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Optic Nerve
Optic Nerve | Maria Gainza
30 posts | 18 read | 20 to read
"In between autofiction and the micro-stories of artists, between literary meet-ups and the intimate chronicle of a family . . . this book is completely original, gorgeous, on occasions delicate and other times brutal. And this woman-guide, who goes from Lampedusa to The Doors with crushing elegance, is unforgettable." Mariana Enrquez, author of Things We Lost In the Fire The narrator of Optic Nerve is an Argentinian woman whose obsession is art. The story of her life is the story of the paintings, and painters, who matter to her. Her intimate, digressive voice guides us through a gallery of moments that have touched her. In these pages, El Greco visits the Sistine Chapel and is appalled by Michelangelos bodies. The mystery of Rothko's refusal to finish murals for the Seagram Building in New York is blended with the story of a hospital in which a prostitute walks the halls while the narrator's husband receives chemotherapy. Alfred de Dreux visits Gricault's workshop; Gustave Courbet's devilish seascapes incite viewers to have sex, or to eat an apple; Picasso organizes a cruel banquet in Rousseaus honor. . . . All of these fascinating episodes in art history interact with the narrator's life in Buenos Airesher family and work; her loves and losses; her infatuations and disappointments. The effect is of a character refracted by environment, composed by the canvases she studies. Seductive and capricious, Optic Nerve marks the English-language debut of a major Argentinian writer. It is a book that captures, like no other, the mysterious connections between a work of art and the person who perceives it.
LibraryThing
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Amy_S
Optic Nerve | Maria Gainza

I happily recommended this (again) today because someone commented on a PC wallpaper painting that led to the rabbit hole that is this lovely book! It's not for everyone (usually I need plot... there's no plot!) but it's a great book for noodling on all sorts of subjects.

BkClubCare I do want to reread this someday. I rushed / skimmed it when at Tourney time. 3y
3 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Megnogged
Optic Nerve | Maria Gainza
Mehso-so

The memories and anecdotes from the narrator‘s life interwoven with historical stories of artists and various works of art were beautifully stitched together, but I found myself wanting to know a bit more about our narrator. I enjoyed learning about the art, and looking up the artists and paintings while I read definitely enriched the experience, but I did find this a little hard to connect to sometimes.

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BekaReid
Optic Nerve | Maria Gainza

"It reminded me that all of art rests in the gap between that which is aesthetically pleasing and that which truly captivates you. And that the tiniest thing can make the difference."

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Caterina
Optic Nerve | Maria Gainza
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Taking some #audiobook eye-resting time after six hours on Zoom today... Even with f.lux, looking at a computer screen for so many hours strains my eyes and gives me a headache. 😵 Thankful for the ability to just close my eyes and be read to 💕 I don't know anything about this book, but that it was in the #TOB2020, so I'm hoping it's good! 🤞
#EasterExtravaganza #Readathon

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BarbaraBB
Optic Nerve | Maria Gainza
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#TOB2020

I don‘t care much about today‘s Semifinals. I guess I‘m still grieving a bit about Lost Children Archive bring kicked out yesterday...

Cinfhen This tournament is turning out to be a stinkfest 😫😫😫 4y
BarbaraBB @Cinfhen It is! And now Trust Exercise is exit. 4y
Cinfhen REALLY???? what‘s left?? 4y
BarbaraBB @Cinfhen Saudade and Optic Nerve made it on their own. But... the zombies are Normal People and Lost Children Archive, so maybe everything will turn out for the best 😉😘 4y
70 likes4 comments
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NoFrigateLikeABook
Optic Nerve | Maria Gainza
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Pickpick

I read Optic Nerve as a part of Curious Iguana‘s annual #ReadBroader challenge. It‘s autofiction about a woman—an Argentinian art critic—obsessed, wonderfully, with her field of study. It‘s interspersed with musings about passerby, her friends, and her family. March‘s Read Broader theme was Women‘s Work in Translation. If you want to know the other titles we chose to feature, comment!

charl08 Sounds good! 4y
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BarbaraBB
Optic Nerve | Maria Gainza
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#ToB2020

In line with my current mood these books didn‘t do much for me. If I had to choose I‘d go for the Water Dancer and I know many people love that one. Let‘s wait and see!

Suet624 I‘m with you. 4y
Cinfhen I read Water Dancer only, but I wasn‘t a fan. I do think it‘ll move forward though 4y
70 likes2 comments
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ClairesReads
Optic Nerve | Maria Gainza
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Pickpick

this book is a meditative tour through a series of artworks, both well-known and not so. I‘m not always especially moved by visual art, but the way that Gainza located this within a narrative brought meaning to the way I was able to read and engage with the visual medium. Optic Nerve was both measured, and even meandering, but also at times brutal, shocking, and visceral. It is a thoughtful meditation on the relationship between life and art.

