Comments on: John Updike’s “Brazil”

By: Ann

Ann — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 01:46:53 +0000

I liked the novel so much that I translated it into my mother tongue. Why does Mr Corbett and some others demand from the late Mr Updike that he should have stuck strictly to the magical realism of the S-America in certain parts of the book, as in changing the races, or the like? Has J.U. given some oath to do it? He didn’t have to! In fact, he couldn’t do it, for the novel is, all in all, a piece of irony whereas the magical realism is not; in fact it seems he’s laughing at it.
His irony in this book has more than one layer. In the final chapter, every layer is brought to its end.

By: John

John — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 21:03:30 +0000

I thought this novel was really good. It drew you into the characters and made you feel their struggle. I’m not sure it would have the same effect on everyone, considering the the relationship i’m currently in where neither family approves. Overall though, I think its a great read.

By: David

David — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 09:39:01 +0000

This novel is a good, but not great work. The American author attempts to tell his audience things about Brazil. But by moving “from the merely implausible to the highly ridiculous” he loses some credibility. At times, it feels he bite off more than he could chew.