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4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
After Água Viva and handwriting every favourite quote from it, I felt like I had an overdose of Lispector. I couldn't get into this one as quickly as I did with the previous book, because I was still reeling from it. And much like her other books, I never really looked up the synopsis so I didn't know what The Passion was about.
This novel started out like the narrator's soliloquy. It was slow and at times, felt like it wasn't going anywhere. But I stayed on and hoped for the best. At first I wasn't quite sold on it and thought maybe I should hit pause but it was constantly calling me so eventually I picked it up again.
Then the novel really started. You get to know the characters. G.H., her life, her penthouse, her maid. And the picture gets clearer as the story goes on. I actually think this book was like a retelling of The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka but from a different point of view; of Gregor's sister or one of his parents. It was quickly piquing my interest.
Once again Lispector had a unique way of writing. With every last line of a chapter, said line will be repeated into the next chapter to start over. It was almost like crocheting. Making another chain stitch to repeat a double crochet, yarn over, front loop.. She was literally stitching together a story and I don't think I've ever encountered that while reading. So fascinating.
It was a lot to take in. It was a sea of thoughts. It was philosophical. It was theological. It was a horror story. It was mind and gut churning. It was very Lispectorian.
I was not prepared at all for the final reveal. I had theories but also knew deep down that it wouldn't go that way. No, it went completely the other way. I didn't expect it at all. I exclaimed loudly, which surprised my sister who was next to me. I couldn't wrap my head around it. Like I get it, but I also didn't. I need to sit with it for now.
This novel started out like the narrator's soliloquy. It was slow and at times, felt like it wasn't going anywhere. But I stayed on and hoped for the best. At first I wasn't quite sold on it and thought maybe I should hit pause but it was constantly calling me so eventually I picked it up again.
Then the novel really started. You get to know the characters. G.H., her life, her penthouse, her maid. And the picture gets clearer as the story goes on. I actually think this book was like a retelling of The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka but from a different point of view; of Gregor's sister or one of his parents. It was quickly piquing my interest.
Once again Lispector had a unique way of writing. With every last line of a chapter, said line will be repeated into the next chapter to start over. It was almost like crocheting. Making another chain stitch to repeat a double crochet, yarn over, front loop.. She was literally stitching together a story and I don't think I've ever encountered that while reading. So fascinating.
It was a lot to take in. It was a sea of thoughts. It was philosophical. It was theological. It was a horror story. It was mind and gut churning. It was very Lispectorian.
I was not prepared at all for the final reveal. I had theories but also knew deep down that it wouldn't go that way. No, it went completely the other way. I didn't expect it at all. I exclaimed loudly, which surprised my sister who was next to me. I couldn't wrap my head around it. Like I get it, but I also didn't. I need to sit with it for now.
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
“Mas agora vejo o que na verdade me acontecia: eu tinha tão pouca fé que havia inventado apenas o futuro, eu acreditava tão pouco no que existe que adiava a atualidade para uma promessa e para um futuro”
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
I just always love Clarice Lispector. She is genuinely an artist whose medium is words. This book in particular somehow managed to feel grounded in a physical setting even though technically most of it is prose. And even though the location and event stays the same, it is still interesting. I also thought it was cool that every chapter begins with the last sentence from the previous chapter. It creates the vibe that the whole book is just a continuous stream of consciousness.
Read from the Provo Library.
Read from the Provo Library.
medium-paced
But my liberation will only come about if I have the immodesty of my own incomprehension.
this is my second clarice lispector but would it be too soon if i said that i don’t really understand what she says? i feel that her book is one conscious thought with various subsections. at least that’s how i feel reading them. and so it gets difficult for me to really comprehend but even still certain sentences come along where i feel ‘wow, an important question has been asked’ or ‘wow, a thought has been thunk’ and i am very grateful for those sentences while reading lispector.
stumbled upon this interview of hers yesterday morning that makes me glad to read her when i am: Clarice Lispector when asked about her books being relatable/understood by people — “I mean, I guess the question of understanding isn't about intelligence, it's about feeling, about entering into contact. So the Portuguese and literature teacher, who ought to be the one most prepared to understand me, didn't, and the seventeen-year-old girl read and reread the book.”
i know its bound for me to reread her in the future, but again, i am very grateful to be able to read her right now.
stumbled upon this interview of hers yesterday morning that makes me glad to read her when i am: Clarice Lispector when asked about her books being relatable/understood by people — “I mean, I guess the question of understanding isn't about intelligence, it's about feeling, about entering into contact. So the Portuguese and literature teacher, who ought to be the one most prepared to understand me, didn't, and the seventeen-year-old girl read and reread the book.”
i know its bound for me to reread her in the future, but again, i am very grateful to be able to read her right now.
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
I did not try understanding the book (as I learned to do earlier with Clarice) and the journey I went through in reading this was hypnotic as it was interesting. Idk I didn’t think I could ever feel that much for a cockroach. My brain hurts. Those are my thoughts for now
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
was a bit hard to follow because it is just dense prose (some of the best i’ve read at that)