A review by levitatingnumeral
Dom Casmurro by Machado de Assis
3.0
I've been reading some reviews here to see if any of them explains to me why everyone loves this book so much and, despite the arguments, I still can't find it in me to give Dom Casmurro more than 3 stars.
It's definitely not a bad book, it has a peculiar style and a mystery in it, because you can never trust the writer; besides, the historical references are rather interesting, but that didn't make me enjoy the read.
Really, what is so special about her cheating on him or not? Sure, it's one of the biggest mysteries in Brazilian literature, but it's unsolvable. I can collect data, but even that data is viewed by someone we can't trust, so it's not proof for anything. It's a question that leads me nowhere.
I've seen many people say the characters are interesting... I found them okay. Not boring, they have a variety you don't always see, their peculiar habits and all, but they didn't catch my attention.
The plot is... Regular: Yay. I'm not saying the plot is everything, I've read "plotless" books that were absolutely enchanting ([b:O Encontro Marcado|91174|O Encontro Marcado|Fernando Sabino|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1201294708s/91174.jpg|87973] was one of those), but there was literally nothing that made me interested in this story. Not the style, neither the plot, nor the characters...
Maybe I've just not understood the story, maybe I'm not in a good reading phase, I don't know, but I really can't see anything so special in this. I plan to read [b:Memórias Póstumas de Brás Cubas|87264|Memórias Póstumas de Brás Cubas|Machado de Assis, Joaquim Maria|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1348283742s/87264.jpg|605176], rumour has it that it's much better, but I'm rather disappointed with Dom Casmurro.
It's definitely not a bad book, it has a peculiar style and a mystery in it, because you can never trust the writer; besides, the historical references are rather interesting, but that didn't make me enjoy the read.
Really, what is so special about her cheating on him or not? Sure, it's one of the biggest mysteries in Brazilian literature, but it's unsolvable. I can collect data, but even that data is viewed by someone we can't trust, so it's not proof for anything. It's a question that leads me nowhere.
I've seen many people say the characters are interesting... I found them okay. Not boring, they have a variety you don't always see, their peculiar habits and all, but they didn't catch my attention.
The plot is... Regular:
Spoiler
a boy who loves a girl and has to become a priest because his mother promised so, but then he manages not to become a priest and marries the girl.Maybe I've just not understood the story, maybe I'm not in a good reading phase, I don't know, but I really can't see anything so special in this. I plan to read [b:Memórias Póstumas de Brás Cubas|87264|Memórias Póstumas de Brás Cubas|Machado de Assis, Joaquim Maria|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1348283742s/87264.jpg|605176], rumour has it that it's much better, but I'm rather disappointed with Dom Casmurro.