Blind Date (Kosinski, Jerzy)

A superbly entertaining, uniquely original, hugely enjoyable, horrifically real, surrealy introspective, and wholely original novel about the worst of society, but portrayed so beautifully, it makes the novel enjoyable, and exciting. You can read the work and a single sitting, in fact, you barely want to put it down, George Levantar is Kosinski's Humbert Humbert, Raskolnikov, an anti-protagonist of his times (to call him a hero would be giving him to much credit, since his heroics are almost non existent). This episodic novel gives you a portrait of existence in the grattos and penthouses and the slums and impoverished, a portrait of the world that only a genius like Kosinski could show. If I were to go into the discrediting of the facts of whether or not he wrote his own books, it would be simple to say that the New York Times article proved that there was a unity of voice, and most people quoted by the Vanity Fair article said they were misquoted. Feel free to read the works of Kosinski knowing that you're reading the works of a man that had his own words, and his own thoughts--some very dark thoughts, but his own--and who was a great writer of literature.

Very much similar to the author's previous "Cockpit," this book also follows an East European figure of uncertain employ and motivation, as he gets involved in jetsetters, seems to commit crimes of a political nature and suggests he is an undercover agent working for larger and unknown political forces, although he is presented as an "international investor." He seems to invest in people's desires to court chance and fate, and wanders from incident to incident. The book is filled with a seemingly random series of crimes, sexual liaisons, and intrigue. Many of them to hinge upon unforeseen results such as when he improves the speech text of the wife of a foreign official in order to have political prisoners released, only to find that the credited speechwriter was tortured and placed in solitary confinement afterward. He befriends a promiscuous divorcee in a small town filled with resentful small-town people and then is forced to stay to testify of her infidelity when he's threatened to be framed for a murder. His baggage delays a visit to LA and he misses being at the scene of a crime in which he likely would have been killed as well. He commits murder a couple times in the book, and they are of a political nature, including a rigged ski lift in which he barely feels the affects moments after they die, and later kills a NY clerk who's taping traveling diplomats, brutally with a sword and hammer in a bathhouse. He gets away without a second thought, saying the memories are like "old Polaroid snapshots; no negative, photographer unknown, camera thrown away." Yet he shows compassion for the many women he meets, testing the relationships as to who depends upon whom, who is "in charge" emotionally or financially. He meets women he thought he knew after many years, and becomes obsessed with women he can never know. In one case she refuses to reveal anything about herself to him (Serena) which he agrees to, relying on chance whether she will or will not call on him, and when. Unlike "Cockpit" however the character of George Levanter is not in complete control of his surroundings or actions. He is constantly surprised by what transpires out of his control, and for every "success" at doing something, whether legal or a sexual conquest, the people around him surprise or disappoint him. The meetings are random and unpredictable, like "blind dates" he says. The book seems to circle around the concept of pre-determination without finally stating or exploring it beyond a series of well-written and fascinating contrasting experiences, barely connected. He seems to barely learn anything, simply experience. The tone is pure Kosinski, with sharp and minimalist writing but with great detail, a smattering of violence and sex and a determined reluctance to inner monologues. Also, this book seems to foreground the shifting identity of Kosinski's fiction, and his own role within it. The famous philosopher Jacques Monod (who was a friend of JK) appears here, at a scene at Cannes, where Kosinski really hung out with him. There is also a barely fictionalized version of the Sharon Tate murders and the incident in which Kosinski claimed he would have been there but his luggage went missing for a day and he was delayed in NY. There are also many scenes on Swiss ski slopes where Kosinski was known to spend a lot of time as well as a marriage by the lead character (Levanter) of a very rich heiress who proceeds to get sick and die, similar to Kosinski's first marriage, bringing up a discussion of whether a man of low means should be supported or "kept" by his rich wife. (This was apparently very much a topic in Kosinski's life and a version of this dilemma occurs earlier in the book with another couple as well.) What happened to Kosinski and what's happening to the characters is always a shifting question in his work. What is fiction and what actually happened? The book is also obsessed with identity. There is a certain amount of lip service paid to whether he is defining himself by what he tries to do or how people treat him, whether he is in charge of his own fate, or the girl is, whether he can predict outcomes of violent or politically motivated incidents, or if he must try to enjoy what happens to him without asking questions. He does not ask many questions. The shifts from violent murders to sexual conquests to explorations of class in jet-set European settings builds a compelling thematic read that does not seem able (or even willing) to resolve its concerns. It is finally a looser, troubling, fascinating piece that advances the (well-written) excesses of "Cockpit" to actually question why things happen and how much or if it matters.

Strange as usual for Kosinski!

I have read "The Painted Bird" about three times over the years, always enjoying it. Now I am so glad to find "Blind Date". I know, it wasn't hiding, I just couldn't get away from "The Painted Bird'. "Blind Date' takes you to places you would never go - - - except in a Jerzy Kosinski book. From incest to murder, who could ask for anything more.

Having read all the reviews, I expected something completely different. I read the Painted Bird a long time ago, and I loved it. Being There was pretty good also, although, I found the movie better. But Blind Date - it feels like I read a different book than all other reviewers. "Erotically charged?" - only if you find incest (with own mother, no less) and rape erotic. "Idea man, [...] international playboy?" - I found Levanter rather dull. I have to admit that I find Kosinski's language mesmerizing in its simplicity, but, combined with this unemotional narration, it did not work for me in Blind Date. This novel, just like the Steps, is told in vignettes. This concept never really appealed to me. This time it felt like an easy excuse to... perhaps not having much to say? I don't see much redeeming value here. Blind Date alternates between being gratuitously shocking, and boring. At this point, I'm not sure I want to read more by Kosinski...

Hard to explain what this book is about, maybe the absurdity and surrealism of life? Read and ponder at emptiness.

Depicted in non-linear time frames, Kosinski dramatically succeeds in presenting the tumultuous life of one man, George Leventer. Associating with the powerful, beautiful, and lonely people around the world, Kosinski's character captures that elusive state of accepting the paradox of being powerful but lonely, requiring love but displaying violence, and growing old but questioning fate. His narrative is sharp and cinematic in structure and tone. Erotica is insightfully tamed and given in precise portions. I became entralled in dissecting the characters intentions as much as their decisions and actions. A superb study in pychological drama and state of consciousness. Please read it and THINK about what it has to say.

Amazing book, letting you psychologically experience things you would never dare even to think about. Absolutely fascinating!!! I liked the kaleidoscope of different situations and paradoxical dilemmas. Delicious dish for people not afraid to learn the dark side of the human nature.

Book in a great condition. Read it many years ago but it never failes to amaze