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joaofranciscof's reviews
94 reviews
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."
Últimos Ritos by Hannah Kent
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Desconhecia esta história até a Hannah Kent a contar: a história das últimas pessoas a serem condenadas à pena capital na Islândia. Como a autora diz, é ficcionalizada, mas surpreendeu-me todo o trabalho de investigação que fez para retratar os costumes, as dinâmicas, as pessoas e os sítios o mais accurate possíveis. Isso foi, sem dúvida, um dos pontos altos do livro, ler como era a vida na Islândia no início do século XIX (spoiler: não era muito agradável). No fim do livro, é como se estivéssemos mesmo lá, com aquelas pessoas, e a sentir todos os sentimentos que elas sentem.
Porém, acho que a parte antes do fim foi apressada, sendo um pouco anti-climático e quase parecendo um livro diferente do que fomos lendo até então. Também não fui fã de algumas escolhas nas relações interpessoais e certas falas, para além de que muitas das imagens e metáforas foram pouco desenvolvidas (para o seu enorme potencial).
É uma história muito triste, que nos transporta para um tempo um pouco longínquo, num sítio também um pouco longínquo, e nos mostra como uma mulher que sai do molde é sempre o alvo a abater.
"Aqueles que não estão a ser arrastados para as suas mortes não podem compreender como o coração se torna duro e afiado, até ser um ninho de rochas com um único ovo vazio. Estou estéril, nada mais voltará a crescer de mim. Sou o peixe morto a secar ao ar frio. Sou a ave morta na margem. Estou seca, duvido que sangre quando me arrastarem para o encontro com o machado. Não, ainda estou quente, o meu sangue ainda me ruge nas veias como o próprio vento, e sacode o ninho vazio e pergunta para onde foram todos os pássaros, para onde foram?"
Porém, acho que a parte antes do fim foi apressada, sendo um pouco anti-climático e quase parecendo um livro diferente do que fomos lendo até então. Também não fui fã de algumas escolhas nas relações interpessoais e certas falas, para além de que muitas das imagens e metáforas foram pouco desenvolvidas (para o seu enorme potencial).
É uma história muito triste, que nos transporta para um tempo um pouco longínquo, num sítio também um pouco longínquo, e nos mostra como uma mulher que sai do molde é sempre o alvo a abater.
"Aqueles que não estão a ser arrastados para as suas mortes não podem compreender como o coração se torna duro e afiado, até ser um ninho de rochas com um único ovo vazio. Estou estéril, nada mais voltará a crescer de mim. Sou o peixe morto a secar ao ar frio. Sou a ave morta na margem. Estou seca, duvido que sangre quando me arrastarem para o encontro com o machado. Não, ainda estou quente, o meu sangue ainda me ruge nas veias como o próprio vento, e sacode o ninho vazio e pergunta para onde foram todos os pássaros, para onde foram?"
Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin
reflective
sad
tense
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
3.5
I cannot help but feel disappointed by this book. I had heard so many exceptional things about it, its importance for black and LGBT+ people, its place as one of the greatest novels of the 20th century, etc., but somehow it was not a favourite.
My main issue with it was that it felt sometimes overwritten and many times over-poeticized (as Langston Hughes also put it), specially the first two thirds of the book, where the writing was at times ambigous and even cryptic.
In spite of this, I really enjoyed the last third of the book. It was really heartfelt and heartbreaking. The main messages of the story echoed through time and I now understand why it is a queer literature classic.
Overall, it is a very tragic story, one which we can tell Baldwin put a lot of thought into, probably even drew from his own experience as a gay American living in Paris (and from his friends and acquaintances' experiences). It is also very interesting that this was the only book of his with an all-white cast, him writing from the point of view of a white (gay? queer?) man.
"Perhaps everybody has a garden of Eden, I don’t know; but they have scarcely seen their garden before they see the flaming sword. Then, perhaps, life only offers the choice of remembering the garden or forgetting it. Either, or: it takes strength to remember, it takes another kind of strength to forget, it takes a hero to do both. People who remember court madness through pain, the pain of the perpetually recurring death of their innocence; people who forget court another kind of madness, the madness of the denial of pain and the hatred of innocence; and the world is mostly divided between madmen who remember and madmen who forget. Heroes are rare."
