Customer Reviews

Near to the Wild Heart

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This book was a choice for the reading group at my local bookstore. It is a Brazilian novel, written in 1944, when the author was only 19 years old. It's written in a stream-of consciousness style and covers the childhood and early adulthood of Joana, whose view of the world is one of sadness and introspection. There's a unique use of language and a few good moments but it was a struggle to read and, if it wasn't a reading assignment, I would have thrown the book in the garbage after the first few pages. There was just too much introspection for me and non-linear self-absorbed thought. Her inner life bored me completely and, even though she used language well, I was never moved. I was just bored.

That said, I must say that all the other members of the group, without exception, thought this was some sort of a masterpiece. Her angst-filled personality was meaningful to them, her words were unique expressions of wisdom. It was hard for me to believe how much they loved this book.

When I think about it the author did have a unique voice. She did use language in a way that evoked emotion. And there was a bit of literary art to it. But I never would have read it had it not be an assignment. And I really did hate it.