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gambanana's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
andrewb1255's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
tanager's review
emotional
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
purplemuskogee's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
5.0
I am really surprised that I never heard of Lidia Jorge before, as I realise she is a well-respected author of many acclaimed novels. This book was described somewhere as a Portuguese version of some sort of Elena Ferrante's trilogy (which Ialso haven't read...), and this is maybe a good way to think of Jorge in terms of fame and talent.
We follow the life of Milene Leandro, a member of the wealthy Leandro family - the mayor's niece, an heiress to the Leandro canning business - as her grandmother Regina dies suddenly, and her life becomes interwoven with the Matas, Regina's tenants, who find Milene disoriented after the death occurs when her whole family - numerous uncles and aunts - is away. The Matas, who emigrated from Cape Verde, see Milene with a kindness and compassion that her own family lacks; they look after 'the white girl' while her family comes up with a complex rota to make sure someone stays with her at all time. Milene is odd - at thirty, her best friend is Violante, a sixteen year old girl. She calls her cousin who lives in the States daily and leaves long voicemails on his answering machine, even though he never answers and never calls back. It is a long and slow novel but everything comes together, and the perversity, racism and contempt of the Leandros become more and more apparent at every page.
The translation, by Margaret Jill Costa and Annie McDermott, is stunning - beautifully written, smooth, just perfect.
Free ARC sent by Netgalley.
We follow the life of Milene Leandro, a member of the wealthy Leandro family - the mayor's niece, an heiress to the Leandro canning business - as her grandmother Regina dies suddenly, and her life becomes interwoven with the Matas, Regina's tenants, who find Milene disoriented after the death occurs when her whole family - numerous uncles and aunts - is away. The Matas, who emigrated from Cape Verde, see Milene with a kindness and compassion that her own family lacks; they look after 'the white girl' while her family comes up with a complex rota to make sure someone stays with her at all time. Milene is odd - at thirty, her best friend is Violante, a sixteen year old girl. She calls her cousin who lives in the States daily and leaves long voicemails on his answering machine, even though he never answers and never calls back. It is a long and slow novel but everything comes together, and the perversity, racism and contempt of the Leandros become more and more apparent at every page.
The translation, by Margaret Jill Costa and Annie McDermott, is stunning - beautifully written, smooth, just perfect.
Free ARC sent by Netgalley.
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