kwbridge's review against another edition
1.0
I read about half - truly awful and I just couldn't force myself to continue.
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.
the ending brings it all together and it's worth it. I promise
erinhorne27's review against another edition
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 against another edition
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 against another edition
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