Customer Reviews

Yellow Sofa (New Directions Classics)

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I was completely unaware of Eca De Queiros prior to reading this book. He is an excellent writer - although this is a slim volume it successfully moves it characters through a number of changes and emotions as a marriage unravels in infidelity. The portrayal of the emotions, their "wallop", will remain with you long after you've finished the novel and the plot line is forgotten - in this sense, those who read for the quality of the writing may enjoy this book more than those who read for action and plot.

A terse novel published posthumously 25 years after the author's death. While not his best work, it does seem to capture a recurrent theme in many of his works -- the rejection of Victorian-era morality and propriety. De Quieros probes the subjects of marital infidelity, betrayl, honor, forgiveness and reconciliation in 112 pages! This is an enjoyable, quick primer to De Quieros. By all means pick this up and follow it with The Illustrious House of Ramires and/or The Relic...Happy Reading.

This is the first of Eca de Queiros that I have read. His style is economical, his writing seems almost effortless. Likewise, his selection of details packs meaning. This is not a perfect book, but highly enjoyable in the way that fine improvisation satisfies.