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ClairesReads
Optic Nerve | Maria Gainza
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mhillis
Optic Nerve | Maria Gainza
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This week‘s #bookreport
All three books are so good!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Optic Nerve by Maria Gainza, translated by Thomas Bunstead
The Factory by Hiroko Oyamada, translated by David Boyne
A Place For Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza

Crazeedi Hey there! Good to see your post! Have a great week!💕 4y
BarbaraBB This means I need to read The Factory (enjoyed both of the others as well)! 4y
Cinfhen Good to know❤️ 4y
mhillis @Crazeedi Hello!!! Hope you have a good one too! 💕 4y
mhillis @BarbaraBB Hope you enjoy it! 4y
67 likes5 comments
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ClairesReads
Optic Nerve | Maria Gainza
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ClairesReads
Optic Nerve | Maria Gainza
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This is quite quotable #tob2020 #indiebuddyreads

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ClairesReads
Optic Nerve | Maria Gainza
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mklong
Optic Nerve | Maria Gainza
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Pickpick

As many have noted, this takes a form that is hard to pin down. I suppose that doesn‘t matter when I enjoyed it so much. In each chapter, Gainza writes of an artist whose story in some way paralells a story from the narrator, Maria‘s, life (which are often drawn from Gainza‘s own experiences). It‘s in the clear and observant way Maria understands art and life that leaves you with a clear sense of her as a character.
#TOB2020

Leftcoastzen 🐶❤️ 4y
mklong @Leftcoastzen You are so sweet to always send love to my scruffy girl! 4y
49 likes2 comments
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BarbaraBB
Optic Nerve | Maria Gainza
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#BookReport 08/20

I had a very productive reading week with Drive Your Plow over the Bones of the Dead as an absolute favorite 💕.
Two more #ToB books (Mary Toft is one of a kind 🐰), two #1001books and two I could use for #ReadingEurope2020.
How satisfying multitasking is 😂😉

mollyrotondo I really want to read Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead. I don‘t know many people who have read it. Glad to hear good things 4y
Reviewsbylola So excited to read the Toft! 4y
BarbaraBB @mollyrotondo Do read it! It‘s soo good!! 4y
DGRachel I loved Drive Your Plow! It was one of my favorite and most memorable books from last year. 💖💖 4y
BarbaraBB @DGRachel I wouldn‘t be surprised if it turns out to be one of my favorites this year. 4y
85 likes5 comments
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BarbaraBB
Optic Nerve | Maria Gainza
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Pickpick

Between a pick and a so-so. This one didn‘t really work for me even though I am a sucker for books about art. Most of the stories felt a bit too aloof.

The stories I did like were the ones that felt more personal: Separate Ways, Lightning at Sea and the one about Rothko and the prostitute in the hospital. Those made me lose myself googling the artists and their works. I love it when that happens

#ATY2020 Set in Southern Hemisphere #ToB2020

TrishB Great pic 👍🏻 4y
UnabridgedPod Great thoughts! I think the word “aloof” is really appropriate for this one. (I do love that cover!!) 4y
BarbaraBB @UnabridgedPod Thank you. English is not my first language so I was not sure if it was the right word! 4y
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Cathythoughts Lovely clear pic 👍🏻✨ 4y
BarbaraBB @TrishB @Cathythoughts Thank you. A winter picture 🙂 4y
UnabridgedPod @BarbaraBB I wouldn‘t have guessed—it‘s perfect. ❤️ 4y
batsy This cover really jumps out at you! 💙 4y
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UnabridgedPod
Optic Nerve | Maria Gainza
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María Gainza's Optic Nerve made me consider everything I've ever learned about reading and prior knowledge. I listened to Optic Nerve via Scribd—that format was a mistake because, despite increasing my audiobook listening, I'm just not as adept at listening as I am at reading with my eyes. For challenging material like this, that's a problem. ⬇️

UnabridgedPod The novel in translation is definitely literary fiction, and at its center is art, a subject about which I know virtually nothing. I read this for the Tournament of Books shortlist, and I kept going because (1) that's a goal and (2) it was short. Sadly, I didn't do the novel any favors, so I'm afraid that any review would be unfair.⬇️ 4y
UnabridgedPod Has anyone read this one who can share a justifiable opinion? Have you ever read to reach a goal and then realized that you couldn't offer a fair review? 4y
BarbaraBB I am reading it right now and do feel the same! 4y
UnabridgedPod @BarbaraBB are you reading a print version? 4y
BarbaraBB I am and I just posted my review. I did really enjoy some of the stories but most of them were too aloof for me. 4y
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merelybookish
Optic Nerve | Maria Gainza
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Pickpick

What makes something a novel? This is the question I pondered as I read this work, which seemed more essayistic than novelistic. Each chapter, an interweaving of a painting and painter's history with some event in the narrator's life. It felt detached and cerebral, each chapter its own little meditation on art and life. By the end some aspects of her story come together, but very loosely. A pick, but with reservations.

merelybookish A fun #tob contender. Will be interested to see how it fares! 4y
Suet624 Do you have a favorite TOB pick yet? 4y
merelybookish @Suet624 I loved both Normal People and Fleishman is in Trouble but don't think they will win. (And they are pitted against each other in Round 1 😕) I'm guessing Lost Children Archive or Girl, Woman, Other will win and that's okay. Both very good books. You? 4y
Suet624 I still need to read GWO. Sounds like I‘m going to like it. Lost Children is a favorite and I liked Mary Toft and Normal People. 😁 4y
84 likes4 comments
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azulaco
Optic Nerve | Maria Gainza
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Pickpick

