Books Like...

"Baltasar and Blimunda" by Jose Saramago is a historical novel set in early 18th century Portugal during the reign of King John V. The story revolves around the King's vow to build a convent for the Dominican Order after the birth of his daughter Maria Barbara, who briefly becomes the heir to the throne. The novel delves into the hardships faced by the workers during the construction of the Convent of Mafra, showcasing the social injustices and religious cynicism prevalent during that era. The narrative follows the unconventional love story between Baltasar, a former soldier, and Blimunda, a woman with a unique ability, as they become entangled in the quest of a priest to build a flying machine, set against the backdrop of the auto de fe and religious absolutism.

Saramago's writing style in "Baltasar and Blimunda" is characterized by long, meandering sentences that provide a sense of unreality and strangeness to the narrative. The novel features elements of magical realism, offering a unique perspective on historical events and societal norms. Through his intricate storytelling, Saramago explores themes of love, religion, society, and dreams, weaving together a tapestry of characters and events that captivate readers with its wisdom, humor, and poetic prose.

The Land at the End of the World by Antonio Lobo Antunes is a poetic and vivid portrayal of the horrors of war, specifically focusing on the author's experiences during Portugal's colonial war in Angola. Through a series of hallucinogenic ramblings and disturbing visions, the narrator, a former soldier suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome, delves into the brutality, horror, and beauty intertwined in the war-torn landscape. The book is a descent into the depravity of war, capturing the internal and external torments faced by the doctor and other young men trapped in Angola.

Antunes weaves metaphor after metaphor, creating a non-linear narrative filled with dense and luscious detail that explores the multilayered settings of war. Through a poignant and harrowing writing style, the author paints a rich pastiche of Angola, blending poetry and terror to convey the existential horror experienced by those engulfed in the conflict. The story unfolds as a single heartfelt bitter poetic monologue, revealing the rancor, pain, and wisdom of a man haunted by his wartime experiences.

In "Two Nights in Lisbon" by Chris Pavone, Ariel Pryce finds herself in a desperate situation when her husband, John Wright, is kidnapped during a business trip to Lisbon. She is forced to secure a ransom from an old adversary, leading to a complex web of involvement from the local police, the CIA, and a journalist. The story unfolds as a fast-paced thriller with unexpected twists and turns, challenging the reader to uncover the truth behind Ariel's actions and motivations. The narrative style slowly reveals Ariel's backstory, building suspense until the final revelation, making it more of a puzzle to solve than a typical thriller.

The book delves into themes of power dynamics, hidden strengths, and the complexities of relationships, particularly focusing on the role of women as agents of change rather than victims. Through a noir tone and intricate plotting, Pavone crafts a narrative that keeps readers engaged and guessing until the very end. Despite being set in a familiar plotline, the story stands out for its unique perspective on MeToo revenge, where the protagonist takes control of her circumstances and navigates through a world filled with moral and physical evils.

The History of the Siege of Lisbon is a novel that follows the story of Raimundo Silva, a proofreader who impulsively changes a single word in a historical text, altering the course of history. The book interweaves the alternative history created by this change with a love story and explores the themes of rewriting the past, the power of language, and the transformative nature of love. The writing style is described as wordy and challenging, with long, swirling sentences that require careful attention but offer a unique and rewarding reading experience.

'The High Mountains of Portugal' by Yann Martel is divided into three parts, each telling a separate but loosely connected story of loss, grief, and faith. The stories are set in different time periods - early 20th century Lisbon, 1938 involving a pathologist, and modern-day Canada. The novel explores themes of love, loss, and connection, with a touch of magical realism. The writing style is described as light, charming, humorous, and lyrical, with a focus on human emotion intertwined with fantastic elements.

Pereira Maintains is a short novel set in 1938 Lisbon, following the life of Dr. Pereira, an aging journalist for an obscure newspaper. The story revolves around Pereira's gradual awakening and resistance against the fascist authoritarianism sweeping across Portugal and Europe. The narrative style is described as testimonial, akin to court reporting, providing a detailed insight into Pereira's character and his interactions with the changing political landscape.

'The Book of Disquiet: The Complete Edition' by Fernando Pessoa is a collection of fragmented thoughts and musings of fictional Portugese bookkeeper Bernardo Soares, one of Pessoa's heteronyms. The book is a diary-like account of Soares' existential reflections on life, literature, poetry, sensibility, and metaphysics, with no plot or story arc. Pessoa's poetic prose is described as beautiful and profound, with virtually every sentence being a gem. The book is best experienced by dipping into it over a long period of time, rather than reading it cover to cover, as it offers insights into the depths of human emotions and existential ponderings.

The writing style of 'The Book of Disquiet' is characterized by its rich expressiveness, introspective nature, and melancholic tone. Pessoa weaves together observation and introspection, creating a deeply existential and existentialist work that challenges readers to contemplate the imperfections of life and the struggle of living authentically. The book is a blend of diary, fiction, autobiography, philosophy, and poetry in prose, offering a unique reading experience that invites readers to reflect on the complexities of human emotions and the futility of longing for the impossible.

St. Petersburg by Andrei Bely is a complex and dense novel set during the first socialist revolutions in Russia in 1905. The story follows Nikolai Ableukhov, an anarchist revolutionary, as he attempts to plant a bomb in his father's study. The novel covers a period of about 24 hours and is known for its modernist narrative viewpoints, psychological slants, and political themes. The book is described as a 'father and son' novel as well as a story about revolution, with a touch of horror and comic absurdity. The unique writing style of the author creates a haunting and fascinating atmosphere that delves into the depths of abstract feelings and complexities.

In 'All the Names' by Jose Saramago, the main character, Senhor Jos, works as a clerk at a town registry holding records of mostly dead individuals. A chance misplacement of a death record leads him to develop an obsession for learning more about a dead woman he never knew, sparking a solo investigation into her life and circumstances around her untimely death. Despite the gloomy backdrop of Jos's constrained freedom and powerlessness, the narrative is dry yet thought-provoking, exploring themes of isolation, identity, and the struggle between order and chaos in a bureaucratic world.

In a frontier town of an imagined empire, the magistrate faces escalating conflict between the citizens and the government's soldiers, known as the "barbarians". The story, a fable with disturbingly real elements, evokes thoughts on conflicts and civilizations. The magistrate, a flawed character, grapples with understanding his tormentors while questioning his own role in the oppressive society.

The novel delves into themes of oppression, the struggle between oppressor and oppressed, and the complexities of the magistrate's character as he navigates his allegiance to the empire and his obsession with a barbarian woman. The writing style is described as lyrically written, reflecting on the magistrate's reflection on his life and society, revealing the internal conflict within him regarding his legacy and morality.