Scan barcode
joaofranciscof's reviews
92 reviews
A Room with a View by E.M. Forster
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
1.5
Probably the most irrelevant book I have read this year.
I was always intrigued by E. M. Forster and his books but this ain’t it. The writing is so random, inconsistent and anticlimactic. The ending is very lame. It is interesting to read about Edwardian society but I am already forgetting most of this story. The chapters’ titles were delightful, though!
“My father says that there is only one perfect view — the view of the sky straight over our heads, and that all these views on earth are but bungled copies of it.”
I was always intrigued by E. M. Forster and his books but this ain’t it. The writing is so random, inconsistent and anticlimactic. The ending is very lame. It is interesting to read about Edwardian society but I am already forgetting most of this story. The chapters’ titles were delightful, though!
“My father says that there is only one perfect view — the view of the sky straight over our heads, and that all these views on earth are but bungled copies of it.”
Women & Power: A Manifesto by Mary Beard
informative
inspiring
reflective
3.5
This book is based on two lectures given by Mary Beard, a Professor of Classics. Therefore, the ancient Greek and Roman worlds are present throughout the book.
The two lectures are very interesting, as they reflect on the public voice and the spoken authority, and on the relation between women and power, respectively. However, the book sometimes feel a bit limited (which is a bit unfair, as the book is very small) and Beard’s version of white liberal feminism.
I believe that, in the end, it proposes considerations that are incredibly important and necessary in order to build a world of equality (and that can be used in broader/other approaches!).
“That means thinking about power differently. It means decoupling it from public prestige. It means thinking collaboratively, about the power of followers not just of leaders. It means, above all, thinking about power as an attribute or even a verb (‘to power’), not as a possession. What I have in mind is the ability to be effective, to make a difference in the world, and the right to be taken seriously, together as much as individually.”
Cleanness by Garth Greenwell
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
Truthful and alluring. As all great books should be.
“There was no lowest place, I thought, I would strike ground only to feel it give way gaping beneath me, and I felt with a new fear how little sense of myself I have, how there was no end to what I could want or to the punishment I would seek.”
“There was no lowest place, I thought, I would strike ground only to feel it give way gaping beneath me, and I felt with a new fear how little sense of myself I have, how there was no end to what I could want or to the punishment I would seek.”
Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
emotional
inspiring
medium-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
2.0
A very oversimplified and shallow approach to trauma and loneliness. The wholesome moments saved it!
"I suppose one of the reasons we’re all able to continue to exist for our allotted span in this green and blue vale of tears is that there is always, however remote it might seem, the possibility of change."
"I suppose one of the reasons we’re all able to continue to exist for our allotted span in this green and blue vale of tears is that there is always, however remote it might seem, the possibility of change."
What Belongs to You by Garth Greenwell
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
‘Novels that leave us wonder how much of it is autobiographical’ is definitely becoming one of my favourite genres. But, as in all of them, it really does not matter if things really happened like what we read. The recounts of the experiences and feelings are what matters, especially the way they influenced/influence the narrator.
What Belongs to You is a portrayal of a queer North-American who is spending some years teaching in Bulgaria. It is incredibly honest and raw, and I really adored it.
“I fell back from him then, I lay next to him thinking, as I had had cause to think before, of how helpless desire is outside its little theater of heat, how ridiculous it becomes the moment it isn't welcomed, even if that welcome is contrived.”
“I fell back from him then, I lay next to him thinking, as I had had cause to think before, of how helpless desire is outside its little theater of heat, how ridiculous it becomes the moment it isn't welcomed, even if that welcome is contrived.”
Ensaio sobre a Lucidez by José Saramago
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
4.0
Por onde começar? Saramago escreve uma sequela de um dos meus livros do coração. Se correspondeu às expectativas? Sim e não.
Sim porque mais uma vez temos uma mão cheia de críticas mordazes à Humanidade e à sua organização, personagens com quem podemos empatizar e que podemos compreender, reflexões hilariantes e/ou lindíssimas, etc. (para além dos paralelos ou referências ao Ensaio sobre a Cegueira!).
Não porque penso que o livro não precisava (de todo) de ser tão extenso e ainda estou a tentar compreender o porquê de José Saramago ter decidido contar esta história desta maneira, focando-se em certas coisas e não noutras, seguindo certas personagens e/ou cenários por algum tempo para depois as ‘descartar’ (dando-lhes voz e/ou protagonismo durante certos momentos ou secções do livro), etc.. Quem me dera poder sentar-me com ele e falar sobre este livro.
