I really wish that this book was just the latter part…. but fine… I guess its okay. Death with Interruptions deals with the very philosophical point of what would happen if we all stopped dying. I liked the start a lot, the middle was okay but I WAS EATING UP THE END (Gen Z terms). There is something about death that I find so adorable. I just loved her character and I pictured her being a little short and a bigger woman who wears sweaters. Yes I know Saramago gave us a description but I just love her so much I would love to draw her. ESPECIALLY WHEN SHE FALLS IN LOVE WITH THE CELLIST. DEATH PLEASE LISTEN TO HOZIER.
Okay maybe enough about death, more on necropolitics. I love the idea of necropolitics, the fact that sovereignty and political power have correlations to people dying is crazy. The way that so much economic and societal turmoil takes place after people not dying just for a bit is crazy. Also the ethical dilemma with people being brought to the border to die. Honestly that made me very sad but honestly a very vital solution (until there is a pile of dead bodies in a random country). I mean can you imagine, I feel like death has become such a vital part of life that if it ceased to exist we would lose so much beauty. I feel like the reason as to why we enjoy life and find beauty is because we never know when is death coming. So the concept of letters also means that the beauty of life and death would perish. But I do find it interesting that letters are also a transitional point of when death becomes more human.
Yet again I feel like death’s mistake leading her to the cellist is SO CUTE. I dont know why this ignited so many emotions in me but PLEASE MORE OF THE CELLIST AND DEATH. I can just imagine them in an apartment living a simple life. I feel like death should be a poet too. AH I CANT STOP TALKING ABOUT THEM.
Also I find it really cute that proust was brought up quite a bit. Feels so full circle.
My question for you today is, what do you imagine death to look like.
I hope you all have a lovely week, can’t wait to talk more about death!
Maxene, wow! I hadn’t thought about how it would be to separate both parts of the narrative. The Hozier reference killed me! I like thinking about the letters as a “transitional point of when death becomes more human.”
Thanks for your comment!
– Tesi
Hi Maxene,
I enjoyed reading your blog post and I think you touched on some interesting points. I never thought about how many problems society would face if there was no death and definitely find this concept crazy as well. I loved your description of death!! – Puneet D
I agree with you that I definitely liked the second half of the book better than the beginning. I thought death was a very interesting character, as we got to see her become more human as the novel went on. I was not a huge fan of the romance surprisingly, but I am glad you enjoyed it! To ask you a question, what are your opinions on the ending? Do you think death and the cellist live together forever?
Hi samantha! honestly I really hope they do 🙁 but honestly i can imagine them growing old as well and the cellist would probably die first. I feel like that death would make death more human as she has to battle with the feelings of mourning and loss. What do you think?