Durrell holds a rather peculiar stance at the fulcrum of modernity. His writing style is frequently baroque and has a tendency towards exoticism. Initially, it mainly evokes 19th century British colonial literature. However, this volume, which is the second of his renowned Alexandria Quartet, discloses more modern concerns as well. A discerning character notices modern art's indebtedness to theoretical physics, and indeed it is so. The novel's complex web of disinterested and capricious love affairs, both modern and age-old, shift and wriggle in (quantum) uncertainty. They only resolve into clear positions as long as they are, well, relative... to a single observer. It may sound absurd when written out like this, but that's because these scientific metaphors subtly shape the structure and feel most appropriate for the subject matter. Similarly, the structure of the entire Alexandria Quartet mirrors our perception of space and time. The second part/dimension deepens and expands upon the events of the first, evolving from a largely atmospheric portrayal to a psychological and philosophical exploration. As Durrell points out, this is not a true "sequel" as they both cover the same time period. Apparently, these stories will ultimately take on a full three dimensions in the next part, with the final one advancing in time (the fourth dimension, of course) to become a true sequel.

This unique combination of styles and themes makes Durrell's work a fascinating exploration of modernity and its various manifestations. It challenges the reader's perception and invites them to engage with the complex ideas presented. Whether one is a fan of literature, science, or both, the Alexandria Quartet offers a rich and rewarding reading experience.

I see with new eyes, from this remarkable site of the island, everything in its pairs, from the intermingling of reality and illusion. Astonishment follows me and I reread the real and rephrase it in the light of all that I know now. Indeed, my own feelings have grown and changed and deepened. So perhaps the destruction of Alexandria was necessary (for the original artistic work never shows a flat face). And perhaps the seed of truth has ripened and its essence has been scattered there in the depth of all this injustice of time and if I can come to terms with it, it will lead me a little to what is truly in search of myself as it should be.

The second part surpasses the first in its strength, its poetic events, the clarity of the characters and their development, and the revelation of a hidden side of myself filled with emotions for the heroes.

It does not emerge from the text with chaotic events or... or... but with the totality of the emotions that overwhelm you with their details, their pain, their joy, their vengeance, their clarity, their desires, their quarrels, and their disturbances.

Some of the events made my heart leap to my mouth with their tension, and there were events distinguished by good humor, and the author has a wonderful sense.

Alexandria was clear in all its clarity and its influence appeared deeply in the souls of the heroes.

The second part sheds light on some of the truths that were overlooked and takes us back a little to before Justinian.

The work is enjoyable and different and it seems that the quatrains will have a great impact on my soul.

This piece of writing seems to be a profound exploration of the author's perception and emotions. It delves into the complex relationship between reality and illusion, as well as the growth and transformation of the self. The description of the second part being stronger than the first adds an element of anticipation and excitement. The mention of specific emotions and events makes the narrative more vivid and engaging. Overall, it leaves the reader with a sense of curiosity and a desire to know more about the author's journey and the impact of the work on their soul.

Perhaps the author could further expand on the specific details of the events and emotions mentioned, or explore the significance of the destruction of Alexandria in more depth. This would add more substance and richness to the text. Additionally, it would be interesting to know more about the author's personal connection to the story and how it relates to their own life experiences.

In conclusion, this is a thought-provoking piece of writing that has the potential to引发 deep思考 and reflection in the reader. With further development and exploration, it could become an even more powerful and engaging work.

I found Balthazar to be similarly airy and difficult to penetrate as its antecedent Justine.

The text seems to float in a realm of abstraction, making it a challenge for the reader to fully grasp its essence.

However, what saves Balthazar from being completely forgettable is the occasional noteworthy incident or anecdote that manages to break out among the otherwise bland, sweeping, and world-weary statements about the nature of existence.

These moments of interest provide a glimmer of light in the otherwise hazy landscape of the book, elevating it to a level of "it's OK".

While Balthazar may not be a literary masterpiece, it does have its redeeming qualities that make it worth a read for those who are willing to invest the time and effort to uncover its hidden gems.

Unique!

