The Life and Opinions of Zacharias Lichter (New York Review Books Classics)

A fun read of a book that was published in a time of heavy censorship. The central character reminded me of Confederacy of Dunces and the stories and ideas explored are fun and fascinating.

It's no wonder that Cioran liked this book; it has something of his radical wisdom, but more joy.

He is a self- centered bore

A brilliant book, meant to be adorned by one's own interpretation. Something to surprise and delight through discussion with other readers, that will lead to a shared yet deeply personal experience. In that regard, it is not entirely unlike The Alchemist

Originally written in 1969 in the age of Ceauşescu, this dense treatise of thought gained a cult following when its author left Rumania for the United States. Very thoughtful, but I did not find many of the ideas here original. The conditions of its longevity were its most interesting aspects.

A book like no other. I thought I knew Romanian writers, but never came across Matei Calinescu. The depth of the story and intricacies of Lichter's character an personality are beyond words. A must-read