madiil's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
It's so slow to start and I didn't love it. I kept at it. Each part is seperate. And it's like a slow soft symphony until the very end when all the instruments liven and build together and independently.
Spoiler
the ending brings it all together and it's worth it. I promiseerinhorne27's review
4.0
A wholly unique and interesting read. It got off to a VERY slow start, but I adored the second half.
vanitar's review
2.0
The only reason I finished this book is because I always finish a book that I’ve started- however there were many points where I wanted to stop.
The book is split into three parts that follow a different character in a different time in history. The first two parts drag on brutally.
In the first part, we follow Tomas to the high mountains of Portugal where he uses his uncle’s car in a quest to find a treasure written about in a priest’s journal. Most of this section is about how a car in the early 1900’s works. This is explained in painstaking detail. It ends abruptly.
Part 2 is about a pathologist whose wife makes a connection between Agatha Christie and Jesus and about a man whose body is full of unusual things revealed during the autopsy. There is painstaking detail in this section about how autopsies are performed and the way incisions are done, etc. It ends in a weird realist fantasy way that makes no sense.
Part 3 was my favourite. It follows Peter on his journey to find home in the form of a chimpanzee named Odo as they move to Portugal to live together in his family’s village. The notion of it all is a bit absurd but I enjoyed hearing about the relationship between him and the ape and how the people in the village respond to them.
At the end there is a weak attempt made to connect the stories but most of it still doesn’t make any sense. There are themes of grief and loss and finding oneself but not in a way that leads you anywhere beneficial.
Well written but I spent most of the book wondering what in the world was going on and questioning what the author wanted me to glean from the details and the story and I ended with no answer.
The book is split into three parts that follow a different character in a different time in history. The first two parts drag on brutally.
In the first part, we follow Tomas to the high mountains of Portugal where he uses his uncle’s car in a quest to find a treasure written about in a priest’s journal. Most of this section is about how a car in the early 1900’s works. This is explained in painstaking detail. It ends abruptly.
Part 2 is about a pathologist whose wife makes a connection between Agatha Christie and Jesus and about a man whose body is full of unusual things revealed during the autopsy. There is painstaking detail in this section about how autopsies are performed and the way incisions are done, etc. It ends in a weird realist fantasy way that makes no sense.
Part 3 was my favourite. It follows Peter on his journey to find home in the form of a chimpanzee named Odo as they move to Portugal to live together in his family’s village. The notion of it all is a bit absurd but I enjoyed hearing about the relationship between him and the ape and how the people in the village respond to them.
At the end there is a weak attempt made to connect the stories but most of it still doesn’t make any sense. There are themes of grief and loss and finding oneself but not in a way that leads you anywhere beneficial.
Well written but I spent most of the book wondering what in the world was going on and questioning what the author wanted me to glean from the details and the story and I ended with no answer.
seismatic's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
jof's review against another edition
3.0
É demasiado estranho para mim, mas admito que está bem escrito e imaginação não lhe falta!!!
damopedro's review against another edition
5.0
Loved it. Three stories of people with a common link, each struggling with something and trying to work their way through it.
mandalabunny's review
2.0
DNF at 40%, the book is going nowhere and I don't like how the sections are broken up into completely different stories. I wasn't sure how to rate this because I'm not sure it's 1 star but a lot depends on how well everything ties together at the end so I made it 2 stars. Also i know this is petty but I really didn't like the religious stuff in the book but that's a personal preference.
vanessa_44's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
heritage's review
3.0
In three slightly interconnected novellas set in Portugal during the 20th century, a man drives a car for the first time and also walks backwards looking for a relic (1904), a pathologist performs an unconventional autopsy on a man whose wife carried him in a suitcase to the hospital (1938), and a politician gives up his uneventful life in order to move to another country with an ape (1981).
This book is a bit difficult to talk about because of the differences in each story. While it doesn't mess with your head as well as Paul Auster's New York Trilogy does, it's still a little on the weird side. The most important thing to say about it, and probably its strongest recommendation, is Martel's wonderful narrative. He writes beautifully--and English isn't even his first language. His narrative is so engaging that it's probably worth the read for that alone.
All of the stories deal with grief in one way or another. I found each time the subject was dealt with tenderly and compassionately. I haven't lost anyone close to me like the characters in the story have, so I can't speak from personal experience, but they do strike me as being soothing.
The first story is the one I enjoyed the most because of the experiences of the new driver, the anger he felt because of his loss, and the travelling he does on his quest. The bits about the automobile are relevant for us, not only regarding the problems cars cause in our society now, but also how different people approach new technology.
The second story is the one I liked the least. Hidden within it is an essay on Agatha Christie. I may have found it more interesting if I had ever read one of her novels or been a fan of hers, but I felt it distracted from the overall story and only served to lengthen it. I also had a similar problem with the last story, as it just feels too long for what it is. It makes a very good impact when the end finally comes, but I felt it was a long time coming.
It's an okay book, but not as meaningful as Life of Pi. I don't think anyone will be too disappointed with it. Just don't expect greatness and you'll be fine.
This book is a bit difficult to talk about because of the differences in each story. While it doesn't mess with your head as well as Paul Auster's New York Trilogy does, it's still a little on the weird side. The most important thing to say about it, and probably its strongest recommendation, is Martel's wonderful narrative. He writes beautifully--and English isn't even his first language. His narrative is so engaging that it's probably worth the read for that alone.
All of the stories deal with grief in one way or another. I found each time the subject was dealt with tenderly and compassionately. I haven't lost anyone close to me like the characters in the story have, so I can't speak from personal experience, but they do strike me as being soothing.
The first story is the one I enjoyed the most because of the experiences of the new driver, the anger he felt because of his loss, and the travelling he does on his quest. The bits about the automobile are relevant for us, not only regarding the problems cars cause in our society now, but also how different people approach new technology.
The second story is the one I liked the least. Hidden within it is an essay on Agatha Christie. I may have found it more interesting if I had ever read one of her novels or been a fan of hers, but I felt it distracted from the overall story and only served to lengthen it. I also had a similar problem with the last story, as it just feels too long for what it is. It makes a very good impact when the end finally comes, but I felt it was a long time coming.
It's an okay book, but not as meaningful as Life of Pi. I don't think anyone will be too disappointed with it. Just don't expect greatness and you'll be fine.