His Name Was Death - Rafael Bernal BOOK REVIEW

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[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

Big thanks to Ridge for sending me this wallet and supporting the channel! Here’s the site if you want to check them out! > ridge.com/BETTERTHANFOOD

[@mohamedmustafa2618]

Seeing your bookshelves fill up & evolve over time has been cool. You should do a video going through it. You seem to have some cool items on the shelves too (that skull, etc). It would be a cool video

[@Neat0_o]

I agree.

[@alvaroromanoff4267]

Im Mexican I live in Mexico City I looked for this book and it has been out of print for several years. it cannot be achieved. only old versions. I hope to find it. Thanks to you I have met great authors like Clarise Lispector. machado de assis. Although most of what you comment I cannot understand it because of the command of the language in English. There are parts that I do understand and I have bought these books by these authors because of the feelings they caused you and the exciting way you describe them.

[@thesgtpepersband]

Estimado, no sé si vayas a leer esta respuesta. Pero, ya hay copias disponibles en Amazon. Esta semana recibí la mía, costó 300 pesos si mal no recuerdo. Las envían directamente de la Editorial Jus. También estuve años al acecho de la oportunidad de conseguirlo y al fin lo conseguí.

[@alvaroromanoff4267]

@@thesgtpepersband jajajaja que loco Alguien de México también ve sus videos jajaja. Gracias bro. Yo lo conseguí de segunda mano. Ya lo leí y está muy bueno. De todos modos muchas gracias 😍

[@notatall2237]

"Meanwhile while you are alive" from the ad section got me haha.

[@createdbywatson]

Man, you are at the top of your game. I can't wait to read this one. As always, excellent work, Cliff.

[@anabelv.9490]

I am Mexican, I live in Mexico, I own this book and YES, it is awesome. Many consider it the first mexican sci-fi novel. I don't think of it as magical realism, to me it is more like existential sci-fi. The only other book by Rafael Bernal that I have read is El Complot Mongol, a super fun and well written noir novel that is very popular here. It even has a movie adaptation and a graphic novel version. Thank you for talking about this wonderful author and so many others that are also wonderful but not very well known. This is why I love your channel so much!

[@supportsocial2542]

You made me better with your book recommendations. Thank you.

[@Mr.Charlie_Toldmeso]

Another top recommendation. Always grateful for this channel.

[@FolhetoGrena]

It does sound like a book Netflix would adapt and butcher the plot "point" of the story.

[@oliveredensanchez]

El Complot Mongol is the most celebrated novel by Bernal. But I'm sure that very few people have read this book. I haven't. It must have been out of print for several decades (¿?) . Now, I'm dying to read this book, and to write about it.

[@GreatKingEd]

Pre-ordered this last night. It sounds utterly crazy and right up my alley

[@CaptainJasa]

You Tube as a medium holds up because of content such as these reviews because without this review this novel wouldn't find the large audience it rightfully deserves.

[@Gustavo815]

Bought the book and read it these past 3 weeks, after watching your video. Got the Spanish version on Kindle. Very interesting book, thank you for the recommendation!

[@kanabhprates2103]

Please, make a video about Cervantes's Dom Quixote, it's my favorite book ever! I love your channel!

[@mandyysales3173]

Please YOU HAVE TO READ "CAPITÃES DA AREIA"- JORGE AMADO. 🇧🇷

[@ItsTooLatetoApologize]

Wow. This book sounds amazing. Thank you for this review.

[@bgp2k]

Making my way through The Box Man by Kobo Abe and Ice by Anna Kavan. While Ice is just incredibly surreal, atmospheric and beautiful, The Box Man is just as weird and confusing lol. Very exhausting read tbh but one of the most interesting ones I had in a while.

[@notatall2237]

From how you described it, the summary gives me a "Perfume: Story of a murderer" vibes.

[@mostagreeable]

Buying this immediately. Sounds like the perfect read.

[@littledebby365]

I'm reading it right now and it's killer. No pun intended...

[@CaptainJasa]

Amazing

[@lowman621]

Take no offense please but I just finished Nightmare Alley and although I haven't listened to your whole review if the book(due to possible spoilers) I got to say...what possibly you find scary about this book. I'll go back and listen to your review though. And I also looked into the Story of the Eye book it sounds awful. So I'm curious do you just like to pump up weird books to seem eccentric? I will listen to a few more reviews but I have to question your opinion a bit...

