About this title: In this science fiction work, Casares presents a classical theme: a man alone on an island. One day, he finds a group of tourists walking around; among them the woman he loves. He then tries to seduce her, to make himself visible to her eyes--but he can't.
Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Description: Good. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Description: Fine. 0140260846 Perfect Condition with Remainder mark. Free bookmarks with all orders and all orders ship same or next business day! 152. read more
Description: Good. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Description: Fair. 0893400963 Copyright 1972 / Large Print Edition / Text in Spanish Language / Ex-Library book with marking, stamps and card pocket / Minor wear to soft cover/ good clean pages / fair condition. read more
Binding: Softcover
Publisher: Penguin Group USA
Date Published: 1996-10-01
ISBN-13:9780140260847ISBN:0140260846
Description: NEW. Softcover. From an inventory that is 100% brand-new, 100% direct from the publishers' distribution channel. We carry NO pre-owned, NO remaindered. We pack in CARDBOARD to ensure the pristine quality is maintained. (Bubble-wrap alone is NOT sufficient to protect from USPS equipment. ) Guaranteed brand-NEW, protected with CARDBOARD, your satisfaction is guaranteed. BKLUVID: 9780140260847. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics)
Date Published: 1996
ISBN-13:9780140260847ISBN:0140260846
Description: New. Brand New! Buy with confidence-your satisfaction is guaranteed at B-Logistics! Due to the large scale of our operation, we do not have access to the specific contents/condition of our items. Please note that Expedited shipping is not available at this time. read more
Description: Good. No dust jacket as issued. Very good but for usual ex-library trappings. (PS) Text in Spanish. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 130 p. Libro de Bolsillo, 268. Audience: General/trade. read more
Edition: Large type / large print.
Binding: Trade paperback
Publisher: J. Curley, South Yarmouth, Ma.
Date Published: 1977
ISBN-13:9780893400965ISBN:0893400963
Description: Good. No dust jacket. Softcover former library book in good condition, slight cover wear. Text in Spanish. 163 p.; 22 cm. Large print ed. read more
Description: Good. Used-Good Sorry, CD missing. Spanish version May contain highlighting/underlining/notes/etc. May have used stickers on cover. Ships same or next day. Expedited shipping takes 2-3 business days; standard shipping takes 4-14 business days. read more
Description: Good. Only lightly used. Book has minimal wear to cover and binding. A few pages may have small creases and minimal underlining. Book selection as BIG as Texas. read more
Binding: PAPERBACK
Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics)
Date Published: 1996
ISBN-13:9780140260847ISBN:0140260846
Description: Fine. 0140260846 Pub date: 1996. Condition: Fine. Has some shelf wear & publisher's mark on edge. We are a tested and proven company with over 400, 000 satisfied customers since 1997. Choose expedited shipping for much faster delivery. Delivery confirmation on all US order. read more
Binding: Softcover
Publisher: Grupo Anaya Comercial
Date Published: 2003
ISBN-13:9788420638393ISBN:8420638390
Description: Paperback. Used. Some Writing. SKU: 20374738 All orders shipped within 1 business day. 14 day money back guarantee ISBN: 9788420638393 Used. Some Writing. SKU: 20374738 All orders shipped within 1 business day. 14 day money back guarantee. read more
Binding: Softcover
Publisher: Grupo Anaya Comercial
Date Published: 2003
ISBN-13:9788420638393ISBN:8420638390
Description: Paperback. Used. Some Writing. SKU: 20374725 All orders shipped within 1 business day. 14 day money back guarantee ISBN: 9788420638393 Used. Some Writing. SKU: 20374725 All orders shipped within 1 business day. 14 day money back guarantee. read more
Binding: Softcover
Publisher: Grupo Anaya Comercial
Date Published: 2003
ISBN-13:9788420638393ISBN:8420638390
Description: Paperback. Good Used. Sticker on Back Cover. SKU: 20374735 All orders shipped within 1 business day. 14 day money back guarantee ISBN: 9788420638393 Good Used. Sticker on Back Cover. SKU: 20374735 All orders shipped within 1 business day. 14 day money back guarantee. read more
Binding: Softcover
Publisher: Grupo Anaya Comercial
Date Published: 2003