My main issue with it was that it felt sometimes overwritten and many times over-poeticized (as Langston Hughes also put it), specially the first two thirds of the book, where the writing was at times ambigous and even cryptic.
In spite of this, I really enjoyed the last third of the book. It was really heartfelt and heartbreaking. The main messages of the story echoed through time and I now understand why it is a queer literature classic.
Overall, it is a very tragic story, one which we can tell Baldwin put a lot of thought into, probably even drew from his own experience as a gay American living in Paris (and from his friends and acquaintances' experiences). It is also very interesting that this was the only book of his with an all-white cast, him writing from the point of view of a white (gay? queer?) man.
"Perhaps everybody has a garden of Eden, I don’t know; but they have scarcely seen their garden before they see the flaming sword. Then, perhaps, life only offers the choice of remembering the garden or forgetting it. Either, or: it takes strength to remember, it takes another kind of strength to forget, it takes a hero to do both. People who remember court madness through pain, the pain of the perpetually recurring death of their innocence; people who forget court another kind of madness, the madness of the denial of pain and the hatred of innocence; and the world is mostly divided between madmen who remember and madmen who forget. Heroes are rare."
The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth
adventurous
funny
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It’s a story that definitely stays with you, specially Cameron as a character. We spend so much time seeing the world through her eyes and emotions that it is impossible not to feel connected to her. I would also say we spend too much time doing that, since the book is way too long for the story it proposes to tell.
The premise of the book (the gay conversion camp) is very misleading, as it is something that only happens more than halfway through. It is more a story of a lesbian teen discovering herself and living her life in Montana during the early 90’s, her pains and pleasures.
The Miseducation of Cameron Post was sometimes hard and infuriating to read, specially the scenes after Cameron was outed and the scenes at the conversion camp. I believe these scenes to be very poignant and a reflection of a reality still present in the US and other countries, but also very distressing.
Overall, a good YA book (although a very lengthy one).
The premise of the book (the gay conversion camp) is very misleading, as it is something that only happens more than halfway through. It is more a story of a lesbian teen discovering herself and living her life in Montana during the early 90’s, her pains and pleasures.
The Miseducation of Cameron Post was sometimes hard and infuriating to read, specially the scenes after Cameron was outed and the scenes at the conversion camp. I believe these scenes to be very poignant and a reflection of a reality still present in the US and other countries, but also very distressing.
Overall, a good YA book (although a very lengthy one).
Stories of the Sahara by Sanmao
adventurous
emotional
informative
medium-paced
2.5
When I first learned about this book, I was very intrigued by it. I had never heard of Sanmao and her importance for the Chinese speakers in the late 20th century. She lived an incredible life, full of discovery and knowledge, and shared it through her writing. It is really fascinating.
Despite all this, I thought Stories of the Sahara was very disappointing. Some of the stories we got to read were not that interesting, and I was always wishing we could read about Sanmao’s travelling through the desert with the nomads. The way the stories unfolded was not my favourite thing and how they were organised in the book seemed very random and meaningless. Moreover, I found Sanmao to be slightly annoying, foolish and passive.
All in all, it was interesting to read about the reality of Western Sahara at that time (Spanish Sahara, the following independence and starting war), particularly through the eyes of a non-European or North American person. I believe it would be very compelling to write a paper or thesis on how Orientalism plays a part in this book, especially comparing to other works from that time and considering Sanmao’s peculiar perspective.
“There is no other place in the world like the Sahara. This land demonstrates its majesty and tenderness only to those who love it. And that love is quietly reciprocated in the eternity of its land and sky, a serene promise and assurance, a wish for your future generations to be born in its embrace.”
Despite all this, I thought Stories of the Sahara was very disappointing. Some of the stories we got to read were not that interesting, and I was always wishing we could read about Sanmao’s travelling through the desert with the nomads. The way the stories unfolded was not my favourite thing and how they were organised in the book seemed very random and meaningless. Moreover, I found Sanmao to be slightly annoying, foolish and passive.
