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letiloyeti's review against another edition
5.0
Semplice, pacato ed estremamente profondo al tempo stesso. Insomma, è perfetto, sostiene Letizia.
shallowcloudz's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
colinlusk's review against another edition
4.0
This is a slow-burner: It's not exactly a thriller and there are few laughs, but the quiet life of Pereira leading up to his act of defiance in Lisbon in the Salazar era (while Civil war rages in neighbouring Spain and Europe braces for a more general conflagration) contrasts with the violence with which he is wrenched out of inertia, and the whole novel feel more believable as a result.
Philosophically, it is more pragmatic than the other novel I've been reading ("36 Arguments for the Existence of God"), and it conveys its message more subtly, but ultimately more effectively without the intellectual fireworks. The only thing I didn't like - funnily enough - was the device of writing in what seemed at first like a police report style ("Pereira Maintains that..."), even in describing situations that would make absolutely no sense in that context. Although it gives the book its title, I'm sorry to say, every time it happened it just got on my nerves. I assume that it's a phrase that hasn't translated well from the writer's native Italian.
Philosophically, it is more pragmatic than the other novel I've been reading ("36 Arguments for the Existence of God"), and it conveys its message more subtly, but ultimately more effectively without the intellectual fireworks. The only thing I didn't like - funnily enough - was the device of writing in what seemed at first like a police report style ("Pereira Maintains that..."), even in describing situations that would make absolutely no sense in that context. Although it gives the book its title, I'm sorry to say, every time it happened it just got on my nerves. I assume that it's a phrase that hasn't translated well from the writer's native Italian.
oldwinenewwineskins's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Wow! I have no words after finishing this little gem! An absolute masterpiece! It has easily become one of my all time favourites. The themes it discusses are still relevant to date.
w_hitenoise's review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
seedwa's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Been a long time since a book left me with such a punch to the gut.
Rossi can be read as a child Pereira would have had with his deceased wife, after the noting of his age as being similar when talking to his wife’s portrait. The sheer tragedy of the loss as Pereira has just begun slowly taking him under his wing.. man. It’s written so simply and directly, which makes it profundity feel so masterful. The narrative structure of knowing it’s testimony without knowing what the testimony is for makes the light hearted sections feel so tense, and the lack of answers from the ending reflect the disorientation of fascism, of not knowing people’s fate. Definitely going to reread sometime.
jsmyers1848's review against another edition
4.0
An affecting portrait of a man trying to lose weight and find a niche as a minor intellectual in a country rapidly sliding into fascism. Not to sound hyperbolic, but it's difficult not to read some of the conversations the low-grade intelligentsia have in this book about the Estado Novo and see resonances with the things you have to think about working in higher education in a state that's trying to kill it. Tabucchi definitely wants us to see something particularly Portuguese in the idea of a mediocre man redeemed and inspired to heroism by a grief (a saudade, even) in which he's found sweetness.
chiaroscuraa's review against another edition
4.0
ci sono l'azzurro feroce di un giorno d'estate e Pereira che invece pensa alla morte. è la prima fotografia che si ha di questo giornalista vedovo e cardiopatico ingarbugliato nelle maglie di un passato felice, quello delle estati a Coimbra, di un azzurro doloroso perché non appartiene al presente. allora solo il passato sembra un tempo abitabile. pure le rubriche del Lisboa che dirige suggeriscono questo: "Necrologi" e "Ricorrenze" - il tempo che finisce e il tempo che ritorna.
ma poi arriva l'anomalia a sovvertire la ritualità infelice di questa vita, l'incontro con due giovani, che gli indicano l'altro movimento del tempo, che procede al di là di quanto ci si lascia alle spalle. ed ecco che il futuro diventa un tempo da frequentare, e prima non gli era mai venuto in mente. ora lo visualizza con chiarezza. gli è bastato il tempo di un'estate.
ma poi arriva l'anomalia a sovvertire la ritualità infelice di questa vita, l'incontro con due giovani, che gli indicano l'altro movimento del tempo, che procede al di là di quanto ci si lascia alle spalle. ed ecco che il futuro diventa un tempo da frequentare, e prima non gli era mai venuto in mente. ora lo visualizza con chiarezza. gli è bastato il tempo di un'estate.
carolynsoroka's review against another edition
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
eustachio's review against another edition
5.0
Ho una gran voglia di abbracciare un po' tutti: i personaggi, l'autore e l'amica che ha giustamente insistito perché lo leggessi.