It took me a little while to get into this one, but I ended up liking it. If you are not a fan of didactic or intensely internally-focused books, this book is not for you. I was looking up art references on Google every few pages, and disappearing down Wikipedia rabbit holes. I had a similar fascinating experience with Alexander Chee‘s Queen of the Night. If you read every detail on museum exhibit signs, you might like this book too. 😉 #ToB

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thebluestocking
Optic Nerve | Maria Gainza
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Mehso-so

I enjoyed parts of this autobiographical fiction tale. The individual tidbits were interesting, centering around art history and tying in with a piece of Maria‘s story. But I did not think they added up to more than the sum of the parts. Also, I think audio was probably not the best format for this, as it made looking up the artists and art infeasible.

#tob2020 #tob #tob20

BkClubCare Thx for the tip - I had this audiobook on hold and when I went to claim it, the ebook was also available so... I will e-read this. And, two seconds ago, I was told Nothing to See Here is ready for pick up. About to drown in 7 and 14 day loans! Eek 4y
thebluestocking @BkClubCare I hope the ebook helps! And it seems to be the law of library holds that they move in packs. 😂💙 4y
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ReadingEnvy
Optic Nerve | Maria Gainza
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My next one will be the Attenberg because I‘ll be flying to Oregon and back in the next two weeks and I have it as a kindle ebook. I think another one is in Hoopla so I need to figure that out tonight.

ReadingEnvy Thanks @thebluestocking for the image! 4y
Kristy_K I also DNF‘d The Water Dancer. I know everyone seems to love it but I couldn‘t get into it. 4y
ReadingEnvy @Kristy_K same. I love his nonfiction but this was a huge struggle for me. 4y
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thebluestocking It‘s fun to see everyone‘s progression! What‘s your favorite so far outside of LCA? 💙 4y
ReadingEnvy @thebluestocking vuong, luiselli, evaristo and Rooney are all five star reads for me so far.. I like the Raiza quite a bit but there's no way that will work for everyone. 4y
ReadingEnvy @thebluestocking but if I had to pick one it would be luiselli so far 4y
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ReadingEnvy
Optic Nerve | Maria Gainza
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Pickpick

Here's one from the Tournament of Books shortlist, a debut novel from an Argentinian art critic translated to English. Each chapter uses an artist that connects to an event in the narrator's life, which makes it feel more like memoir in essay but it is categorized as fiction. I am a person who has always struggled with ekphrastic poetry but in longer form, it really worked for me, even though I had to look up all the artwork.

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azulaco
Optic Nerve | Maria Gainza
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“Cándido López thought that in order to touch the heart of reality, it had first to be deformed.”

(Describing an artist)

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BookishTrish
Optic Nerve | Maria Gainza
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Nothing else to do... #bliss #goodfortune

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azulaco
Optic Nerve | Maria Gainza
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I‘ve only finished the first chapter of this book, and it‘s feeling like a DNF. Nothing is happening. I like cerebral books, but this may be a little too random-internal-musing for me. I‘ll give it a few more chapters.

BehindthePages I've never heard the term cerebral books before 🤔🤔 4y
azulaco @Letora I made it up 😉 I probably should have used the term internal book, which I also made up for myself as shorthand for books that focus intensely on the main character‘s thoughts and inner life. Kind of like the literary equivalent of “head music”, if you‘re old enough to know that term. 4y
19 likes3 comments
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azulaco
Optic Nerve | Maria Gainza
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Library hold came in! Working on reading the Tournament of Books shortlist titles for this year. #tournamentofbooks2020 #ToB #TournamentofBooks #tob2020

thebluestocking Whoo! This is the only one I have not been able to get my hands on. I hope you enjoy it!! 💙 (edited) 4y
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quirkyreader
Optic Nerve | Maria Gainza
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Pickpick

This was good. Here is the link to my gr review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2842645623

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Redwritinghood
Optic Nerve | Maria Gainza
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Pickpick

This is the second book that I finished today that I would call weird and wonderful. The narrator relates episodes from her life through various works of art and the stories of the artists. Wonderful writing about art and life, in general. My only complaint is that I would have liked the parts to be more coherent and fit together more logically. As what might be called experimental fiction, however, this is one of the better examples. #Hoopla 4⭐️

merelybookish Cool! And glad to see it on Hoopla! 5y
Redwritinghood @merelybookish They have both the ebook and audiobook. 5y
mklong Sounds great! 5y
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RebeccaH
Optic Nerve | Maria Gainza
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Pickpick

I loved this meandering, thoughtful, strange book about art and artists. It‘s set in Buenos Aires and is narrated by a woman who is an art critic and who tells us stories from her life and from the lives of artists she loves. It‘s weird and great.

Emilymdxn Been wanting to read this for ages you just bumped it up my tbr! 5y
charl08 Sold! Sounds fab. 5y
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RebeccaH
Optic Nerve | Maria Gainza
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My latest. A meandering book about art and everything the narrator is thinking.

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