universe. Comprehensive to the newly arrived but dynamic and fresh. It is nothing especial, nothing to remember, truth be told, but it is an easy reading, fast and recommended to anyone interested in sci-fi. 

Rating 5

Vacaciones

Lo que más me impresionó fue lo que me contó la vecina, que se cruzó con ella justo antes. Volvía de hacer las compras, posiblemente de agenciarse el veneno… nunca supimos cómo, por otra parte. La mujer me dijo que tenía un aspecto feliz, increíblemente entusiasta y feliz. Me dijo que tenía exactamente la expresión de alguien que se dispone a partir de vacaciones. Era cianuro, debió de morir casi instantáneamente; estoy absolutamente convencido de que no sufrió.

El mapa y el territorio, capítulo 10, segunda parte - Michel Houellebecq

Review - Barrayar (Lois McMaster)

Pretty boring. Again, as I said with the previous book, the original series might be great, I haven't read them, but hese two books are as plain and boring as any average book. It is not really worth reading. Just for super fans. 

Rating 2

Casi siempre

La Iglesia le pareció al principio desierta, pero al avanzar hacia el altar vio a una muchacha negra, de dieciocho años a lo sumo, arrodillada en una silla del coro, con las manos unidas delante de una estatua de la Virgen; murmuraba palabras en voz baja. Concentrada en su oración, no prestó a Jed la menos atención. Él advirtió, un poco a pesar suyo, que el pantalón de tejido fino moldeaba con mucha precisión el culo de la chica, combado por la postura genuflexa. ¿Tendría pecados por los que pedir perdón? ¿Padres enfermos? Probablemente ambas cosas. Su fe parecía grande. Debía de ser muy práctica, pese a todo, aquella creencia en Dios; cuando ya no podías hacer nada por los demás -lo cual sucedía a menudo en la vida, sucedía casi siempre, en el fondo, y sobre todo con respecto al cáncer de su padre-, te quedaba el recurso de rezar por ellos.

El mapa y el territorio, capítulo 10, segunda parte - Michel Houellebecq

Review - Las campañas de Napoleón (David Chandler)

Muy bueno. Un gran repaso a toda la vida de Napoleón, centrada en sus campañas pero sin dejar de lado tácticas y biografía. Se echa de menos algún mapa más y mayor detalle en ciertas batallas clave pero, en general, es un punto de partida fantástico para cualquier aficionado a la historia militar. Imprescindible.

Puntuación: 8

Deseo

-¿Sabes por qué, en el fondo, les gustas a las mujeres?

Él masculló una respuesta indistinta.

-Porque gustas a las mujeres -insistió Olga-, supongo que habrás tenido ocasión de darte cuenta. Eres bastante guapito, pero no es por eso, la belleza es casi un detalle. No, es otra cosa…

-Dime.

-Es muy simple: porque tienes una mirada intensa. Una mirada apasionada. Y es eso, ante todo, lo que buscan las mujeres. Si leen una energía, una pasión, en la mirada de un hombre lo encuentran seductor.

El mapa y el territorio, capítulo cuatro, segunda parte - Michel Houellebecq

Review - Shards of Honor (Lois McMaster)

Average. An absolute standar adventure without surprises or nothing remarkable. If not for the fame of the sagas, this book would be completely forgeatable. Not Recommended. 

Rate 2

Vomitar

Franz tenía razón, ya era hora de organizar una exposición, daba vueltas en redondo desde hacía meses, esto empezaba a influir en su humor. Se puede trabajar en solitario durante años, es la única manera de trabajar, la verdad sea dicha; llega siempre un momento en que experimentas la necesidad de mostrar tu trabajo al mundo, menos para recibir su juicio que para tranquilizarte sobre la existencia de ese trabajo e incluso sobre tu existencia propia., la individualidad es apenas una ficción breve dentro de una especie social.

El mapa y el territorio, capítulo 1, Segunda parte - Michel Houellebecq

Pure Life

I guess I'm afraid he'll hurt me again." Cordelia thought that one over. "Probably. Aral and I hurt each other all the time."

"Oh, not you two, Milady! You seem so, so perfect."

"Think, Drou. Can you imagine what mental state Aral is in right this minute, because of my actions? I can. I do."

"Oh."

"But pain . . . seems to me an insufficient reason not to embrace life. Being dead is quite painless. Pain, like time, is going to come on regardless. Question is, what glorious moments can you win from life in addition to the pain?"

"I'm not sure I follow that, Milady

Barrayar, chapter 17 - Lois McMaster

Honor for love

Later, lying warm in the darkness in Vorkosigan's room in the Count's town house, Cordelia remembered a curiosity. "What did you say to the Emperor, about me?"

He stirred beside her, and pulled the sheet tenderly up over her bare shoulder, tenting them together. "Hm? Oh, that." He hesitated. "Ezar had been questioning me about you, in our argument about Escobar. Implied that you had affected my nerve, for the worse. I didn't know then if I'd ever see you again. He wanted to know what I saw in you. I told him . . ." he paused again, and then continued almost shyly, "that you poured out honor like a fountain, all around you."