Mas pondo tudo isto à parte, é claramente um livro que devia ser lido por muitos (senão todos). As reflexões que propõe, especialmente as relacionadas com a democracia, deveriam ser obrigatórias.
Não estava a gostar muito das últimas páginas, senti a escrita um pouco apressada e os acontecimentos não estavam a ter a devida atenção, mas a última frase valeu por tudo. Fiquei todo arrepiado.
A ver vamos se consigo ler um Saramago ao ano!
“(…) Senhor presidente, a minha boca está e estará fechada, E a minha também, e a minha também, mas há ocasiões em que me ponho a imaginar o que este mundo poderia ser se todos abríssemos as bocas e não as calássemos enquanto, Enquanto quê, senhor presidente, Nada, nada, deixe-me só.”
Sim porque mais uma vez temos uma mão cheia de críticas mordazes à Humanidade e à sua organização, personagens com quem podemos empatizar e que podemos compreender, reflexões hilariantes e/ou lindíssimas, etc. (para além dos paralelos ou referências ao Ensaio sobre a Cegueira!).
Não porque penso que o livro não precisava (de todo) de ser tão extenso e ainda estou a tentar compreender o porquê de José Saramago ter decidido contar esta história desta maneira, focando-se em certas coisas e não noutras, seguindo certas personagens e/ou cenários por algum tempo para depois as ‘descartar’ (dando-lhes voz e/ou protagonismo durante certos momentos ou secções do livro), etc.. Quem me dera poder sentar-me com ele e falar sobre este livro.
Mas pondo tudo isto à parte, é claramente um livro que devia ser lido por muitos (senão todos). As reflexões que propõe, especialmente as relacionadas com a democracia, deveriam ser obrigatórias.
Não estava a gostar muito das últimas páginas, senti a escrita um pouco apressada e os acontecimentos não estavam a ter a devida atenção, mas a última frase valeu por tudo. Fiquei todo arrepiado.
A ver vamos se consigo ler um Saramago ao ano!
“(…) Senhor presidente, a minha boca está e estará fechada, E a minha também, e a minha também, mas há ocasiões em que me ponho a imaginar o que este mundo poderia ser se todos abríssemos as bocas e não as calássemos enquanto, Enquanto quê, senhor presidente, Nada, nada, deixe-me só.”
A Metamorfose by Gabriela Fragoso, Franz Kafka
dark
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
É apenas incrível (especialmente quando consideramos que foi escrito em 1915). É um daqueles livros que a cada leitura se retira uma coisa e/ou uma interpretação nova.
“Certa manhã, ao acordar de sonhos inquietos, Gregor Samsa viu-se transformado num gigantesco insecto.”
“Certa manhã, ao acordar de sonhos inquietos, Gregor Samsa viu-se transformado num gigantesco insecto.”
Tender by Belinda McKeon
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
The writing in this book was very messy and hard to get through at first, but eventually you get used to it. More than halfway through the book though, Belinda McKeon made a very poor creative choice with the writing, causing it to become pointless and dumb.
I believe this last phrase encapsulates some of the issues I had with Tender. Many plot points, characterizations, descriptions, etc., were very pointless and dumb, which dishonoured the story's potential and its effect on the reader. Also, some aspects of it were kind of problematic and the main character was insupportable.
Apart from this, I enjoyed the ending. I am a sentimental and nostalgic hoe, what can I say?
Overall, a very meh read.
“She felt it again, the sensation she had been having for days: that although he was beside her, even awake he was as far away, really, as he was now when asleep, and that she could not hold him, and that she could not even really know him.”
I believe this last phrase encapsulates some of the issues I had with Tender. Many plot points, characterizations, descriptions, etc., were very pointless and dumb, which dishonoured the story's potential and its effect on the reader. Also, some aspects of it were kind of problematic and the main character was insupportable.
Apart from this, I enjoyed the ending. I am a sentimental and nostalgic hoe, what can I say?
Overall, a very meh read.
“She felt it again, the sensation she had been having for days: that although he was beside her, even awake he was as far away, really, as he was now when asleep, and that she could not hold him, and that she could not even really know him.”
Racismo no País dos Brancos Costumes by Joana Gorjão Henriques
challenging
informative
4.0
Um livro importantíssimo para tomar consciência do racismo individual e estrutural da sociedade portuguesa, apesar de bastante limitado na informação que expõe (muitas vezes por culpa de falta de dados) e escolhe expor.
