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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest
Moderate: Suicide
I was hoping that at least a part of the theme of the book was incest... well, it isn't. There's barely any incest in this. Apart from that, I recognize that it's really well written, just not about what I was expecting.
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Suicide, Death of parent, Abandonment
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
The two favorite themes of Eça de Queirós are undoubtedly the humiliated conscience of the Portuguese concerning their country in the second half of the 19th century and the passion for love, which was, above all, impossible.
In the salons of the Lisbon aristocracy, there is a lot of talk about the apathy that has descended on the country and sterilized its resources: without innovative political talents, without considerable wealth despite large colonies, unable to develop agriculture flourishing or a viable industry, without artistic genius, Portugal lives on loans that will lead it to bankruptcy and for all the rest behind Europe, imitating the more dynamic countries even in its philanthropic societies and its sporting events; unfit for certain refinements of civilization, it also fails to safeguard its own culture, which would be limited to the release of bulls in the streets. Melancholy and sluggish, these gentlemen come to wish mezza voce a placement under Spanish tutelage and let themselves sink with majesty and fatalism by entrusting their affairs to the managers and bankers.
For the rest, what occupies this idle and still privileged class is love, of course, a big deal when you have nothing to do:
Love as a pastime, preferably adultery.
Love is scandalous and routine, but also passionate love.
Mad love.
Love for which one is ready to sacrifice one's future.
In the intrigue of Eça de Queirós, an insurmountable obstacle to lovers' happiness always arises: never the one that we see emerging, but even worse. I will not reveal more.
The style is delightful, fluid, and classic but vigilant and mischievous. The description of the Portuguese nature (we want to leave for Sintra all business ceasing) and the interiors are exquisite. The characters have a relief that makes them exist. We have the impression of knowing Alfonso, Carlos, and Ega.
Eça de Queirós is considered to belong to the naturalist literary movement: "The Maias" also includes many polemics opposing the characters' conception of art. But it is not about the naturalism of Emile Zola in "L'Assommoir" or "La Terre" but of a form closer to that of Flaubert or Maupassant.
In the salons of the Lisbon aristocracy, there is a lot of talk about the apathy that has descended on the country and sterilized its resources: without innovative political talents, without considerable wealth despite large colonies, unable to develop agriculture flourishing or a viable industry, without artistic genius, Portugal lives on loans that will lead it to bankruptcy and for all the rest behind Europe, imitating the more dynamic countries even in its philanthropic societies and its sporting events; unfit for certain refinements of civilization, it also fails to safeguard its own culture, which would be limited to the release of bulls in the streets. Melancholy and sluggish, these gentlemen come to wish mezza voce a placement under Spanish tutelage and let themselves sink with majesty and fatalism by entrusting their affairs to the managers and bankers.
For the rest, what occupies this idle and still privileged class is love, of course, a big deal when you have nothing to do:
Love as a pastime, preferably adultery.
Love is scandalous and routine, but also passionate love.
Mad love.
Love for which one is ready to sacrifice one's future.
In the intrigue of Eça de Queirós, an insurmountable obstacle to lovers' happiness always arises: never the one that we see emerging, but even worse. I will not reveal more.
The style is delightful, fluid, and classic but vigilant and mischievous. The description of the Portuguese nature (we want to leave for Sintra all business ceasing) and the interiors are exquisite. The characters have a relief that makes them exist. We have the impression of knowing Alfonso, Carlos, and Ega.
Eça de Queirós is considered to belong to the naturalist literary movement: "The Maias" also includes many polemics opposing the characters' conception of art. But it is not about the naturalism of Emile Zola in "L'Assommoir" or "La Terre" but of a form closer to that of Flaubert or Maupassant.
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Gostei imenso deste clássico, acho que se o tivesse lido no secundário não teria gostado tanto. Demorei algum tempo a concluí-lo, porque a escrita do Eça não é fácil, tem muitos estrangeirismos, muito francês, é muito descritiva, pois, retrata a sociedade portuguesa da época, a cultura, os costumes, as roupas. O livro tem capítulos muito grandes, que me obrigavam a ler às 10 páginas de cada vez. Ainda assim, achei que a história não é complicada de entender. Gostei de conhecer a cidade de Lisboa do século XVIII, a vida boémia das pessoas e claro toda a intriga que faz parte da trama.
Apesar de saber se antemão o que o livro retrata, a grande revelação surpreendeu-me.
Agora percebo porque é que este género de livros não conquistam alunos no secundário, acho que é necessário ter uma certa maturidade para a sua leitura, que aos 18 anos pode não estar trabalhada. Pessoalmente, só agora me senti preparada para o ler e entender. E gostei muito. Recomendo a leitura.
Apesar de saber se antemão o que o livro retrata, a grande revelação surpreendeu-me.
Agora percebo porque é que este género de livros não conquistam alunos no secundário, acho que é necessário ter uma certa maturidade para a sua leitura, que aos 18 anos pode não estar trabalhada. Pessoalmente, só agora me senti preparada para o ler e entender. E gostei muito. Recomendo a leitura.
challenging
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes