“All human wisdom is contained in these two words - Wait and Hope”   ☘      Opinião em Português       ☘   The newspaper “Journal des débats” published this Alexandre Dumas’ novel periodically, in 18 segments, starting in August 1844 and ending in January 1846. The Count of Monte Cristo became the most popular book in Europe. Dumas based this story on the real account od Pierre Picaud who was charged of treason by 3 friends that coveted his rich fiancée. When he got out, he started working with a cleric that, when he died, left Pierre all of his fortune. Pierre tricked one of his friends, faking his death, so that he can give out the names of his traitors. When he got what he wanted, he punished them all (fiancée included). After the revenge, Picaud was killed by the friend who told him the names. All the Bonapartist references, including the representation of some of the characters, is based on Dumas’ father, a general under Napoleon’s comma...

“Belonging’s two things. One who gives and one who accepts what’s given. You don’t belong to me because I can’t accept you. I can’t give you anything back.”   ☘      Opinião em Português      ☘   This thriller tells the story of Frederick, obsessed with Miranda, an art student, decides to kidnap her. This book has a first-person narrative, through Frederick in the first part and in the second by Miranda’s point of view. I couldn’t help to compare the narrative and main character to Lolita’s, where we can’t trust what the narrator is telling us (excuses, facts, etc.) The autor puts our critical judgement to test by forcing us to accept or reject Frederick’s actions.  All what Fred wants is love?  There we see an irony where we can’t interpret an abduction as a love. Then comes the Miranda’s POV, through her diary.  When we start feeling sorry or any kind of sympathy for Fred, Miranda’s diary makes you change your mind. Fred’s ac...

“The most loving parents and relatives commit murder with smiles on their faces. They force us to destroy the person we really are: a subtle kind of murder.”   ☘      Opinião em Português      ☘   Oyinkan Braithwaite’s first book and it’s been nominated to the Booker Prize longlist in 2019. It’s described as a satirical dark humour thriller, that portraits the life of two sisters – Korede and Ayoola – and Ayoola’s habit of killing her boyfriends and her sister cleaning it up. I was excited with this reading, with the prospect of reading a dark humour thriller and I actually found quite disappointed. Very slow action where there’re chapters simply portraying chores and simple every day actions while trying to use that to create a gloomy atmosphere, wrongly so. If there was just one chapter, I might understand it but I’m talking about 60% of the book. The author could have used it to built up suspense or used Ayoola’s murders but I saw myself r...

“Muchos años después, frente al pelotón de fusilamiento, el coronel Aureliano Buendía había de recordar aquella tarde remota en que su padre lo llevó a conocer el hielo. Macondo era entonces una aldea de 20 casas de barro y cañabrava construidas a la orilla de un río de aguas diáfanas que se precipitaban por un lecho de piedras pulidas, blancas y enormes como huevos prehistóricos. El mundo era tan reciente, que muchas cosas carecían de nombre, y para mencionarlas había que señalarlas con el dedo".”   ☘       Review in english      ☘   Cem Anos de Solidão sempre foi uma obra que me intimidou muito pelo facto de que cada vez que ouvia alguém a recomendar o livro, vinha atrelado o aviso que se deve na "altura certa" e que talvez o motor não pegue à primeira ou segunda ou até mesmo terceira vez. Li-o uma vez... e quero ler novamente. O meu conselho, antes de entrarem para a vida de Macondo e da família Buendía, é manter a mente aberta ...

"Os pais e familiares mais amorosos matam com sorrisos nos seus rostos. Eles forçam-nos a destruir quem somos na realidade: uma forma subtil de homicídio."    ☘      Review in english       ☘   My Sister The Serial Killer foi o livro de estreia de Oyinkan Braithwaite e esteve nomeado na longlist do Booker Prize de 2019. É descrito como um thriller satírico, de humor negro, que retrata a vida de duas irmãs - Korede e Ayoola - e a tendência de uma delas para matar os namorados e da outra de limpar os estragos. Eu comecei a leitura bastante entusiasmada com a perspectiva de ler um thriller de humor negro e a verdade é que me senti desiludida. Um livro de ação muito parada onde há capítulos apenas a descrever uma ação corriqueira (como cozinhar) e tentar usar isso para criar um ambiente soturno e até mesmo de suspense, no entanto, foi mal conseguido. Se fosse apenas um capítulo, era capaz de entender, mas estamos a falar de ...