Thank you for your analysis! I am looking forward to reading this new translation (I tried the old translation and did't get far with it). I was introduced to this writer through the movie made from this book. The movie (same title as book) is on RUclips for free, and it is a wonderful movie! With some notable Brazilian actors and actresses. I highly recommend it. I was introduced to the MOVIE through a Brazilian woman who I dated briefly. It was a wonderful experience watching it with her. I know sometimes movies made from books don't live up to the reader of the book's expectations. I have not actually read the book yet, but certainly will. In any case, I think this movie is perhaps one of those rare cases where the movie DOES do justice to the book.
I'm a major in literature written in portuguese, and have studied quite a lof of Lispector's work in college classes. Having said that, I truly believe you have pinpointed something very true and special about her narrative style, that being that we should'nt accept everything Rodrigo S.M. says about Macabea because he seems to be subjectively unprepared to understand and to read trough Macabea's unique and intriguing soul. You should totally grab that and maybe write something out of it; it could be great! Also, just discovered your channel right now and already am subscribing! Hoping to see more amazing reviews like this one! xx
I just finished this book today! Clarice is really a beautiful writer, every single sentence she writes could almost be a story in itself. If you ask a bunch of people to interpret one of her lines, I dont think the meanings would be the same for each person. But somehow they’re all still correct. I’ve just subbed to your channel, as someone whos still trying to figure out what type of books I like to read, I think translated literature is really fascinating :) getting to know other cultures through their books.
I felt SO engaged in the story. I was constantly contemplating our narrator and interacting with his perspective and how he described this sweet girl (I love her and wanted to just hold and protect her). I was often going back and forth with him on the page. I’ve truly never experienced that in fiction before.
i read Agua Viva and feels like she can perceive a lot of different realities. all entities and objects are bleeding in and out in front of her eyes...
Awesome video Derek. I just finished this. I might read it again after hearing your thoughts...‘Luxury of soul’...Ya that had me 😧👏🏻 Tried anything else by her yet? Cheers
Yes, this book was completely mind-boggling and enthralling to me. Almost everything you said and tried to describe was also what I perceived and took from this book. Though I didn’t even know how to verbalize any of it. It was so interesting, unlike ANYTHING I’ve ever come across. Thanks for the good video!
I’ve only read her debut novel, Near to the Wild Heart, but I totally agree that it’s very difficult to describe her writing. It’s definitely a disorienting yet captivating experience. This one is on the #100BestWIT list, so I’m hoping to get to it soon. I’m also very interested in The Passion According to G.H.
That's interesting we've read the bookends of her career. This book felt like a completely in control author - totally at the top of her game. I loved it.
@@derekmainereads You should read The Passion...it's an eerie, horrifying, spiritual book - the language is a little more impenetrable than HOTS in my opinion, but many of the same themes pop up. With regards to your wish to study it in class, I'm doing it with my Grade 12 language and literature class. I think you touched on the thin line Lispector walks between comedy and seriousness. The narrator and Olympico are both satirized for their machismo, classism and racism (self inspired I might add as they are also from the Northeast of Brazil) - the irony being their inability to realize their wishes. Despite professing a love of 'hard facts' the narrator can't really get a grasp on his main character, and constantly questions himself. However as Macabea slowly gains an identity (through language she finds a voice - though she can't type or understand language at the beginning, by listening to the clock radio she starts to wrestle with it at least), she takes on an almost saintly quality that is stated outright at one point. Her death, though a cruel twist of fate, attains the quality of a rebirth in the end (she draws herself into the fetal position and become 'herself', whilst the language becomes almost mystic). This seems to chime with the spiritual view Lispector takes of the universe and the experience of breaking down imagined reality. Of course, the very final word of the novella is 'Yes', and as the opening paragraph suggests one molecule says yes to another molecule, despite the prehistory of the prehistory (can't quite remember the exact wording!), so her death evokes at once a definite beginning whilst acknowledging her life before. Of course, so much is open to interpretation. A unique writer to say the least!
I will go for The Passion next. Thanks for that run down of The Hour and the Star - it’s incredibly illuminating and honestly exactly what I was looking for.
@@joaov.m.oliveira9903The late American poet Elizabeth Bishop (1911-1979), who lived many years in Brazil, preferred Lispector's short stories to those by Jorge Luis Borges.
I read her acceptance of life as her choosing a stoic path. She is wholly grounded in her own sense of reality and this of course is from the perspective of the unreliable narrator.
Thank you for your analysis! I am looking forward to reading this new translation (I tried the old translation and did't get far with it). I was introduced to this writer through the movie made from this book. The movie (same title as book) is on RUclips for free, and it is a wonderful movie! With some notable Brazilian actors and actresses. I highly recommend it. I was introduced to the MOVIE through a Brazilian woman who I dated briefly. It was a wonderful experience watching it with her. I know sometimes movies made from books don't live up to the reader of the book's expectations. I have not actually read the book yet, but certainly will. In any case, I think this movie is perhaps one of those rare cases where the movie DOES do justice to the book.
