The Cave

I just finished reading "The Cave" by Jose Saramago, I highly recommend it.  Saramago's writing style is a little difficult to read.  He doesn't use quotation marks and paragraphs may unfold over several pages, it feels like stream of conscience writing in some places.  It's a style that you may have to get used to while reading his works but it didn't take me long to adapt.   The story is about an elderly potter named Cipriano Algor who lives in a rural village with his adult daughter.  He sells his pottery to The Center which felt to me like what Wal-mart might want to be.  It's a live, work, play, shop area that is God-like and ever growing.   The book starts with Cipriano bringing a van load of pots to The Center but being told that the people don't want his pots anymore, they prefer plastic.

This book addresses the human dilemma's we all see around us, people wanting what they can't have but other people spurning that same thing are frequently seen in the story.  It also makes me think about what we do to ourselves when we give large corporations more and more power. The Center, although looking like a paradise, deprived the people of creativity, curiosity and freedoms, not to mention the sky and fresh air.

Obviously this is not a light read, it's full of philosophy and depth but it also has a good bit of humor and love.  It feels like one of those books I'd like to re-read in the future.

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