tung kim

Many people find something out of nothing, that what I thought when I read the Zahir. A woman finds something in a coin that she is unable to let it go. Everyone I think is connected and that goes the same for objects. When things in our lives start to go all weird and we start to lose track, many people tend to find comfort different ways. And so perhaps the lady in the story holds on to that coin because she feels that she need to find reason to her existences. That just my take on it.

tung kim

The others was another great story I thought. I always thought to myself what it would be to meet my future self. Would I be the same as I am now, how much would I really change, would I be successful in my life or be in ruins. Another thought would that I would also wonder is that what I would say to my past self. Would I tell him to watch out for curtain things and prevent hardship and heartache? The story is very strange in the end in that they both chose not to go meet up and that shows that they both are still the same in their logic and actions. I don’t think I would be able to do that my wonder would over rule my logic and I would make my self to the meeting place.

tung kim

I remember reading this story somewhere before in my life and after reading it again I started to remember why I liked this story. There are many symbols in it that I thought was very well hidden such as the book being truth that it was the key to human kind understand that such a thing as a book of infinitely existed. But in the end we could comprehend such a thing, we as a society would not accept such a thing existed and book was later hidden for all time. I did enjoy reading this book and I’m sure that there are more symbols then just that. Borges is a very interesting man and in a way very crafty in adding like clues into his stories.

Janie Cherestal

“The Mirror and the Mask” was one of Borges more complicated stories. It described a poet’s attempt to create the perfect poem about a war as a favor for the king. As a thank-you, the king gives the poet a mask for the first poem, then a mirror for the second. However, with each poem, the poet displays physical changes, and by his last poem, looks like a completely different person. This poem is just one line, and the king states that it is the most beautiful thing in the universe. With that, he gives the poet a dagger, which he uses to kill himself, and the king becomes a beggar. I felt confused at to what this one line was, and wondered if it was the name of God. This would explain why the king called it the most perfect piece he ever seen, and why the poet commits suicide, for Borges had stated in one of his stories that men are not meant to discover God’s name.

Janie Cherestal

I found Borges’ “Book of Sand” to be one of his better short stories due to the fact that it was concise and to the point without any confusing symbolism. In the story, the narrator purchases a fascinating book with infinite pages from a peddler, but soon becomes horrified by the object and terribly paranoid that someone will steal it from him. Eventually, he decides that he must get rid of the book and decides that the safest place to lose it is in a giant library among countless volumes. I felt that the feature of an eerie book that drives its owner mad was pretty interesting and it was fun to read how strongly it effected the narrator. I was surprised that Borges did not end up killing off the narrator as he usually does to one of the characters in his stories, and wondered what Borges was trying to say about religion by having a Bible seller give the terrible book to the narrator.

Katherine Tesi

I found Borges’ “The Book of Sand” relatively interesting, but it was surely no surprise that Borges once again uses the idea of the infinite and labyrinths. We find Borges as the narrator and main character again, which I have found that I like a little better. I find it more intriguing when Borges is the main character, simply because I feel as though the story being told could be a first hand account of an event. We also find a theme of religion within this story in that the stranger is selling Bibles and Borges has a collection of Bibles. Throughout all of the time that Borges has spent referring to the infinite and labyrinths, I have found it increasingly interesting as the stories have progressed. I really do enjoy how many of his stories portray an idea similar to this one; if a person becomes obsessive about the infinite in any aspect of life, it will surely drive them insane. In the stories which have been read during class, we find that the characters are temporarily consumed by this obsession but they seem to always return to reality.

Michael Lampasona

This story was about a library that had every possible book within its shelves. All the books were the same length, and arranged in the same fashion on the shelves. Since every combination of 22 letters was used to form the words in the book, there were a seemingly infinite number of books. However, there is a limit to the number of possible combinations so the number of books is actually finite. During the story, men try to find the one book that will bring them salvation. Also, there is mention of the one divine book that exists within the library. In search of great books, some books from the library are destroyed. However, Borges points out that there are so many books, even destroying some does not eliminate the handful of almost identical books that are left behind. This analogy can be applied to many situations in the world, not only this library.

I found this story compelling. It reminded me of when I walk into a library and am astounded by the number of books. Even though every possible combination of letters is not actually in our libraries, the pure amount of knowledge on the shelves is unbelievable. Borges expresses this idea well in this fictional work.

Michael Lampasona

This story is about a lottery that takes place in Babylon. At first, the lottery seems like any other lottery - whoever wants to enter must pay a fee and is granted a chance to win a pooled prize. This lottery is run by "the Company." Eventually the lottery evolved, and those who entered were given a chance to win a pooled some or be penalized. More and more people ended up entering the lottery, because if a man did not buy a ticket he was considered to have no spirit of adventure. Eventually, the picked "loser" of the lottery was forced to serve jail time. The lottery gained popularity, and in time the reward became not being penalized - with death.

