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hannicogood's review
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I found out after finishing that this was meant to be somewhat of a satire of Portugal in the modern age, which explained much about the protagonist’s character - he is overall a kind person, but fails to keep his word and tends to throw tantrums. The weaving of the historical novel he writes is a good contrast of Portugal with a glorious past and Portugal struggling to live up to that past.
stacialithub's review
5.0
Gonçalo Ramires can be infuriating but also so charming & unintentionally funny that I fell in love with this book. A wonderful "classic" story that will appeal to many. Highly recommended when you're in the mood for a piece of classic literature.
alanfederman's review
4.0
Equal parts comedy, political novel and historical fiction, this brilliant novel by Portugal's Dickens is a timeless story of political intrigue and a comedy of manners. Though set in rural Portugal in the late 1800s, it could be anywhere as these themes are not bound by time or location. This book coincided with my trip to Portugal so knowing and seeing the geography was really helpful in understanding the subtleties of the story and even some of the humor. I look forward to reading more of this writer's work as well as other Portuguese novelists.
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