Reviews

Near to the Wild Heart by Clarice Lispector

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tmackell's review against another edition

5.0

this book sucked me back into reading after a spell of inconsistency on my part. From page 1 i was sucked in, partly due to a sort of manic mind state reflected in the writing style, but also by just how perfectly the writer’s (narrator’s? Protagonist’s?) thoughts and actions mirrored the mind state i was in as I read it. Hard to describe but it was like being periodically sucked into the mind and inner thought process of the protagonist as she was experiencing things, but in a totally free flowing and natural way, though not necessarily linear it makes sense!! And it is not hard to read!! In fact the opposite. It’s so relatable to read! I saw my thoughts mirrored on the page. I’ve never read Proust or Joyce, but this reads exactly as I have imagined their prose does, how I’ve heard it described, except way more accessible.

The life of a young woman is followed from her kindergarten age to young adulthood and the complexities and inner machinations of her mind are explored, how she notices and thinks of and struggles to understand the outside world and those around her, while being so intimately a part of it all.

madihancock's review against another edition

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dark mysterious reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

liyat19's review against another edition

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1.0

I was really looking forward to Near to the Wild Heart. I've heard great things about Clarice Lispector. But honestly, this book was a bit of a struggle.

It's like the author just let their thoughts flow onto the page without much of a plan. Sometimes it was beautiful and poetic, but other times it felt like a jumbled mess.

I just couldn't get into it. Maybe it's not the right book for me.