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ellaselbie's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
evemillss's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
keltreads's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is a great and moving book. Sauma does a great job transitioning between or blurring Andre's present life and his past memories, creating this dreamy and haunting mood that matches the story's plot and the protagonist's (Andre's) troubled experiences growing up after his mother's death. Andre's family's dynamics are written really well, really interesting to see how his relationship differs between his father and mother, his brother, and the two household maids. Characters generally are written distinctively. My main critique is I think the book dragged on a bit getting to the climax, and while I was engaged, I felt it needed a bit more oomph carry it forward.
piedwarbler's review against another edition
3.0
A story that moves between past and present, André Cabral lives in Brazil and pushes against his father’s wish for him to follow him into medicine. He has a kind of desultory fling with the family’s maid, Luana, at the same time as having a girlfriend, Dani. Years later he is married and working as a doctor in London when he receives a letter from Luana, and he’s revisited by a past that he thought he’d left far behind him.
I found Sauma’s debut novel interesting and immersive, with its Brazilian music, food, and language, and I played some Brazilian music while I was reading it. It was a good read. I thought the author wrote well from a man’s perspective for most of the novel - the kind of thoughtless way some young men are attracted to girls - André is not a sympathetic character - and then, I found the last part of the book slightly less convincing as André finds out about his true history. Not enough was made of the plot twist which was very serious and yet undeveloped by the author. However, it was an absorbing read and I found the pages turned quickly and easily. It would be a great holiday read. I wouldn’t say I noticed “the salty violence of Ipanema” in the way that the critic of the New Yorker did, hence three stars instead of five.
I found Sauma’s debut novel interesting and immersive, with its Brazilian music, food, and language, and I played some Brazilian music while I was reading it. It was a good read. I thought the author wrote well from a man’s perspective for most of the novel - the kind of thoughtless way some young men are attracted to girls - André is not a sympathetic character - and then, I found the last part of the book slightly less convincing as André finds out about his true history. Not enough was made of the plot twist which was very serious and yet undeveloped by the author. However, it was an absorbing read and I found the pages turned quickly and easily. It would be a great holiday read. I wouldn’t say I noticed “the salty violence of Ipanema” in the way that the critic of the New Yorker did, hence three stars instead of five.
annecarts's review against another edition
4.0
Andre is an extremely privileged resident of Rio, now a doctor in London. This novel follows him looking back at his youth in Brazil.
The sense of place in this book is fantastic. The sights, smells and songs. Especially the parts where they holiday near the amazon.
I also enjoyed the social issues explored. I must admit to no previous knowledge of empregadas - maids that bring up children, tidy, clean and yet are in many ways invisible and divided along gender, class and colour from their employers.
The sense of place in this book is fantastic. The sights, smells and songs. Especially the parts where they holiday near the amazon.
I also enjoyed the social issues explored. I must admit to no previous knowledge of empregadas - maids that bring up children, tidy, clean and yet are in many ways invisible and divided along gender, class and colour from their employers.
nickeal1's review against another edition
3.0
An easy read but a main character who appeared to have little empathy and couldn't grasp other peop!e's feelings. As if it was only him that was affected by events.
tyaneka's review against another edition
3.0
Deep, easy read
This book was good. I wish there was more to it though. I wish the characters were a little more nuanced and had more depth to them. I wish we would have gotten more of their adult lives. Overall, a very good storyline.
This book was good. I wish there was more to it though. I wish the characters were a little more nuanced and had more depth to them. I wish we would have gotten more of their adult lives. Overall, a very good storyline.
manaledi's review against another edition
3.0
I had to put this book down several times before coming back to it. It's worth finishing, but it's definitely a slow moving Trainwreck where I figured out all the plot points way in advance. I never liked André and that also made it hard to get engrossed. I wanted more self awareness, but the obliviousness to race, class, and gender dynamics is much of the point of the story.
margaret21's review against another edition
4.0
This is the story of André Cabral, a Brazilian doctor living in London with his wife and daughters. This is the story of André Cabral , unhappy teenager grieving the loss of his mother who died in a road accident, who drifts aimlessly though the next couple of years in the company of his much-loved younger brother, his distant father, and the family servant Luana. This is the story of André Cabral, whose wife leaves him, and who suddenly receives a letter, after a gap of some 20 years, from Luana.
An absorbing short novel, this book immerses us in Brazilian life, contrasting it with the greyness of London, and in the unhappy head of André. Place and personalities are richly described, involving the reader in the lives of each of the characters. A haunting and impressive debut novel.
An absorbing short novel, this book immerses us in Brazilian life, contrasting it with the greyness of London, and in the unhappy head of André. Place and personalities are richly described, involving the reader in the lives of each of the characters. A haunting and impressive debut novel.