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Loading... Alentejo Blue (original 2006; edition 2007)by Monica Ali (Author)
Work InformationAlentejo Blue by Monica Ali (2006)
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Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. No current Talk conversations about this book. An intriguing exploration of a small community and the passers through in a rural Portugese village. Characters are carefully given their own narrative which is finally woven in to the final scenes. Excellent read. ( ) Monica Ali's touch is subtle in this portrait of a small Portuguese community where jealousy, envy, and an abundance of petty resentments, follies and vices afflict natives and visitors alike. Ali's talent lies in her ability to get inside the heads of a cast of dissimilar characters--young, old, male, female, Portuguese, English--and convincingly depict their hopes and dreams, passions and obsessions. Unfortunately the story is somewhat less than totally engaging. Some of the characters never fully emerge from the shadows and their motives remain obscure. But Ali's exquisite prose is always readable and leavened by welcome touches of humor. Very skillfully written. Mature writing that one expects from a seasoned author - so it comes as a surprise to see a relatively young one to achieve such level (Ms. Ali was not even 40 when this book was published). It's a story of a remote village in Portugal, its residents, some expats that live there, and some tourists passing by. Each chapter is devoted to one of them or a couple, and the insight into their idiosyncrasies and quirks is amazing. Along with fiction characters, there is a sprinkling of Portugal's history as well. Plus a revelation for me - Alentejo region of Portugal has the world's greatest plantations of cork trees. This is my 3rd book by Monica Ali (the other two being "Brick Lane" and "In the Kitchen"), and I must say, the author's versatility, knowledge of the subject at hand, as well as unique style in each of the novels made quite an impression. Delighted to find this in the second-hand shop, having really enjoyed Brick Lane. This is more varied, following the various inhabitants of a small community in Portugal - Portuguese and ex-pat. Unfortunately it's harder work to read - some of the chapters were so opaque I still haven't got a clue what was going on. Others featured characters drawn with such skill and wit (the Potts family, particularly, the worst types of ex-pat all rolled into one squalid mass) that it was a shame to have to leave them to move on to someone else. Having finished the book I'm not really left with a feeling of wholeness or a central message. It read like a series of short stories only loosely connected - a bit like Trainspotting but not as funny. no reviews | add a review
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This is the story of a village in Portugal, told through the lives of men and women whose families have lived there for generations and some who are passing through. For Teresa, a beautiful girl not yet twenty, Mamarrosa is a place from which to escape. For the dysfunctional Potts family, it is a way of running from trouble. Vasco, a café owner who has never recovered from the death of his American wife, clings to a notion that his years away from the village, in the States, make him superior. One English tourist fantasizes about making a new life here; for her compatriots, a young engaged couple, this is where their dreams fall apart. The village awaits the homecoming of its prodigal son, now a symbol of the fast-changing world. When he finally returns, villagers, tourists, and expatriates are brought together, and their jealousies and disappointments inevitably collide.--From publisher description. No library descriptions found. |
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Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)823.92Literature English English fiction Modern Period 2000-LC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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