As ideias das dinâmicas de despolitização do racismo, da colonização e descolonização, além das histórias relatadas, ficarão comigo.
Resta agradecer à Joana Gorjão Henriques pelo seu trabalho. Muito, muito obrigado!
"No país dos brandos costumes pode haver racismo, mas ninguém é racista porque racistas são os outros. No país dos brandos costumes há cidadãos portugueses tratados como imigrantes, mas todos se vangloriam sobre as políticas de integração. No país dos brandos costumes toda a gente é bem-vinda, mas algumas pessoas têm mais probabilidade de ir para a prisão do que outras. No país dos brandos costumes não se olha a cores, mas quase não há negros em posições de destaque: na Assembleia da República, nos media, na banca, na chefia das grandes empresas, na academia, a publicar livros, a protagonizar as suas próprias histórias.
As ideias das dinâmicas de despolitização do racismo, da colonização e descolonização, além das histórias relatadas, ficarão comigo.
Resta agradecer à Joana Gorjão Henriques pelo seu trabalho. Muito, muito obrigado!
"No país dos brandos costumes pode haver racismo, mas ninguém é racista porque racistas são os outros. No país dos brandos costumes há cidadãos portugueses tratados como imigrantes, mas todos se vangloriam sobre as políticas de integração. No país dos brandos costumes toda a gente é bem-vinda, mas algumas pessoas têm mais probabilidade de ir para a prisão do que outras. No país dos brandos costumes não se olha a cores, mas quase não há negros em posições de destaque: na Assembleia da República, nos media, na banca, na chefia das grandes empresas, na academia, a publicar livros, a protagonizar as suas próprias histórias.
The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
When I first read the synopsis of this book, I thought “this book has everything to be a favourite and dear to my heart”. I was not wrong.
The Island of Missing Trees has the perfect title (it holds so many meanings), the perfect structure and a great combination of fiction and reality. Getting to know a bit more about the reality of Cyprus and its people (a great number of them now scattered through Europe and the world) was definitely one of the highlights of the book. It saddens me that this conflict is a topic that is rarely talked about in History classes and world news, as it is a tension that is still felt today and has other repercussions for the countries involved and the ones around those.
I would say one of the other highlights was the inter generational relationships, hardships and reflections. It was truly amusing and heartfelt to read about this family’s history and see how Elif Shafak intertwined some aspects of it (with each other and with other facts).
Finally, I have to highlight the author’s effort in creating a story like this, so full of historical and biological facts. Reading the “Note to the Reader” was just a peek at Shafak’s investigation.
Having said this, I was not a fan of how some things were explicitly told to the reader. It felt like the author wanted to make sure we understood what was very clearly being implied and, thus, was underestimating the reader.
I am still undecided about my feelings on the ending but this has definitely earned a spot as one of my favourite books and I feel very connected to its characters and story. I am very much intrigued to read more of Elif Shafak’s books.
"Just as hope could spring from the depths of despair, or peace germinate among the ruins of war, a tree could grow out of disease and decay. If this cutting from Cyprus were to take root in England, it would be genetically identical but not all the same."
The Island of Missing Trees has the perfect title (it holds so many meanings), the perfect structure and a great combination of fiction and reality. Getting to know a bit more about the reality of Cyprus and its people (a great number of them now scattered through Europe and the world) was definitely one of the highlights of the book. It saddens me that this conflict is a topic that is rarely talked about in History classes and world news, as it is a tension that is still felt today and has other repercussions for the countries involved and the ones around those.
I would say one of the other highlights was the inter generational relationships, hardships and reflections. It was truly amusing and heartfelt to read about this family’s history and see how Elif Shafak intertwined some aspects of it (with each other and with other facts).
Finally, I have to highlight the author’s effort in creating a story like this, so full of historical and biological facts. Reading the “Note to the Reader” was just a peek at Shafak’s investigation.
Having said this, I was not a fan of how some things were explicitly told to the reader. It felt like the author wanted to make sure we understood what was very clearly being implied and, thus, was underestimating the reader.
I am still undecided about my feelings on the ending but this has definitely earned a spot as one of my favourite books and I feel very connected to its characters and story. I am very much intrigued to read more of Elif Shafak’s books.
"Just as hope could spring from the depths of despair, or peace germinate among the ruins of war, a tree could grow out of disease and decay. If this cutting from Cyprus were to take root in England, it would be genetically identical but not all the same."