"An epidemic of "white blindness" hits up the metropolis, sparing few whilst indiscriminately attacking the populous. Panic-maddened, citizens take to shelter only to be knocked around by seedier types that are themselves preoccupied with staying safe. From the ruins sways a procession of seven strangers, each totally unique in their background. Together they wade through the aftermath of the city to witness firsthand the harrowing surroundings. Blindness won the Nobel Prize for Literature for its powerful portrayal of man's worst appetites and weaknesses, and the exhilarating spirit that rises beyond them."

This is the best book I have read so far this year. This is the best Jose Saramago book I have read and it was amazing. I was intrigued from the first page. Why are these people blind?

What plays out after the initial blindness is the true nature of man, as philosophized by Rousseau and Hobbs. Are we inherently good and society corrupts us (Rouseau) or are we inherently evil and society creates a structure that keeps up in line (Hobbs)? Both sides of this argument is examined and played out as people who can no longer see and therefore no longer participate in society unfolds.

The style of writing in this book is intriguing as well. We are never told the names of each character and they are only identified as their role or physical characteristics. It is an interesting effect.

I highly recommend this book to anyone!

This book was my selection for the BookObsessed Best of 2010 Swap. It is being sent (hopefully) from the Book Depository to LMN60. Enjoy!

"Anyway -- because we are readers, we don't have to wait for some communications executive to decide what we should think about next -- and how we should think about it. We can fill our heads with anything from aardvarks to zucchinis -- at any time of night or day."
— Kurt Vonnegut

And arrived safely... sorry it took me so long to journal it! Really looking forward to this one.. but for now it's on the teetering heights of Mt TBR!