"That's weird. I don't feel full of honor, or anything else, except maybe confusion."

"Naturally not. Fountains keep nothing for themselves."

Shards of Honour, chapter fifteen - Lois McMaster

El nuevo Salvador

No tenía ningún amigo íntimo y no buscaba la amistad ajena. En cambio, pasaba tardes enteras en la biblioteca, y a los dieciocho años, terminado el bachillerato, poseía un vasto conocimiento, inusual en los jóvenes de su generación, del patrimonio literario de la humanidad. Había leído a Platón, Esquilo y Sófocles; había leído a Racine, Molière y Hugo; conocía a Balzac, Dickens, Flaubert, a los románticos alemanes y a los novelistas rusos. Más sorprendente aún, estaba familiarizado con los principales dogmas de la fe católica, cuya huella en la cultura occidental había sido tan profunda, mientras que sus compañeros, por lo general, sabían sobre la vida de Jesús un poco menos que sobre la de Spiderman.

El mapa y el territorio, capítulo dos, primera parte - Michel Houellebecq

What really matters

"He doesn't have a very good reputation."

"Yeah, I've seen some of it. It's all lies."

"He's—not a murderer, then?"

"Well . . ." Cordelia foundered on the truth. "He has k-killed a lot of people, I suppose. He's a soldier, you know. It's his job. It can't help spilling over a bit. I only know about three that weren't in the line of duty, though."

"Only three?" repeated her mother faintly. There was a pause. "He's not a, a sex criminal, then?" "Certainly not! “

 

Shards of Honour , chapter twelve - Lois McMaster

Live! live! live!

Welcome to Barrayar, son. Here you go: have a world of wealth and poverty, wrenching change and rooted history. Have a birth; have two. Have a name. Miles means "soldier," but don't let the power of suggestion overwhelm you. Have a twisted form in a society that loathes and fears the mutations that have been its deepest agony. Have a title, wealth, power, and all the hatred and envy they will draw. Have your body ripped apart and re-arranged. Inherit an array of friends and enemies you never made. Have a grandfather from hell. Endure pain, find joy, and make your own meaning, because the universe certainly isn't going to supply it. Always be a moving target. Live. Live. Live

Barrayar, chapter 20 - Lois McMaster

Just a little bit pregnant

"He said that permitting private judgments to turn my duty in the smallest matter would be just like getting a little bit pregnant—that the consequences would very soon get beyond me.

Shards of Honour, chapter eight - Lois McMaster

Women at best

"I said I was sorry," said Kou, sounding stung.

Drou stiffened. "Yes. Repeatedly," she said coldly.

"And there we come to the heart of the matter," Cordelia said slowly, seriously. "What Kou actually means, Drou, is that he isn't a bit sorry. The moment was wonderful, you were wonderful, and he wants to do it again. And again and again, with nobody but you, forever, socially approved and uninterrupted. Is that right, Kou?"

Kou looked stunned. "Well—yes!"

Drou blinked. "But . . . that's what I wanted you to say!"

"It was?" He peered over Cordelia's head.

This go-between system may have some real merits. But also its limits. Cordelia rose from between them, and glanced at her chrono. The humor drained from her spirit. "You have a little time yet. You can say a lot in a little time, if you stick to words of one syllable.

Barrayar, chapter 17 - Lois McMaster

Best love declaration ever

He shook his head. "That's not what I want, for you, with you. You should have the best. I'm hardly that, you must know by now. But at least I can offer you the best that I have. Dear C—Commander, am I too sudden, by Betan standards? I've been waiting for days, for the right opportunity, but there never seemed to be one."

"Days! How long have you been thinking along these lines?"

"It first occurred to me when I saw you in the ravine."

"What, throwing up in the mud?"

He grinned at that. "With great composure. By the time we finished burying your officer, I knew." She rubbed her lips. "Anybody ever tell you you're a lunatic?"

"Not in this context.”

Shards of honour, chapter five - Lois McMaster

Love is in the details

He shook his head. "That's not what I want, for you, with you. You should have the best. I'm hardly that, you must know by now. But at least I can offer you the best that I have. Dear C—Commander, am I too sudden, by Betan standards? I've been waiting for days, for the right opportunity, but there never seemed to be one."

"Days! How long have you been thinking along these lines?"

"It first occurred to me when I saw you in the ravine."

"What, throwing up in the mud?"

He grinned at that. "With great composure. By the time we finished burying your officer, I knew." She rubbed her lips. "Anybody ever tell you you're a lunatic?"

"Not in this context.”

Shards of Honour, chapter five - Lois McMaster

Female mind

"First try," echoed Drou. Her lip curled in introspective dismay. "How did you know you'd . . . caught? The nausea?"

"Fatigue, before nausea. But it was the little blue dots . . ." Her voice faltered, as she studied the girl's twisted-up features.

"Drou, are all these questions academic, or do you have some more personal interest in the answers?"

Her face almost crumpled. "Personal," she choked out. "Oh." Cordelia sat back. "D'you . . . want to talk about it?"

"No . . . I don't know. . . ."

"I presume that means yes," Cordelia sighed.

Barrayar, Chapter 10 - Lois McMaster