[@lowman621]

@@glibglob8755 I never said it was a problem, but I also can have an opinion too (maybe I even have better taste than him). I listened to his review now that I finished the book and appreciated his insight to Nightmare Alley (still not scary to me though). But thanks for coming to his defense. Do you have any opinion on either book or do you just like commenting on comments?

[@lowman621]

@@glibglob8755 actually I'm the coolest person you've ever had a conversation with...you just don't know it.

[@BlackHoleBrew42]

Thanks dude, that was rad. Hope it gets the attention it deserves.

[@rjd53]

I ordered that novel right away and just have finished reading it a couple of days ago. I'm afraid it could - Rafael not being aware of it himself - describe a realistic scenario of humans getting in contact with aliens from outer space - or maybe even with AI-robots they've constructed themselves. Single functionally specialized individual agents with a collective intelligence acting as a superindividual body - a fascinating idea. Humans intending friendly relations - and finally being trapped and enslaved, in the end even terribly tortured, also because the other side does understand what humans say but not what they are. The shocking ending, I also didn't foresee, actually is the result of such a mis- or non-understanding as well - and that even between humans ...

[@mictecacihuat665]

The character of the book sounds a lot like the real life Uruguayan writer Horacio Quiroga, who also went to live in the jungles of Uruguay and many of his short stories take place there.

[@svenw8781]

The protagonist as you describe him reminds me of Marlon Brando in Apocalypse Now. Haven’t read the book but Joseph Conrad definitely comes up in my mind.

[@maryamtshali5892]

This book was SO GOOD! Thank you for the recommendation -- I wouldn't have come across it otherwise.

[@allcapsbeats]

I've not read the book. I intend to. It sounds like something A24 would take on which I hope they do.

[@antigaia1817]

Clif ! Bro, given your apparent love for Latin American literature... I'm surprised Vargas Llosa hasn't been reviewed by you yet ? This has gotta be in the works lol.

[@Fiction_Beast]

This sounds a very intriguing novel. Thanks for bringing it to my attention. I love all those novels you referenced.

[@gabrielyeow1127]

If it's not too much to ask , could you do I am a Cat by Natsume Sōseki

[@laramaria2908]

Up

[@timkjazz]

The Mongolian Conspiracy by Rafael Bernal is brilliant, Mexico City noir, the only Bernal I've read, will definitely go get this title today.

[@murrayr7703]

How the hell can a man who read Borges and Pessoa and other greats can take this trite little horror story and preach that it's an amazing literary work. Yeah right, he mentions God so therefore it's a deep work of spiritual searching. Not, it's a nonsensical story of mosquitos murdering humans and taking over the world. OOOOOO scccaaaary. BOO! Come on Cliff. I mean while he's pushing this mediocre text humans are being murdered constantly...but...by other humans. Cliff you've turned me on to some great writers but this one is bust for me. And I see your next review has more of your marketing 101 titles like "The most intense book I've ever read." Translated as "Please buy this book and the fuhkakta wallet and send me money.' Overwrought to say the least. Your new name should be Hyperbole R Us.

[@littledebby365]

What's wrong with little horror stories? Haven't you read any little scifi stories by Ray Bradbury? Dynamite comes in small packages.

[@murrayr7703]

@@littledebby365 Anyone can write anything they want it's when someone hypes the book completely out of proportion. And Bernal is no Bradbury maybe if you compared him to Steven King perhaps.

[@scott5343]

I know what I want for Xmas! Your reviews are always entertaining, while sharing (generally) new or less known art.

[@jackseney7906]

Good review 👍 The very beginning of the book gives a fair amount away, so people shouldn't be overly concerned about "spoilers." This is literature more than it is some thriller, though Bernal wrote those as well. As for Herzog, interesting as he is the only thing I've entirely liked by him is "Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans." With Nicholas Cage, yes.

[@claudiocruzat8777]

SPANISH IS NOT DIFFICULT AT ALL. el español no es difícil :spanish is not difficult.

[@dellh86]

This sounds so much like something I would love. Going to buy it based on this recommendation.

[@Swannworks]

“The Mongolian Conspiracy” was also written by Bernal. It’s quite a good book.

