From the Early Reviewers programme. I read the previous translation a few years ago, but since then I have lived in Portugal and so the book has a different relevance to me. This makes it hard to compare the books, as I am not the same reader.

The book takes place in 1938, Portugal is suffering under the dictatorship of Salazar, Spain is in the midst of a civil war and the Nazis are on the rise. Pereira is a journalist, someone who should know the real news stories, but he is like many people living under a regime, scared to put his head above the parapit to ask questions. This all changes one day when he reads an article about death, the article affects him so much that he has to find the author and meet him. It is his meeting with Monteiro Rossi, a young dissident, which starts him on a new path, one on which he begins to question the world around him.

The book put me in mind of the famous poem, "they came first for the Communists ..." As many others have done before and since him, Pereira could have continued on his path of ignorance, hiding in his translations of French literature. Monteiro Rossi is young, passionate and the son Pereira never had, I think this is what inspires Pereira to rebel.

Tabucchi really captures 1930s Lisbon and life under Salazar, this is a well-deserved entry on the 1001 list.

Thanks so much for your donation soffitta1!

This book is now part of the 1001-library. If you want to take this book from the library but don't know how to proceed, please refer to the 1001-library bookshelf.

Chosen by Katrinat from the 1001-Library UK VBB.

Thanks for sending this, when I saw it on the VBB I grabbed it as it wasn't one of the ones I've read. Having now read the synopsis I'm very excited to read it and its also perfect for a literary 'trip' around the world which I'm doing as I didn't have a book for portugal.

Read and enjoyed this all in one day, although I can't say I understood the political element as I know nothing about Portugal.
I enjoyed the way that the novel centred around a man who had such a sheltered life, and his various companions and aquaintances who were so involved and passionate about the politics of the time.
I've offered this up as a 1001 Bookring for library members only, just waiting to see how many responses I get.
Thanks for sharing.

Off on its travels 2 weeks after it was planned!

Bookray as follows - may change if more people join
Caroley
kingfan30
danielle
lucy-lemon
maraffimond

Then back to me

davemurray101 (aus -INTL)

Received today thanks.

I've one other bookring to read first but should get to this one fairly quickly.

I loved this! I liked the slightly quirky style in which it was written and I loved how the character of Pereira developed through the story.
I'm fairly ignorant of this period of history in Southern Europe so it was very interesting to read, and to learn something too.

Thanks for starting the bookring Katrinat. I've already contacted Kingfan30 and will be posting on shortly.

Posted to Kingfan30

Book has arrived safe and sound, will propably start it over the weekend.

30 April 2011 - well that didn't take long! I don't think I have ever read a book where the word maintains is used so often. It was an interesting read although I think I missed some of the political references due to not knowing much about it. I felt it almost read like a confesion and was expecting something bigger at the end because of this so felt a bit let down by that. Was going to pop it in the post today but the amount of people at the post office was just ridiculous so will do it in the week sometime. Thanks for sharing x

On its way to danielle

The book is here with me and I am just about to start reading it. Thanks for sharing katrinat and for posting it along kingfan30 xx

A great book! I loved how the character of Pereira and the plot began to develop faster towards the end of the novel. Very intriguing and it's correct that the book continues to develop in your mind even after you finish it. I also did not know very much about this period in history but I found it very interesting, a very deserving 1001 book. Thank you for sharing.

Will post this off as soon as I can get to the post office xx

Off to lucy-lemon, the next in line I hope you enjoy it xx