Scan barcode
sjhaug's review against another edition
challenging
dark
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
3.0
inesuniverse's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 stars
made me miss Cape Verde but was disappointed with it
made me miss Cape Verde but was disappointed with it
hanntastic's review against another edition
3.0
Global Read Challenge 59: Cape Verde/ Cabo Verde
This book was fine but maybe tried to be too many things superficially. It kind of switched midway through from being about the Senhor to being about the hunt for Adela. That seemed like kind of a weird transition. Also, I didn't get a sense of who Carlos was at all. He seemed like a dedicated nephew but why did he leave that message? Whereas the the main character seemed interesting and complex, Carlos was not fleshed out in a way that left the book lacking.
This book was fine but maybe tried to be too many things superficially. It kind of switched midway through from being about the Senhor to being about the hunt for Adela. That seemed like kind of a weird transition. Also, I didn't get a sense of who Carlos was at all. He seemed like a dedicated nephew but why did he leave that message? Whereas the the main character seemed interesting and complex, Carlos was not fleshed out in a way that left the book lacking.
jenmat1197's review against another edition
4.0
This is the story of Senhor da Silva Araujo. He is a self made businessman that is well known, and well respected. He came from nothing and died a wealthy man. He left a 387 page Last Will and Testament that had to be read over an entire day by several people - just to get through it. What it revealed was that he wasn't the man that everyone thought he was. Especially his nephew, Carlos, who he all but cut out of the will (Even though he raised him). He lists his hopes and dreams of who he wanted to become, and -entertwined in there-, are twists of fate, a string of women, and an illegitimate daughter that no one knew about. What is revealed about a man - that everyone thought was self-important - is that he was human after all.
This is a pretty good book. It is really short, and has a unique style of writing (lots of run on sentences and no quotation marks when someone is talking) that made it a slower read than you would expect for being small. It didn't bother me after a few pages, and quickly became a non-issue as the story progressed.
I think this book has an important message. If everyone wrote a last will and testament that was more of a memoir, what would we discover about our family and friends? How well do we actually know....anyone? And what would we do with information we found out about our loved ones after they passed on - especially if it dimmed the light that surrounded them while they were alive?
It is something to ponder. And in the meantime, I do recommend checking out this short read. It is a small book by a little known author in a little known country, and I am glad I found it.
This is a pretty good book. It is really short, and has a unique style of writing (lots of run on sentences and no quotation marks when someone is talking) that made it a slower read than you would expect for being small. It didn't bother me after a few pages, and quickly became a non-issue as the story progressed.
I think this book has an important message. If everyone wrote a last will and testament that was more of a memoir, what would we discover about our family and friends? How well do we actually know....anyone? And what would we do with information we found out about our loved ones after they passed on - especially if it dimmed the light that surrounded them while they were alive?
It is something to ponder. And in the meantime, I do recommend checking out this short read. It is a small book by a little known author in a little known country, and I am glad I found it.
hybridheart's review against another edition
3.0
The characters are dynamic and the ironic writing style certainly takes after Machado de Assis.
andrew61's review against another edition
3.0
The opening chapter of this book reveals the reading of the will of Napumoceno da Silva Araujo, a rich Cape Verde businessman. the will at 300+ pages surprises everyone including his nephew that he has an illegitimate daughter to whom he leaves the bulk of his estate.
The book then tells Araujo's story from his arriving on the main island of Cape Verde St Vincente as a shoeless waif, to his finding work on the docks as a runner, to joining a customs and export firm, his own move into business and the fortune of buying umbrellas just as rare rains arrive, and onwards. Never partivularly lucky in love we learn of his thwarted passions , he never seems to be able to express his feelings at the right time, his dalliance with prostitutes , his lost loves, and perhaps most disturbingly his sexual assaults on his cleaner.
The book is told with humour, but at times with a slight distance from the characters (not sure whether that has anything to do with translation from Portuguese) and overall it was an interesting portrait of a country which seems so diverse geographically ( a number of islands of the coast of Africa) and only achieved independence in the 1970's , however I found some of the sexual encounters troubling in the lack of reflection on what were essentially assaults.
The book then tells Araujo's story from his arriving on the main island of Cape Verde St Vincente as a shoeless waif, to his finding work on the docks as a runner, to joining a customs and export firm, his own move into business and the fortune of buying umbrellas just as rare rains arrive, and onwards. Never partivularly lucky in love we learn of his thwarted passions , he never seems to be able to express his feelings at the right time, his dalliance with prostitutes , his lost loves, and perhaps most disturbingly his sexual assaults on his cleaner.
The book is told with humour, but at times with a slight distance from the characters (not sure whether that has anything to do with translation from Portuguese) and overall it was an interesting portrait of a country which seems so diverse geographically ( a number of islands of the coast of Africa) and only achieved independence in the 1970's , however I found some of the sexual encounters troubling in the lack of reflection on what were essentially assaults.
anetq's review against another edition
4.0
Hr. Napumocenos liv og levned som handelsmand i Kap Verde fortalt gennem hans efterladte, hans efterladte papirer og ikke mindst hans ca. 387 sider lange testamente.
em_ham's review against another edition
4.0
I found this book when planning a holiday in Cape Verde, and read it whilst away. Knowing some basic facts about the country definitely helped contextualise the novel, and being there made it come to life. This novel is touching, humorous and thought-provoking. It explores how we see ourselves versus how others see us: by the end of it, I didn't feel I'd grasped a 'truth' about the protagonist, Sr. Napumoceno da Silva Araújo, and I suppose that's the point. It also left me with a vivid impression of Cape Verdean life.
The Last Will & Testament of Senhor da Silva Araújo reminded me of Gabriel García Márquez in its sweeping portrait of a life, and some slightly magical elements (e.g. the 10,000 umbrellas), although I wouldn't call it magical realism.
I'd like to read other books by Germano Almeida but unfortunately I don't think any others have been translated into English.
The Last Will & Testament of Senhor da Silva Araújo reminded me of Gabriel García Márquez in its sweeping portrait of a life, and some slightly magical elements (e.g. the 10,000 umbrellas), although I wouldn't call it magical realism.
I'd like to read other books by Germano Almeida but unfortunately I don't think any others have been translated into English.