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redsilva95's review
2.0
Esperava mais dessa leitura. Há potencial na escrita, e apesar de achar interessante como a autora desenvolve vários personagens, no fim a história me pareceu desfocada.
flissy_benton's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
mariafernandagama's review
4.0
I was skeptical at the beginning, but as the story moved on and I fell harder and harder in love with the characters, I had to admit I was liking this a lot. I love how everybody gets a background story that allows us to understand what makes them tick and why they behave the way they do. My favorite part is when a character gets to heaven and we're told that the saint guarding the gate was ugly and had missing teeth back on Earth, and the saddest bit for me is when Guida (by far the most interesting character, with the most interesting journey) lies to her sister to hide the worst things she faced along the way. And I couldn't help but noticing the similarities between Eurídice and my elderly sewing teacher, and old Brazilian lady born in the 30's that got married because she had to (she really wanted to go to college) and spent her life mastering her skill in sewing away from the world, hiding her glory in her tiny little apartment, where she cut and measured and worked tirelessly until her hands started to falter. She once told me she always sewed, but started doing it obssessively after her husband died, leaving her depressed and with too many thoughts on her head, which she could only dissipate through nonstop hand work. I feel like there are so many ladies, old and young, like this out there. Geniuses in their fields, closed in on their domestic environment, invisible to the world, to the press, to history books. I wish young girls everywhere could have a different life than this and be encouraged to thrive in whatever they chose to do with their minds and bodies, but I know this isn't the reality, at least nor for everybody. But I sincerely hope that one day in the future people can read this book and be shocked and apalled that things were once this way, I hope its ideas are completely foreign to them, and very distant from the lives they experience.
fernanddas's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
ckrupiej's review
4.0
Do pai ela herdou o gosto pela notícia, da mãe a vida restrita ao lar. Do mundo ganhou desgostos, do destino a falta de escolhas. Formou-se assim a essência da fofoqueira."
"Olavo Bilac recitou envergonhado , e vendeu para Hortência dez exemplares de seu primeiro livro, que ela não gostou e usou para forrar a gaiola de suas catatuas."
"Afonso era excelente estudante, Antenor sabia. Quem estavam erradas eram as notas do boletim. Cecília era moça exemplar que apareceu com o batom borrado porque a amiguinha esbarrou em seu rosto."
"Alguns foram comprados por Antenor, que comprava livros como quem compra lanternas: é bom ter em casa os maiores pensadores do mundo, para se um dia precisarmos deles."
"Olavo Bilac recitou envergonhado , e vendeu para Hortência dez exemplares de seu primeiro livro, que ela não gostou e usou para forrar a gaiola de suas catatuas."
"Afonso era excelente estudante, Antenor sabia. Quem estavam erradas eram as notas do boletim. Cecília era moça exemplar que apareceu com o batom borrado porque a amiguinha esbarrou em seu rosto."
"Alguns foram comprados por Antenor, que comprava livros como quem compra lanternas: é bom ter em casa os maiores pensadores do mundo, para se um dia precisarmos deles."
andream0885's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
essjay1's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed reading this book but it had the sort of ending that makes you think you have wasted your time. I would definitely read more by this author though as I liked her style and this is her first book. Lots of great observations in here.
ridgewaygirl's review against another edition
5.0
This is a delightful novel by Brazilian author Martha Batalha that tells the story of Euridice, a fiercely intelligent and motivated girl growing up in the middle of the last century in Rio. She's an obedient girl and once she has been convinced that her only goal is to be a good housewife and mother, she falls into line, marrying well, having children, supervising her housekeeper. But there's something inside of Euridice that can't remain entirely passive.
Euridice is such a wonderful character and Batalha's writing (and Eric B. Becker's translation) made the reading of this novel so much fun. I'm looking forward to more from this talented new author.
Euridice is such a wonderful character and Batalha's writing (and Eric B. Becker's translation) made the reading of this novel so much fun. I'm looking forward to more from this talented new author.
fionacummings64's review against another edition
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
bianca89279's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars
I am in two minds about this novel. On one hand, it deals with the life of Euridice Gusmao, who finds herself stuck into the role of model wife and mother, but is bored and wonders if there's more to life than cleaning, cooking and shopping.
Throughout the book she takes on with gusto different endeavours: gourmet cooking and creating her own recipes - but her dull, unimaginative husband kills her aspirations to publish it, because who'd read something written by a "housewife".
Later on, she becomes a very good seamstress. Again, due to the husband's disapproving she sets that aside. Eventually, she takes on writing. You see, whatever Euridice does she does well and with passion. Imagine all the things she could achieve if only she had free reign.
There were many things that rang true. Some of the writing was quite cheeky and playful, I found that quite endearing. But then, I sort of became disenchanted with the novel, because of the too many side stories of many secondary characters. Some were more interesting than others. There were quite a few stories that felt like fillers to me. And ultimately, they all distracted me from Euridice's story and, for a good part, her sister's story.
I had a hard time making sense of when the main part of the story was taking place. Apparently, it's in the 1940s. But why is it that I remember a TV? I've just Googled: TV transmissions began in Brazil in September 1950. Anyway, that's not that important - what I'm trying to say is that it was difficult to say when the contemporary action was taken place, especially given all the many side stories from back in the day etc.
So while this novel had lots of good things about it, I felt it was uneven and lacked cohesiveness. Nevertheless, the writing sparked enough to make interested to read Batalha's next novel.
I've received this novel via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to the publishers, Oneworld Publications, for the opportunity to read and review this novel.
I am in two minds about this novel. On one hand, it deals with the life of Euridice Gusmao, who finds herself stuck into the role of model wife and mother, but is bored and wonders if there's more to life than cleaning, cooking and shopping.
Throughout the book she takes on with gusto different endeavours: gourmet cooking and creating her own recipes - but her dull, unimaginative husband kills her aspirations to publish it, because who'd read something written by a "housewife".
Later on, she becomes a very good seamstress. Again, due to the husband's disapproving she sets that aside. Eventually, she takes on writing. You see, whatever Euridice does she does well and with passion. Imagine all the things she could achieve if only she had free reign.
There were many things that rang true. Some of the writing was quite cheeky and playful, I found that quite endearing. But then, I sort of became disenchanted with the novel, because of the too many side stories of many secondary characters. Some were more interesting than others. There were quite a few stories that felt like fillers to me. And ultimately, they all distracted me from Euridice's story and, for a good part, her sister's story.
I had a hard time making sense of when the main part of the story was taking place. Apparently, it's in the 1940s. But why is it that I remember a TV? I've just Googled: TV transmissions began in Brazil in September 1950. Anyway, that's not that important - what I'm trying to say is that it was difficult to say when the contemporary action was taken place, especially given all the many side stories from back in the day etc.
So while this novel had lots of good things about it, I felt it was uneven and lacked cohesiveness. Nevertheless, the writing sparked enough to make interested to read Batalha's next novel.
I've received this novel via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to the publishers, Oneworld Publications, for the opportunity to read and review this novel.