3/5 stars

What's it about? Lóri, a reclusive teacher, undergoes a transformation to embrace life and love under the tutelage of philosophy professor Ulisses. An introspective, romantic awakening.

How’d I find it? I recently went to Portugal and have been amassing works originally written in Portuguese to keep the vacation going. This book was a recent pick by Catherine Lacey’s Irregular Book Club.

Who will enjoy this book? If you enjoyed the feel of The Lover by Marguerite Duras or the 2009 film An Education, you might like this one.

What stood out? This being my first taste of Lispector’s work, I admit that I struggled to spend so many pages in the company of tedious Lóri. She may be on a journey to find joy, but this reader was rooting for her to shed some gender binaries. Why are we listening to Ulisses? That said, the writing is outstanding, and I understand why people worship at the altar of Lispector. I shall try another!

Which line made me feel something? “The heart must present itself alone to the Nothing and alone beat out in silence its palpitations in the shadows. You can only sense your own heart in your ears. When it presents itself completely naked, it’s not even communication, it’s submission. For we were only made for the little silence, not for the silence of the stars.”