Just like a jewel designed with words. The plot didn't interest me at all. Whether there is a plot or not, it doesn't matter. It's Iskenderiye itself. To be so eager and passionate about telling it, to stick the words and sentences together with that passion. Every character is a reflection of Iskenderiye. While describing the ugliness so beautifully, who cares about beauty?

It's a narrative that makes you get up from the table completely satisfied and happy. I also understand those who don't like it. I really liked it and was influenced by it.

Durrell continues to paint a vivid picture of the city of Alexandria.

On the first page, he describes the spring season in a rather bleak way: "Ah, there is no spring in the Delta, no sense of refreshment and renewal in things." It makes one wonder if there is no renewal in the lives of the people of Alexandria either, no hope for redemption, forgiveness, or fresh starts. This is a rather ominous thought.

I particularly liked the part where Balthazar receives the unpublished novel "Justine" and returns it to the author/narrator with numerous corrections and additions. However, we learn that Balthazar often makes up his own stories, so the reliability of his clarifications is questionable. Through this, we gather more information (perhaps) about the people in "Justine" and the author introduces new characters, like a parrot that recites a sacred text from the Koran in Arabic and nearly causes a riot.

We also get to meet and know Narouz, Nessim's brother, and see how different they are from each other. When they visit, "The steward, according to custom, had stopped all the clocks." Durrell's explanation, "...let us not be reminded of the flight of the hours," is a lovely sentiment.

Scobie's "big secret" is revealed, and it's quite a bombshell. Just like in "Justine," there are countless quotable lines in this book. I especially loved this one: "The telephone is a modern symbol for communications which never take place." It makes one think if it was the telephone itself that killed the urge for face-to-face honest discussions, rather than today's social media.

The explosively authored Carnival ends the book. Most of the attendees wear a dark velvet "domino" that covers their identities from head to foot, making them completely anonymous. But is that really true when our full physical being is on view?

However, I did find a bit of a flaw at the end of the book. As I mentioned earlier, the first two books in this series have hundreds of beautiful quotes. Here, at the end of this novel, there is a section called "Consequential Data" with a series of quotes, almost as if the author couldn't find a place for them in the narrative. This led me to think that Durrell may have originally come up with thousands of gorgeous lines or poems and then tried to fit them into a story. While this isn't necessarily a bad thing, I just found it a bit odd.

I closed the book with an unsatisfied feeling and couldn't give this work 5 stars. Nevertheless, I already have the 3rd volume in this series at home and look forward to seeing where the story goes next.

The Alexandra Quartet is not simply a collection of four novels. Instead, it can be regarded as a composition for four voices.

At the heart of this movement is Balthazar, who is described by Durrell as a "homosexual goat." Balthazar is the leader of the gnostic-kabbal to which many of the key characters belong. "Indulge but refine" was Balthazar's very Alexandrian doctrine. He understood that it was in the nature of Alexandrians to seek a reconciliation between extreme sensuality and extreme asceticism. This is why they were hysterics and extremists. It also explains why they were incomparable lovers.

The novel Balthazar also plays a crucial role in clearly enunciating Durrell's theses on God and sexuality.

"Gods are men and men Gods; they intrude on each other's lives, trying to express themselves through each other - hence much apparent confusion in our human states of mind, our intimation of powers within or beyond us. I think that very few people realize that sex is a psychic and not a physical act. The clumsy coupling of human beings is simply a biological paraphrase of this truth - a primitive method of introducing minds to each other, engaging them." (p. 292) This passage reveals Durrell's profound insights into the complex relationship between the divine and the human, as well as the true nature of sexuality.

Building a structure slowly or delving deep into it... There is also the desire to read the remaining two books. This process is like constructing a building brick by brick, taking one's time to ensure its stability and solidity. Or it could be compared to exploring the depths of a mystery, uncovering layer by layer of hidden knowledge. Reading those two remaining books might hold the key to further understanding and growth. It could open up new perspectives, expand one's vocabulary, and enhance one's cognitive abilities. The anticipation of what lies within those pages is exciting and fuels the motivation to continue. Whether it's for pleasure, learning, or personal development, the act of reading those books is sure to bring some form of reward.

