review copy

I found Alentejo Blue to be a powerful and moving novel (actually a collection of interconnected short stories set together to form a complete novel.) What I enjoyed most about this novel is the format. By telling the short stories in the voices of various characters, one is able to see the lives of the people of Alentejo from the perspectives of many of the townspeople.

The characters speak of their experiences and lives as seen through their own eyes, and yet by overlapping the tales and characters, the reader is given the opportunity to see how personal interpretations can often be tainted by each individual’s experience.

Ali’s descriptions of the town are so vivid that I could envision the surrounding landscape, almost feel the air, and I could easily place the characters in the scene. The characters are well-fleshed and believably human. The dialog always sounds unforced and accurate to each character.

While reading this, I was reminded of the short stories of Hemingway. Now, it's common knowledge that I hate reading Hemingway; however, I've never discounted the literary value of his work. I simply don't enjoy it. I didn't enjoy this novel, either. But I'm not sure that I was meant to enjoy it, so much as I was meant to experience it. Which I did, vividly.

This review is somewhat (very) disjointed, but I'm having a difficult time reconciling that "This was a very good book-but I didn't enjoy it."

I'll probably come back and edit this entry when the book "settles" in my mind.

I'm offering this up as a ring.