Reviews with content warning for Death of parent - Near to the Wild Heart

Aunty, listen to me, I knew Joana, of whom I speak now. She was a weak woman with regards to things. Everything struck her at times too precious, impossible to touch. And, at times, what people used as air to breath, was weight and death for her. Try to understand my heroine, Aunty, listen. She is vague and audacious. She doesn't love, she isn't loved. You would end up noticing it as Lídia, another woman (a young woman full ofher own destiny), observed it. However what Joana has inside her is something stronger than the love that people give and what she has inside her demands more than the love that people receive. Do you understand, Aunty? I wouldn’t call her a hero, as I promised Daddy myself. Because in her there was a great fear. A fear prior to any judgment and understanding.—This occurred to me just now: maybe, just maybe belief in future survival comes when you realize that life always leaves us untouched.—Do you understand, Aunty?—forget the interruption of future life—do you understand? I see your eyes open, looking at me with fear, with distrust, but wanting even so, with your old woman’s femininity, now dead, it is true, now dead, to like me, overlooking my asperity. Poor dear.

A touching coming of age book centering an alienated woman.

Content Warnings

ohlhauc's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional reflective tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

This is probably not a book for everyone but if you loved extremely introspective novels where you basically just explore characters' thoughts and reflections, this is for you. I absolutely loved it! The more I think about it, the more I'm becoming obsessed with it.

As mentioned, it is very introspective. There is basically no plot and it follows the character of Joana as she thinks about her life, her mortality, her relationships, what it means to be happy, and more amidst the breakdown of a relationship - as well as looking back to her as a child. It is done in a stream of consciousness style so you can expect some repetition of words and sentences that stop and start, so if you hate that, don't pick this up. There are a few moments where the stream of consciousness made it hard to know exactly what was happening in the scene. But if you like going with the flow, this was well done. I didn't find the confusing moments to take away from my enjoyment.

The writing is definitely poetic - good mix of rhythm, the stream of consciousness flow, and gorgeous wording. I have entire pages marked off that were just enchanting. Truthfully, some of the ideas went over my head and I didn't know exactly what Lispector was trying to say but again, that didn't deter me. That was how beautiful the introspection and writing was. It's definitely a book I can see myself re-reading over and over, and I'm confident I'll be able to pull more meaning and understanding each time.

It's a book that will make you think. It will chill you at times (Joana has a bit of a violent attitude). The characters aren't loveable but to see them work through their emotions and thoughts was so damn interesting.

If this sounds like something you'd like, pick it up. It's definitely a new favourite!

Content Warnings

More...