Blindness by José Saramago

When an unexplained epidemic of 'white blindness' strikes an unnamed city, society quickly descends into chaos. Saramagos novel is a harrowing, claustrophobic, and deeply philosophical exploration of human nature under extreme pressure. The lack of traditional punctuation and the use of long, flowing sentences force the reader to experience the disorientation of the characters. It is a powerful allegory for the fragility of civilization and the importance of empathy, challenging the reader to consider how they would behave when the structures of society are stripped away.