I thought this story was interesting. Borges talks about his common theme of infinity towards the end of the story. I certainly would not like to participate in this lottery, but then again if I lived in Babylon I wouldn't have a choice.

Emily Skahill

i think the stories in this book are getting better as they go on, because i really liked this book. it's probably because it reminded me of The House of Leaves and Zampano as well as Traunt's obsession with the book. Borges became obsessed with trying to figure out the novel just like Traunt's life revolved around what Zampano wrote and the way he lived his life. I really like this story, it's really interesting. i liked it so much i actually thought it was too short. i also think Borges could write another short story about someone finding the book in the library, sort of Jumanji like.

Emily Skahill

the House of Asterion is about a half man half bull thing living in a labyrinth. honestly i feel bad for the Minotaur. no one comes to visit him except for every 9 years and he runs around playing games and making up imaginary people.  i like greek mythology and it was interesting how Borges wrote it from this perspective but even so, i feel so bad for him. no one deserves to be alone! it was short though, and i loved this story for that! Borges should have never wrote anything very long, because he is a very boring writer. his readers would have been a lot better off.

Emily Skahill

i like the Zahir, much more than i've liked any of the other stories we've read. unlike a lot of the stories we read this sort of seems like it could really happen. if it did in today's world the person would be put in a mental hospital. it also sort of reminded me of the lord of the rings, the obsession with a coin. i don't really understand why the coin would bring him to god, thats a pretty out there idea in my opinion. i still don't like how Borges writes. i always have to reread everything more than once. i wish i could write more about my reactions to these, but seriously even though i liked this story there isn't much to say. 

Kristin Todd

I thought that "The Book of Sand" was really interesting.  It was really easy to follow and provided a mystery and something to think about for the reader.  It was intriguing how the book was a labyrinth to the reader- always changing.  It definitely reminded me of the labyrinth from House of Leaves because it was always changing depending on who was inside or trying to go inside.  I found that the man who bought the book wasn't that skeptical of the man selling it.  If it were me, I would have thought about buying the book longer and even trusting the man a little less.  But, then again, it probably wouldn't make a good short story.  The hyperlink was also pretty interesting.  It provided a different outlook on the story because it said that it didn't really matter what order the story was in.  The fact that the hypertext was interactive was also good because it was a puzzle that you had to figure out based on the plot.  But, like the book in the story, the pages kept changing so it made it harder to figure out the puzzle.

Kristy Medina

When first reading the title, Book of Sand, you can immediately think Borges will write about religion (even though Borges is not predicative, he is really consistent with the topics he discusses.) And anyways, I thought about why the metaphor sand for a religious book like the Bible. When the 'seller' starts describing the book, like talking about the page numbers and how they don't go in order, I immediately thought of House of Leaves and how different and innovative authors can get with these books. Also similar to House of Leaves I thought about how the set up of the book would be if the pages do not go in order...like how it would be read and how to follow it. But then it is told that the book is called the book of sand because it has no beginning, middle, or end, so it wouldn't be coherent anyways. As a reader reading a mystery story (or what I would call mysterious) I tried to guess what would happen to the narrator after buying the book because I knew it wouldn't be good and I guessed right (sort-of). I knew it was going to bring the narrator bad luck of some sorts. The book actually did lead to something bad in the narrator's life. The obsession the narrator had reminded my of Navidson's obsession with the unknowing and it was coincidental how both characters lost the people closest to them because of this obsession. In the end, Borges again leaves us with a very interesting ending about how the narrator won't even enter the street in which he left the book (also how he wouldn't burn it because the fire would infinitely burn.) The short story anyways, is really really short just like House of Asterion. I liked it a lot.

Julie Morvitz

I really liked The Book of Sand. It reminded me a lot of The Zahir, because the narrator becomes obsessed with the book, just like the narrator becomes obsessed with the Zahir. The difference in these stories is that in The Zahir, the narrator couldn’t stop thinking about the Zahir even after he got rid of it, and I don’t think it ever left him. We don’t really know if the narrator is still obsessed with the book after he leaves it in the library, but it seems more like he can move on with his life, even if he can’t walk on the street where the library is. The story, like many other Borges short stories, includes the idea of the labyrinth. I liked the idea of a never ending book, but there was no way of actually reading the book. Besides it not having a beginning page or an end page, there was no consistency in the middle and none of the pages were in order. Nonetheless, I liked the story.