[@ericdraven3654]

WoW, I want to read It now. It reminds me of 'War with the newts', Have you read It? Regards from Spain😉

[@ericdraven3654]

WoW, I want to read It now. It reminds me of 'War with the newts', Have you read It? Regards from Spain😉

[@peterwillett2536]

Sold. Thanks

[@eliotcaber9606]

Sounds like a Metal Gear Solid plot, I love it

[@kabiansadi]

I'm learning spanish and this book looks like something I'll love to read in the original language to pratice

[@Hermopathic]

This book put Cliff in a great mood, that was the greatest Ridge product advert in the history of Better Than Food #jaguars #misanthropy

[@ellelala39]

Ha, ha! Thanks for the laughs and good survival advice, Cliff.

[@ufomechanic11]

Sounds amazing

[@adamjensen9195]

That Herzog impression though !

[@blakebellamy82]

Review starts at 5:00. Hella ads.

[@emanueleboscofilms]

Best book hook ever heard in a while!

[@michaelclark1811]

More like malarity ensues hehehe

[@destine1547]

This book sounds amazing.

[@santidontsurf.mp4]

That Werner Herzog impersonation is on point!

[@christiansanaploianu911]

The long hair looks great 👍

[@flcl1080]

What's the coffee?

[@juliacazarre7418]

You should read Mariana Enríquez!

[@helios1191]

La tengo en mi lista de espera, probablemente empiece después de terminar el extranjero de Camus.

[@gallifrey7249]

Bought this book because of this review and loved it! Subscribed! 🙌

[@lorena0080]

No conocía para nada a Rafael Bernal, le echaré un vistazo, gracias Saludos desde Chile 👍📚🇨🇱

[@TK-kf8zc]

I love 'foreign' sci -fi! The Rosewater Trilogy by Nigerian living in UK Tade Thompson. 😍

[@cancansaran2772]

Become more conscious than a philosopher and a psychologist by reading the book "Sacrosanct Intelligence".

[@alwaysbrightandmerry]

Cliff, just want to put 'Tears of the Trufflepig' by Fernando Flores on your radar. Its an amazing work, and worth anyones time to fall into such a well crafted world. If the wind catches you, grab it!

[@rafaelteixeira9838]

Please read Ideas to Postpone the End of the World by Ailton Krenak!!!

[@gcn7491]

For the people who read this book, Please! Tell the finale, now, im sooo egor to see this! Edit: Sorry for my bad english, im Brazilian

[@1russodog]

Yet another recommendation to read. Ty Cliff. We have similar tastes so I will be biased. But this book does sound very interesting. Can’t wait.

[@SherdsTube]

Yup. Sign me up for this one! Great review, Cliff.

[@its_saam9459]

Is there an ebook for this anywhere? I live in Uk and can't get the paperback :(

[@hilarychavez27]

Great to find a real review of this book - there is nothing out there! Thanks

[@T4wsi5w47w7]

Yet another Orwell garbage

[@glibglob8755]

You probably like Godfather more than Goodfellas.

[@ronjames9936]

Man, I really need to know the chords of that badass intro.

[@dps3902]

Sounds like a red pill. I'm gonna love it.

[@RubenDario-hr4iq]

Terrific. I will definitely read Bernal.

[@Philliben1991]

Best sales pitch for a pen ever. Haha.

[@kylestclair471]

Thanks. Happy holidays

[@victorpopa8724]

Cool, man. Cool.

[@colonelweird]

Okay okay! I ordered it!

[@elijahjohnson601]

Cool!

[@susanburgess820]

Sounds kind of like animal farm.

[@davidadams6863]

♡

[@freddieosborn3033]

Great review. Have you considered reviewing any stuff from Hubert Selby Jr? Would be awesome to hear your take on stuff like Last Exit to Brooklyn, The Room etc

[@fyodordostoevsky4290]

Read The Sublimes by Yuri Mamleyev, it's not better than food, it's divine rotten ambrosia.

[@endymionsrage]

I think for such a short book, you have given too much away in your review...

[@shukriyahussain1717]

Hey first comment

[@iqrakhan435]

Man you're like one of those 'hot guy reading books on subway' literal example of Beauty with brains.

[@goodmoaning20]

Great review, i am on the lookout for this book. I laughed so much at the pen joke. I am from Bulgaria but i have really great affinity for Latin America literature. If you are in a mood for a good dictator novel check "The president" by Miguel Asturias.