I'm a major in literature written in portuguese, and have studied quite a lof of Lispector's work in college classes. Having said that, I truly believe you have pinpointed something very true and special about her narrative style, that being that we should'nt accept everything Rodrigo S.M. says about Macabea because he seems to be subjectively unprepared to understand and to read trough Macabea's unique and intriguing soul. You should totally grab that and maybe write something out of it; it could be great! Also, just discovered your channel right now and already am subscribing! Hoping to see more amazing reviews like this one! xx
thank you! I need to read more Lispector. Glad you enjoyed.
Yes. I’m Brazilian so I read them all in Portuguese. The Passion According to GH is a must. My favorite book ever. I also love Água Viva.
I just finished this book today! Clarice is really a beautiful writer, every single sentence she writes could almost be a story in itself. If you ask a bunch of people to interpret one of her lines, I dont think the meanings would be the same for each person. But somehow they’re all still correct.
I’ve just subbed to your channel, as someone whos still trying to figure out what type of books I like to read, I think translated literature is really fascinating :) getting to know other cultures through their books.
I felt SO engaged in the story. I was constantly contemplating our narrator and interacting with his perspective and how he described this sweet girl (I love her and wanted to just hold and protect her). I was often going back and forth with him on the page. I’ve truly never experienced that in fiction before.
I feel so happy that Brazilian writers are being recognized
i read Agua Viva and feels like she can perceive a lot of different realities. all entities and objects are bleeding in and out in front of her eyes...
That's exactly how I feel about Clarice.
I forgot to mention the Apple in the dark.
I recommend ÁGUA VIVA ('living water' or ' jellyfish in Portuguese).
Awesome video Derek. I just finished this. I might read it again after hearing your thoughts...‘Luxury of soul’...Ya that had me 😧👏🏻
Tried anything else by her yet?
Cheers
Thanks! Tried The Chandelier a couple times but haven’t been able to get very far. I need to stumble upon something else of hers for sure and try it
Yes, this book was completely mind-boggling and enthralling to me. Almost everything you said and tried to describe was also what I perceived and took from this book. Though I didn’t even know how to verbalize any of it. It was so interesting, unlike ANYTHING I’ve ever come across. Thanks for the good video!
“The passion according to G.H., “her masterpiece; but also Really great are her novel “ água viva” and her book of short stories “Family ties “
Clarice is truly a genius
Clarice Lispector, the woman who got lost on her way from her kitchen to the living room…
I’ve only read her debut novel, Near to the Wild Heart, but I totally agree that it’s very difficult to describe her writing. It’s definitely a disorienting yet captivating experience. This one is on the #100BestWIT list, so I’m hoping to get to it soon. I’m also very interested in The Passion According to G.H.
That's interesting we've read the bookends of her career. This book felt like a completely in control author - totally at the top of her game. I loved it.
@@derekmainereads You should read The Passion...it's an eerie, horrifying, spiritual book - the language is a little more impenetrable than HOTS in my opinion, but many of the same themes pop up. With regards to your wish to study it in class, I'm doing it with my Grade 12 language and literature class.
I think you touched on the thin line Lispector walks between comedy and seriousness. The narrator and Olympico are both satirized for their machismo, classism and racism (self inspired I might add as they are also from the Northeast of Brazil) - the irony being their inability to realize their wishes. Despite professing a love of 'hard facts' the narrator can't really get a grasp on his main character, and constantly questions himself. However as Macabea slowly gains an identity (through language she finds a voice - though she can't type or understand language at the beginning, by listening to the clock radio she starts to wrestle with it at least), she takes on an almost saintly quality that is stated outright at one point. Her death, though a cruel twist of fate, attains the quality of a rebirth in the end (she draws herself into the fetal position and become 'herself', whilst the language becomes almost mystic). This seems to chime with the spiritual view Lispector takes of the universe and the experience of breaking down imagined reality. Of course, the very final word of the novella is 'Yes', and as the opening paragraph suggests one molecule says yes to another molecule, despite the prehistory of the prehistory (can't quite remember the exact wording!), so her death evokes at once a definite beginning whilst acknowledging her life before. Of course, so much is open to interpretation. A unique writer to say the least!
I will go for The Passion next. Thanks for that run down of The Hour and the Star - it’s incredibly illuminating and honestly exactly what I was looking for.
@@derekmainereads
Her short short stories are the main part of her ouevre on my opinion... A very funny writer also.
@@joaov.m.oliveira9903The late American poet Elizabeth Bishop (1911-1979), who lived many years in Brazil, preferred Lispector's short stories to those by Jorge Luis Borges.
I read her acceptance of life as her choosing a stoic path. She is wholly grounded in her own sense of reality and this of course is from the perspective of the unreliable narrator.