The Natural Order of Things [Hardcover]

Antonio Lobo Antunes (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: Henry Holt & Co (September 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805057609
• ISBN-13: 978-0805057607
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,894,192 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Magical realism and insight into ourselves, January 22, 2000

By 

[e-mail] (Drammen, Norway) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Natural Order of Things (Hardcover)

This is Antunes' second book in his so-called "Benfica trilogy". It is a strange and haunting story about a family and their surroundings during three generations, and Antunes tells us about their inner lives and their deepest feelings. Despite the surreal and tragic settings of his characters, the author manages to convey a genuine feeling of compassion in his story (or rather, stories). This is truly a tragedy in a dark landscape. But it is all so beautifully told! A wonderful book it is, and I recommend it to all book lovers who are willing to put in an effort. I believe this is one of this century's great books. It may seem confusing at times - Antunes uses parallel monologues and stories throughout the book - but it all adds up, as they say. Read it, and you'll see - it really is strange to be so happy after reading such a sad story!

14 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A superbly crafted, totally engaging novel., April 4, 2000

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Natural Order of Things (Hardcover)

In The Natural Order Of Things, Antonio Lobo Antunes tells the story of two families and the secrets that inextricably bind them. The finely tuned, vividly articulate voices and memories of his characters present a dreamlike reality that resonates in the mind and imagination of the reader: an army officer tortured in prison on charges of conspiracy; an elderly man, once a miner in Mozambique, now reduced to dreams of "flying underground"; a diabetic teenage girl and the middle-aged husband she despises. These and other elements combine to create a portrait of a disintegrating society and the history of Portugal as a family history. The Natural Order Of Things is ably translated from the Portuguese by Richard Zenith.

5.0 out of 5 stars The power of language, May 16, 2009

By 

Liselott Johnsson - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Natural Order of Things (Paperback)

Antonio Lobo Antunes is a magician. His prose is creative and evocative. The convoluted story is rich in vivid metaphors and the images created are extraordinary. At times, he soars.