Has anyone read 2666 by Roberto Bolaño?

zanthewitch · Has anyone read 2666 by Roberto Bolaño?

Has anyone read 2666 by Roberto Bolaño?
It's a marathon 898 pages, translated from Spanish. And quite a different type of Novel - or so I see from the reviews on Amazon.com
The writer wanted it to be released in 5 books to maximise the sales potential, as a continuing income for his family. He passed away in 2003.
It came up in my 'you might like' on Amazon & I enjoyed reading the extract. I'm not sure if I want to ask for it for Mothers Day....as I will HAVE to read it then and I don't want to if it's going to be a chore.....I'm so slow reading at the moment as I keep playing my Nintendo DS instead

Zan

blueflower

I just saw this book when I was looking at the 2008 1001 books to read before you die. I hadn't heard of it before. I am tempted as I do quite like reading big books but I have also pre ordered another quite large book which has also appeared on the list this time and is also very controversial but a best seller - The Kindly Ones'. It is going to be a challenging read because of the subject matter so not sure if I should also get 2666 or not. But I probably will!

wonderlake

No I haven't read it, but I'd like to - again I heard about it because it was in the updated edition of the "1,001 books you have to read before you die"

Not sure if the whopping size would put me off tho...

What are you playing on your DS ?

zanthewitch

Ah! - Now I have just read a synopsis of 'The Kindly Ones'....and it's going onto my Wish list too........maybe when I'm a bit less depressed myself though!

zanthewitch

Karen

zanthewitch

I know could not read on so small a screen.
The new "Kindle 2, Amazon's New Wireless Reading Device"
looks very interesting though. Not that I could afford that - but like all these things the price will drop rapidly.
You can see it on Amazon.com - not sure if they have it on the UK yet.
I spotted it when buying a music CD 'Distant Worlds'....from the USA (not available here) it's the music from Final Fantasy......are you spotting a trend here......lol
Zan

blueflower

I had a play with a Sony Reader in Waterstones the other day and I was quite impressed despite saying I would never even think about one. It was easy to use and read from and it could prove handy when travelling. However, as with the Kindle its the cost and as the member of staff I was taking to said with this being quite new it isn't usual for any new books to come in a down loadable format yet. So I think I will wait a year or so and see what direction these machines take. I can't see them replacing books but may have a place. But when you balance the cost of paperbacks with the initial cost of the machine you wonder if it is worth buying - unless you do loads of traveling. (I wish). I never thought I would have a i pod but love mine now so it isn't beyond the bonds of possibility I may think about it.

Karen

I don't think it will be too long before there will be a good range of books for download. I was quite surprised by the number my son showed me when he was looking for one to buy to put on his itouch. I think he ended up buying an audio book that time. I think I might do a bit of research on the Sony reader and the Kindle. I do spend quite a bit of time on the road, and more to the point hanging around, so if I can get used to reading from a screen it might be worth considering.

zanthewitch

I think these electronic readers will become much more popular, and therefore the librarys will increase with them - but they will never replace books completely. I would use one if I travelled more these days. My Husband used to work in Romania (he also had a house there) and I would go to stay sometimes with the kids - or we would spend a few weeks traveling over there by car. Half the boot was FULL of books for me to read while he was doing business - or I was relaxing. We did have a TV - but satelite was in it's infancy and there was not much to watch in English!!
So a Kindle - or Sony reader would have been a gift from the Gods for me in those days!
Zan

lovely treez

I have 2666 on my wishlist and am very tempted to buy it but would like to see someone else take the initial plunge! I'm such a chicken when it comes to big books!

wonderlake