Blindness (Harvest Book)

Blindness by José Saramago is one of the most intense and realistic novels I’ve ever read. From the very first pages, it draws you into a world where an unexplained epidemic of blindness strips away every layer of civilization, exposing the raw essence of humanity. Saramago’s writing style—long flowing sentences, minimal punctuation, and dialogue that blends into the narrative—creates a sense of chaos and urgency that perfectly mirrors the story itself. What impressed me most was how vivid everything felt, even in a story about blindness. The images, the emotions, the atmosphere of fear and survival—everything comes alive through the author’s remarkable storytelling. It’s unsettling, yet deeply human. You can almost feel what it would be like to lose not only your sight but also the structure and security of society. This is not an easy book to read emotionally, but it’s unforgettable. It forces you to question what it means to see, both literally and morally. Saramago doesn’t just describe blindness; he makes you experience it. A powerful, haunting, and thought-provoking masterpiece that stays with you long after you’ve finished the last page.

Loved the diction and writing style of Saramago. It was a great reflection to the fragility of democracy and the importance of organizing.

I learnt a new word from this novel – scatological. This book is scatological. And that's awesome. I can't believe this sat on our shelf for a decade before I finally decided to challenge myself to finish it between Christmas and New Years. I had just finished Jon Fosse's Septology prior to this and wanted to read something written in similar long meandering sentences, and Blindness exactly fit the bill. To me the first part of the story before they fled the compound was more gripping and shocking – some moments left my jaw dropping. It mellows out towards the end. None of the characters had a name, which I thought was a simple but clever touch – it further emphasised that their identities did not matter when everyone was blind. I loved the book overall, especially the ending. Makes me want to read more dystopian novels.