bugcollector's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Joana is best summerised by herself, taking to her auntie in a hypothetical monolog on p.164
Aunty, listen to me, I knew Joana, of whom I speak now. She was a weak woman with regards to things. Everything struck her at times too precious, impossible to touch. And, at times, what people used as air to breath, was weight and death for her. Try to understand my heroine, Aunty, listen. She is vague and audacious. She doesn't love, she isn't loved. You would end up noticing it as Lídia, another woman (a young woman full ofher own destiny), observed it. However what Joana has inside her is something stronger than the love that people give and what she has inside her demands more than the love that people receive. Do you understand, Aunty? I wouldn’t call her a hero, as I promised Daddy myself. Because in her there was a great fear. A fear prior to any judgment and understanding.—This occurred to me just now: maybe, just maybe belief in future survival comes when you realize that life always leaves us untouched.—Do you understand, Aunty?—forget the interruption of future life—do you understand? I see your eyes open, looking at me with fear, with distrust, but wanting even so, with your old woman’s femininity, now dead, it is true, now dead, to like me, overlooking my asperity. Poor dear.
A touching coming of age book centering an alienated woman.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent and Toxic relationship
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