Happy first night of Passover, Good Friday, and Ramadan Mubarak to all who celebrate. And a warm welcome as well, of course, to our comrades who do not.

Julio Cortázar is my favorite Spanish-language author, so I'm making today's mega about him. If you'd like to share something random with the class, please feel free to make a mega in the future!

Anyway...

Cortázar is an Argentinian writer, and according to Wikipedia, "He is considered one of the most innovative and original authors of his time, a master of history, poetic prose and short story in general and a creator of important novels that inaugurated a new way of making literature in the Hispanic world by breaking the classical moulds through narratives that escaped temporal linearity."

So that's pretty cool. He was particularly active in the 50s and 60s.

In general, what I really like about Cortázar's writing is the clarity and purposefulness with which he writes. He neither condescends to the reader, nor seems to go out of his way to try and impress. He is certainly clever in his writing and it's by no means simplistic, but it feels like every literary flourish has genuine purpose. And contrary to what my Spanish literature professor said, I maintain that his story about getting trapped in a sweater is simple, funny, and not some bizarre allegory for a penis. Sometimes a sweater is just a sweater. (My professor was sort of obsessed with seeing phallic and/or sexual imagery, motifs, and innuendo in everything we read.)

I think his works sadly lose a lot in translation, as with many Spanish-language authors, particularly from that era. But maybe I'm just a fuckin hipster?

I'm still planning to do a mega on sleep, btw, but it has gotten postponed.

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  • Tiocfaidhcaisarla [he/him, comrade/them]
    ·
    2 years ago

    Broke up with my girlfriend of 2 years last night, puked an insane amount during work and had to leave this morning, missing a good day of tips (after a bad week) and had to reschedule an interview.

    Of course I think I did the right thing, still hurts and I hate that I had to hurt someone else too. Not to mention a group of people may now exist that hate me. Meh

    • SorosFootSoldier [he/him, they/them]
      ·
      2 years ago

      I've never broken up with someone but I've been on the receiving end. It still hurts today. Not to fault you comrade, you do you, if it's toxic you gotta hit the bricks, but relationships is a fuck. Granted I got the break ups for being a drunk, so.

    • TheOwlReturns [comrade/them]
      ·
      2 years ago

      It is tough, being the one that ends things. But at the end of the day, it is never the wrong decision to break up with someone when it comes to it. It is better than the alternative, which is growing resentment. I have been both the initiator and the receiver and I have to say it is easier being broken up with than doing the deed yourself. Just know you made the right decision and go on with your life knowing that you learned a lot from the experience. But don't be bitter or disrespectful to them or about them (like when talking with mutual friends) in the future, as that is something you might end up regretting a lot!