ISBN-13:9788420638393ISBN:8420638390
Description: Paperback. Good Used. Sticker on Back Cover. SKU: 20374730 All orders shipped within 1 business day. 14 day money back guarantee ISBN: 9788420638393 Good Used. Sticker on Back Cover. SKU: 20374730 All orders shipped within 1 business day. 14 day money back guarantee. read more
"At first this book was good but a little predictable. It felt like Last Year at Marienbad. Then it started to feel a little like Celine and Julie Go Boating. These are both great films that I love, so I didn't mind. But the book definitely differs from these in interesting ways, and I really loved the last 30 pages or so. I haven't read Borge's introduction to it yet, but he is so predictable for loving it: it's got most of the signature things in a Borges story: mirrors, reproduction, the fact that the text you are reading is some kind of imperfect artifact (the footnotes were a nice touch, and sometimes quite humorous esp. the one about Malthus on p.83 (also makes you wonder about the "editor"))... though there is no library filled with books, and the prose isn't as dense.
My only complaint is that the narrator's paranoia in the beginning, and his slow-ness to catch on to what is happening even after the reader kinda figures it out is kind of disappointing. I found myself thinking "come on man, don't you get it already?" Sometimes I also found his "voice" to be tiring, too obvious a fabricated fictional voice. Also, near the end, he explains everything (except for one thing, which the editor points out in a footnote), down to the reason for the two suns. I felt this whole section was unnecessary; if left out, the book would've been more pleasurable on a repeat read (or multiple repeat reads, for eternity, get it? haha)
But these minor quibbles shouldn't detract from the overall quality of the book, and the kind of depth it is able to reach in under 100 pages is impressive (although it could be even shorter if the annoying things I noted earlier were to be eliminated). You can read it in a day (and should).
PS - I just thought of this... and I wonder if this works in the original language, but: I love that the title of this book has double meanings. If the title were "Morel's Invention," it would not be as interesting. But as "The Invention of Morel", it makes you wonder if the title refers to Morel's invention or if it refers to the fact that Morel is himself an invention. (as in "The Invention of the Telephone")"
"This book did not becoming interesting until page 68 and what with only 103 pages, that makes for a less than satisfying start. But I suppose that's what you get for choosing a book for its cover (it was a picture of Louise Brooks). It's about a fugitive who is hiding on a now-deserted island whose inhabitants are said to have died from a mysterious disease. A group of tourists show up on the island for a holiday and the company-starved fugitive is torn between wanting to know them and fearing that they will turn him in, feelings that are further complicated by his growing attraction to one of the visitors. I can't really say that much without giving away the surprise (and honestly, the most interesting part of the book). It has a sci-fi twist that I really enjoyed but I had to wade through 60 pages of the protagonist whining about being a fugitive and moaning about his untouchable love. Bottom line- if you have the patience and time (fortunately not much is required in the time department), it's a thought-provoking book... at least the last 30-some pages are."
"My Lord! If the NYRB Classics republication of this book doesn't have the BEST picture of Louise Brooks ever, I don't know what does. This book is awesome. It's short, it's totally weird, it's dedicated to Borges, and it was (last season) featured (to my unending delight) as one of the books Sawyer reads in Lost. Like The Turn of the Screw, which Lost featured in its first season, The Invention of Morel is a story about one person's (possibly confused, possibly crazy, possibly true) perception of reality. I'm not going to write anything about the plot at all here because it might take away too much from the reading-experience, but it's a take on the adventure story genre and thus features a man who survives a shipwreck and washes up on a strange island. Read it, and then let's talk about it!"
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