Customer Review:
Alentejo Blue is certainly a work of fiction which runs for just shy of 300 pages - but that isn't enough to make a novel. It's really more like a collection of short stories all set in the same rural Portuguese village. There is occasionally some wonderful use of language in the description, but this fails to make up for the fact that it just doesn't hang together. I can't help feeling that it would have been a more absorbing and satisfying read if more time and attention had been given to fewer characters, rather than skimming the surface and risking stereoptype and characature in the process. Or perhaps the range of characters and perspectives would work if there were a strong plot driving there interactions, but ultimately this is a book about a place where nothing happens. I hope Ali can pull something rather meatier out of the bag for her next offering.
301 pages

Sibeliusmuseo on vielä kamalampi bunkkeri kuin Helsingin Musiikkitalo. Museo edustaa betonibrutalismia kuten Järvenpään uusi kirkko. No, sisällä en ennättänyt käydä.
Kirja jäi ulos muovipussissa.
Lukuiloa löytäjälle!

Nimikirjainhaaste

Museohaaste

Nice collection of short stories entwined together. I enjoyed reading this book, it inspired me to start Brick Lane soon also. Well written novel.