El Cuarteto is an extremely ambitious project that aims to "investigate modern love" in all its aspects.

In Balthazar, we encounter some characters who return and others who appear for the first time. Perhaps it is precisely because the narrator in Justine (Darley) has overlooked some details that his friend Balthazar almost forces him to remember.

I wrote about Balthazar on my WordPress blog, here is the link: https://librosylaberintos.wordpress.c...

I also made a video on YouTube about the novel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMzEN...

Best regards and take care!!

This project of El Cuarteto seems to be a fascinating exploration into the complex world of modern love. The return of certain characters and the introduction of new ones in Balthazar add an interesting layer to the story. It's as if the different perspectives and experiences of these characters contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of love.

The blog post and the YouTube video I created are my attempts to share my thoughts and interpretations of Balthazar. Through these mediums, I hope to engage with other readers and fans of Lawrence Durrell's work and further discuss the themes and ideas presented in the novel.

I look forward to hearing from others and continuing this exploration of modern love through the lens of El Cuarteto.

The second part of Lawrence Durrell's Alexandrian Quartet appealed to me more than the first. Perhaps it's because I got used to this story, but I also have the theory that the device used by the author simply seemed extremely interesting to me.

Namely, in the preface to the second volume, the author wrote that Justine is the story of the novel, Balthazar is the same story as in the first part, but developed and supplemented with certain new threads. The third volume also adds certain details to the story told in the first two parts, and only the fourth part of the quartet develops this story into the future.

The preface itself seemed interesting to me, and its implementation satisfied me. I don't think it's the best novel I've ever read, but the plot develops extremely interestingly and with some surprising twists in the action.

The language is still a masterpiece. Durrell's style will probably be one of my favorite literary pens. I'm looking forward to the next two parts of this tetralogy.

The original article is not provided, so I can't rewrite and expand it specifically. However, I can give you a general example to show you how to do it.

Let's assume the original article is: "I like reading. It makes me happy."

The rewritten and expanded version could be:

I have a great passion for reading.

Whenever I pick up a good book, I am immediately transported to a different world.

The words on the page seem to come alive, painting vivid pictures in my mind.

Reading allows me to explore new ideas, gain knowledge, and experience different emotions.

It truly makes me happy and gives me a sense of fulfillment.

If you can provide the original article, I will be able to rewrite and expand it according to your requirements.

Nota mental (sobre cómo se redistribuyó mi amor después de leer este libro):

After reading this book, I rediscovered Pursewarden. I came to love him and lament his tragic destiny. His character and story touched me deeply, making me see him in a whole new light.

I also reaffirmed my love for Clea and Balthazar. Their qualities and the relationships they have with the narrator are still as endearing and important to me as before.

However, Justine has lost a bit of her magic. Maybe it's because of the new revelations about her in the book. As a result, I love her a little less now.

As for Nessim, I now feel nothing but indifference towards him. Perhaps there is even a hint of hatred. His actions and the way he is portrayed in the story have left a bad taste in my mouth.

Balthazar da Bitti.

Some books are read with eager anticipation and a quick breath, while others have such beautiful and delicious words that one wants to slow down, stop, and think. And there are only a few books in life that can achieve both. It seems that The Alexandria Quartet is in that category. On one hand, my eyes are drawn to the next page out of curiosity and excitement, while on the other hand, I don't want to break free from the charm of the page I'm on. What can I say to you, Durrell? What you've done is no small feat.

Balthazar is a book with a higher tempo than Justine, yet its flavor is still very much in place. In this second book, we read about the events we read in the first book, but from someone else's perspective, with their knowledge and arriving at a completely different reality. "There are only as many realities as we choose to think about," says one of the characters; and that's true. What is right / which reality is it / how subjective is what we call the truth? Durrell leaves these questions with you. "Perhaps like a medieval parchment that has been erased and rewritten, different truths piled one on top of the other, one spoiling or completing the other..." Memory, love, the city... These are the magnificent patterns of this book. Balthazar took me on a whole series of journeys in my own memory, and when I looked at where I arrived, I saw how right Durrell was when he said, "Man's memory is the same age as unhappiness." Now, I continue my journey with the third book, Mountolive.