All in all, it was interesting to read about the reality of Western Sahara at that time (Spanish Sahara, the following independence and starting war), particularly through the eyes of a non-European or North American person. I believe it would be very compelling to write a paper or thesis on how Orientalism plays a part in this book, especially comparing to other works from that time and considering Sanmao’s peculiar perspective.
“There is no other place in the world like the Sahara. This land demonstrates its majesty and tenderness only to those who love it. And that love is quietly reciprocated in the eternity of its land and sky, a serene promise and assurance, a wish for your future generations to be born in its embrace.”
Gyo by Junji Ito
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
2.5
The art and the premise of the main story were very impressive, but the execution not that much. I was not a fan of some plotlines (the circus??), some explanations (or lack thereof) and the ending. Also, female characters are not Junji Ito’s greatest strength AT ALL.
The bonus stories slapped though, especially that last one!!
The bonus stories slapped though, especially that last one!!
Apologia do Ócio by Robert Louis Stevenson
inspiring
reflective
3.5
Adorei o primeiro ensaio que dá título ao livro. Absolutamente revelador como passados 145 anos continua relevante. Semana de 4 dias de trabalho para ontem.
O segundo ensaio, "A Conversa e os Conversadores" é bastante razoável e às vezes aborrecido.
De qualquer forma, surpreendeu-me a escrita de Robert Louis Stevenson, e fiquei com curiosidade para ler mais ensaios dele.
"A devoção perpétua ao que um homem considera o seu trabalho só pode ser sustentada negligenciando todas as outras coisas."
O segundo ensaio, "A Conversa e os Conversadores" é bastante razoável e às vezes aborrecido.
De qualquer forma, surpreendeu-me a escrita de Robert Louis Stevenson, e fiquei com curiosidade para ler mais ensaios dele.
"A devoção perpétua ao que um homem considera o seu trabalho só pode ser sustentada negligenciando todas as outras coisas."
How to Be Both by Ali Smith
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
I have been thinking about my feelings on this book and I am still torn. It comprises two stories that are intwertwined. Both (ahah) have an impact on the reader, especially with its characters, which we get to know very well and take their pains.
The way Ali Smith builds the narratives is great, and I was amazed by the fact that each copy of the book has the two stories in a random order, meaning each person's reading experience is unique. This divides the readers into two groups, and each has pros and cons on the way the book was experienced. As you can see, the duality and the 'bothness' of How to Be Both begins here, and is a constant throughout it.
The reflections the novel proposes explicit and implicitly are remarkable, especially the ones on art and the way of seeing, since perception is one of the main themes. I loved loved loved these reflections and the two main characters, with their desires, torments, relationships, and ways of seeing the world around and inside them.
However, I feel this book could have had a bigger impact on me, specially in the way the two characters are interlaced. For example, a much more explicit scene between them or a stronger/'larger' connection between them (à la Kafka on the Shore) would perhaps have made the story more efective and moving.
In the end, it is a very original and innovative story, even creating a whole biography for a Renaissance painter!
“Or perhaps it is just that George has spent proper time looking at this one painting and that every single experience of looking at something would be this good if she devoted time to everything she looked at.”
The way Ali Smith builds the narratives is great, and I was amazed by the fact that each copy of the book has the two stories in a random order, meaning each person's reading experience is unique. This divides the readers into two groups, and each has pros and cons on the way the book was experienced. As you can see, the duality and the 'bothness' of How to Be Both begins here, and is a constant throughout it.
The reflections the novel proposes explicit and implicitly are remarkable, especially the ones on art and the way of seeing, since perception is one of the main themes. I loved loved loved these reflections and the two main characters, with their desires, torments, relationships, and ways of seeing the world around and inside them.
However, I feel this book could have had a bigger impact on me, specially in the way the two characters are interlaced. For example, a much more explicit scene between them or a stronger/'larger' connection between them (à la Kafka on the Shore) would perhaps have made the story more efective and moving.
In the end, it is a very original and innovative story, even creating a whole biography for a Renaissance painter!
“Or perhaps it is just that George has spent proper time looking at this one painting and that every single experience of looking at something would be this good if she devoted time to everything she looked at.”
The Secret Loves of Geeks by Hope Nicholson
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
2.5
My favourites were “Deceptively Normal” by Dana Simpson and “We Will Never Be Back Here Again” by Saadia Muzaffar