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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
This review can also be found on my blog!
CW: attempted sexual assault, overdose, possible suicide, homophobia, biphobia
Y’all, I’m disappointed in you because of this book.
Seriously, I’m so disappointed in everyone who hasn’t read this book and didn’t hype it up to make me read it sooner! This review is mainly going to be gushing over it, so you’re now warned. And I hope that I make someone read this too.
I read this in one day. I started it around 4-4:30, then I finished it that same day around 9:30. I read it nonstop. I couldn’t put this book down.
This is the story of two women from very different backgrounds. Dores, who is our MC, is an orphaned girl who works in the kitchen on a sugar plantation. Then, there’s Graça, the daughter of the owner who’s a spoiled brat. Yet, because they’re the same age, they become friends. Together, they discover a love of folk music. Samba. Graça sings, Dores composes.
Eventually, they run off together to become famous singers. Well, Graça becomes the famous one. Dores, as always, is in the background.
I have to say, this book is on par with The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. While the books are very different, there are similar threads running through both stories. A self-centered woman who will do whatever it takes to go forward. A sapphic relationship. The MCs in both books are bisexual, although Dores, in this book, doesn’t use that word. She just likes men and women. The ending is sad and pulled at my heart.
Really, I decided to read this book on the perfect day for me. It was a bad grief day and I needed to be pulled out my life. Through this book, I was taken from my own life and put into theirs through all of the twists and turns that came with it. Dores pining for Graça and Graça being a horrible person in turn.
It was just, seriously, a beautiful story that included samba songs that tied into each chapter in some way. I was seriously impressed by the book and it’s so underrated. Only one person I’m friends with on Goodreads has read it. It’s definitely on my favorites shelf now just because of how gorgeous the story was.
CW: attempted sexual assault, overdose, possible suicide, homophobia, biphobia
Y’all, I’m disappointed in you because of this book.
Seriously, I’m so disappointed in everyone who hasn’t read this book and didn’t hype it up to make me read it sooner! This review is mainly going to be gushing over it, so you’re now warned. And I hope that I make someone read this too.
I read this in one day. I started it around 4-4:30, then I finished it that same day around 9:30. I read it nonstop. I couldn’t put this book down.
This is the story of two women from very different backgrounds. Dores, who is our MC, is an orphaned girl who works in the kitchen on a sugar plantation. Then, there’s Graça, the daughter of the owner who’s a spoiled brat. Yet, because they’re the same age, they become friends. Together, they discover a love of folk music. Samba. Graça sings, Dores composes.
Eventually, they run off together to become famous singers. Well, Graça becomes the famous one. Dores, as always, is in the background.
I have to say, this book is on par with The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. While the books are very different, there are similar threads running through both stories. A self-centered woman who will do whatever it takes to go forward. A sapphic relationship. The MCs in both books are bisexual, although Dores, in this book, doesn’t use that word. She just likes men and women. The ending is sad and pulled at my heart.
Really, I decided to read this book on the perfect day for me. It was a bad grief day and I needed to be pulled out my life. Through this book, I was taken from my own life and put into theirs through all of the twists and turns that came with it. Dores pining for Graça and Graça being a horrible person in turn.
It was just, seriously, a beautiful story that included samba songs that tied into each chapter in some way. I was seriously impressed by the book and it’s so underrated. Only one person I’m friends with on Goodreads has read it. It’s definitely on my favorites shelf now just because of how gorgeous the story was.
beautifully written with lush descriptions and complex and dynamic character relationships.
I've seen criticisms of the story being too slow, or too descriptive., which I don't agree with. It is the essence of the book. the characters and the story have a love affair with music. the writing style perfectly portrays that. The style is lyrical and romantic.
The relationship between orphan Dores and wealthy Graca is deep, complex, and (at times) tumultuous.
Yes, it's a story about two women from their childhood into adulthood as they chase their dreams of becoming Samba musicians, but it's also so much more than that. This book touches on and delves into racism, classism, colorism, and LBGTQIAP+ issues.
I urge everyone to read this story.
I've seen criticisms of the story being too slow, or too descriptive., which I don't agree with. It is the essence of the book. the characters and the story have a love affair with music. the writing style perfectly portrays that. The style is lyrical and romantic.
The relationship between orphan Dores and wealthy Graca is deep, complex, and (at times) tumultuous.
Yes, it's a story about two women from their childhood into adulthood as they chase their dreams of becoming Samba musicians, but it's also so much more than that. This book touches on and delves into racism, classism, colorism, and LBGTQIAP+ issues.
I urge everyone to read this story.
The Air You Breathe was definitely the historial fiction novel I needed amass a wave of WW2 historical fiction that fills the shelves.
It tells the story of Dores a girl working on a plantation who befriends Graça the daughter of plantation owner. What started as just companionship to assist Graça at the plantation grows into so much more as we see their friendship through the ebbs and flows of life in the 1930s and 1940s in Brazil and beyond.
The inclusion of music to separate each section allows us as readers to be transported to the time the song was written. I felt like I was going along with Dores and Graça as they found their own identities in a world where it's so easy to become someone you aren't. Dores acts as the narrator looking back at her life and her friendship with Graça. Frances de Pontes Peebles shows the flaws in all her characters which is very commendable. I didn't find myself disliking any character in particular because of this writing method. I was heartbroken at the end although it is alluded to prior to its happening. The prose of the novel were well done that I had to force myself to put it down so I could sleep and work. This will be a book I easily recommend to others and honestly already had prior to finishing.
It tells the story of Dores a girl working on a plantation who befriends Graça the daughter of plantation owner. What started as just companionship to assist Graça at the plantation grows into so much more as we see their friendship through the ebbs and flows of life in the 1930s and 1940s in Brazil and beyond.
The inclusion of music to separate each section allows us as readers to be transported to the time the song was written. I felt like I was going along with Dores and Graça as they found their own identities in a world where it's so easy to become someone you aren't. Dores acts as the narrator looking back at her life and her friendship with Graça. Frances de Pontes Peebles shows the flaws in all her characters which is very commendable. I didn't find myself disliking any character in particular because of this writing method. I was heartbroken at the end although it is alluded to prior to its happening. The prose of the novel were well done that I had to force myself to put it down so I could sleep and work. This will be a book I easily recommend to others and honestly already had prior to finishing.
This story is full of unforgiving passion and drive. The characters, Dores and Graça, make you feel as though you are with them riding their roller coaster to the wonderful tunes of Samba. Starting on a sugar plantation in Brazil in the 1930s, two girls meet, bond, and pursue a journey based on their love of music and becoming stars. The build is slow but the “feels” are there. I had a ton of fun reading this book because my co-worker is from Brazil. This led me to asking all sorts of questions regarding pronunciation of words and location. I really loved all of the random quips of advice that is extremely relatable and sets your mind to thinking. Overall, I would recommend this book to whomever like to explore a good story with an open mind.