Carly Cooper

I think this story was a really good one to be the last story we read in this class. It integrates like all the themes we have been discussing, it is a perfect example of the kinda of fictional stories that Jorge Luis Borges always writes. The theme of obsession is one that has been repetitive throughout the semester and again here the narrator has an unexplained obsession with this book and has isolated himself just like both main characters in House of Leaves. Another aspect of Borges' writing is that he keep talking about the story or book a hundred and one nights which still is a question i have as to why he constantly references it. 

I also really liked this story, i have really enjoyed the stories toward the end of the book and i am better able to understand them. I thought it was really intriguing though I don't understand why he feels obligated to hide the book and not share its mysteriousness with the world.

Michael Lampasona

This story is about a man who visits Jorge Luis Borges to attempt to sell him a Bible. Borges tells the man that he has plenty of bibles, and that he is not interested. The man then shows Borges the Book of Sand. This book is limitless, and the beginning and end of it can never be reached. This fascinates Borges, who then desperately wants to purchase the book. He buys it from the man, and soon becomes obsessed with it. The story ends with Borges hiding the infinite book at the basement of a library, to end his obsession. However, he still refuses to walk down the street of that library.

This story had themes that are common in Borges' works - infinity and obsession. Borges becomes obsessed with the never ending, labyrinth of a book. Luckily, he is able to get rid of it, but not after it has altered his life. This was a very typical Borges short story.

Michael Lampasona

This story is about a king who hires a poet to create a poem about the history of Ireland. The poet comes back with a rehearsed poem that the king enjoys and appreciates. He gives the poet a silver mirror as a gift, and instructs him to come back with another poem. The poet comes back with a less rehearsed, stranger poem. Surprisingly, the king enjoys this poem even more, and rewards the poet with a golden mask and instructs him to come back with another poem. The poet comes back, this time with one line. He recites it to the king, and both of them are awestruck by the meaning of this line; both believe they truly heard beauty. The king gives the poet a dagger to kill himself. The poet commits suicide, and the king becomes a commoner after hearing this one line.

This story was quite deep. It makes me very curious what this one line was, or could have been about to cause such strong reactions from the king and the poet. It must have been very moving, because it changed both of their lives drastically.

Michael Lampasona

In this story, Jorge Luis Borges meets a younger version of himself while he is sitting on a bench. He is seventy years old at the time, and his younger counterpart is around twenty years old. Borges talks to the younger version of himself and tries to convince himself that this is not a dream. He tells the younger Borges facts about his life that only he would know. The younger Borges still has his doubts, however he seems convinced when the older Borges shows him an American bill with a date from the future on it. At the end, they agree to meet again, but neither shows.

I found the idea of meeting your future self interesting. It was amusing how Borges had such a hard time convincing himself that it wasn't just a dream, and he later explained how maybe it was just a dream for his younger self. This story reminded me of concepts of time travel, and it's potential problems. Overall, it was an enjoyable short story.

Victoria Gornopolskaya

When reading this story I imagine a circular sort of novel in which the pages are scattered over a 360 degree angle. A book which contains bits of every story that was ever told is what “The Book of Sand” represents to me. Borges attempts to put together this infinite creation only to become obsessed and enslaved by this tedious labor. At least he was able to recognize that he had a problem, which he fixed by getting rid of the book. However, I do think that Borges finding the man who traded him the book and demanding a refund would have been a far superior ending because it would involve more plot driven action. Overall it was pretty safe but I do appreciate it for its imaginative qualities.

Victoria Gornopolskaya

“The Other,” by Jorge Luis Borges was very creative and imaginative in its context. It involves two men meeting at a park bench, only Borges feels a strange familiarity in this other man. The other man is actually turns out to be Jorge Luis Borges as well, except he is much younger. The narrator is the older, greyer Borges. The two men engage in a conversation, the older Borges offers advice to the younger Borges on his literary development and progress for the future. I find it ironic that the older man was much more affected by this phenomenon than the younger man. I thought the younger man should’ve taken more of an active interest in this encounter with his future self because he could’ve gained a lot more out of it. It’s not every day that such a phenomenon occurs. When the conversation is over the two men agree to meet at the same bench the next day, only they don’t. They both lie to one another, which is quite sad, because I would be way more enthusiastic if I had the opportunity to meet my future self.

“The Mirror and the Mask” by Jorge Luis Borges was an exciting story. It was about a king who chose a very knowledgeable poet to summarize for him a brief history of Ireland in the form of a poem. The first time, the poet’s work was very lengthy and rehearsed. The king was astounded and rewarded the poet. The second time the poet wasn’t as thorough and detailed, but the king was moved nonetheless, even more so than the first time. The third time the poet recited only a single verse and brought the king to into a standstill. He was so amazed that the poet was able to capture such a long period of time in that one line, and handed him a dagger. The poet ends up killing himself and the king becomes a commoner. It is incredible to imagine how one line of poetry could have such a profound affect on people.