A mensagem que o autor pretende deixar com esta obra, tem uma intenção iminentemente crítica.
É através do paralelo entre duas personagens - Ped...
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May 19, 2009
Harry
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The Maias, by Eça de Queiroz/de Queirós, is a proper doorstop of a C19th novel, over 700 pages long. It’s late C19th, though, 1888. I was trying to think of apt comparisons, and none of them seemed exactly right, but it’s much more George Eliot or Tolstoy than Dickens. Or even early C20th novelists like Forster or Proust. Though the Proust comparison is not so much to do with style as subject matter: the romantic entanglements of wealthy, mildly bohemian society types.
Among the theme More...
Among the theme More...
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Oct 10, 2011
Célia
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Releitura
Decidi reler este livro porque sempre achei que a leitura obrigatória quando tinha 17 anos não me permitiu apreciar a obra em toda a sua plenitude. A minha pouca maturidade literária fez com que muitas referências sociais e culturais me passassem ao lado e ficou sempre a sensação que também não apreciei devidamente a escrita. Há algum tempo que queria fazer esta releitura, calhou agora.
"Os Maias" é um dos livros mais famosos da literatura portuguesa, amado More...
Decidi reler este livro porque sempre achei que a leitura obrigatória quando tinha 17 anos não me permitiu apreciar a obra em toda a sua plenitude. A minha pouca maturidade literária fez com que muitas referências sociais e culturais me passassem ao lado e ficou sempre a sensação que também não apreciei devidamente a escrita. Há algum tempo que queria fazer esta releitura, calhou agora.
"Os Maias" é um dos livros mais famosos da literatura portuguesa, amado More...
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Mar 17, 2010
Adriano
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Não pensava que iria gostar tanto deste livro.
Fala-se tanto, é tão conhecido que sempre deixei de lado a leitura completa desta obra porque involuntariamente pensava que nada me poderia espantar nesta história.
Como eu me enganei...
Adorei a Lisboa desta época, as personagens, a história. Apaixonei-me gravemente por Carlos, Maria, Ega, Afonso e tantos outros... As descrições tão criticadas pelos alunos que estudam esta obra, são despropositadas pois são a essência da obra: o br More...
Fala-se tanto, é tão conhecido que sempre deixei de lado a leitura completa desta obra porque involuntariamente pensava que nada me poderia espantar nesta história.
Como eu me enganei...
Adorei a Lisboa desta época, as personagens, a história. Apaixonei-me gravemente por Carlos, Maria, Ega, Afonso e tantos outros... As descrições tão criticadas pelos alunos que estudam esta obra, são despropositadas pois são a essência da obra: o br More...
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Aug 16, 2011
Liliara
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I had to read this book for school and... well... the story is well conceived. A romance between brothers, the typical forbidden love...
The story begins with the grandfather Afonso da Maia when he is still young, then we have a glimpse of the life of his only child Pedro da Maia and after his story we began our "real story" with the main protagonist, Carlos da Maia.
I'm not going to tell you the whole story, but with this book we have a clear image of Lisbon and his More...
The story begins with the grandfather Afonso da Maia when he is still young, then we have a glimpse of the life of his only child Pedro da Maia and after his story we began our "real story" with the main protagonist, Carlos da Maia.
I'm not going to tell you the whole story, but with this book we have a clear image of Lisbon and his More...
Aug 08, 2010
Donna Jo
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It's hard to say exactly what this book is about--it is sort of a 19th century equivilent of a buddy story--two friends, wealthy young Portuguese, drift through life falling in and out of amours and strolling through life.
But the story telling is delicious. It reminds me of Victor Hugo (who died just a few years before this book was first published) or of some of Tolstoy. The story waltzes along gently and suddenly takes a whimsical turn with a side of rollicking, falling back into the More...
But the story telling is delicious. It reminds me of Victor Hugo (who died just a few years before this book was first published) or of some of Tolstoy. The story waltzes along gently and suddenly takes a whimsical turn with a side of rollicking, falling back into the More...
May 18, 2011
Mariana
rated it:
HELL YEAHHH I FINISHED IT <3
Well, 1st of all 90... 95% of the persons (maybe 100%) who don't like maias don't have the vocabulary/maturity/education to understand it. I'm not saying they're dumb. Maybe they've tried to read it too soon or maybe they need more culture to understand it.
Being Portuguese_____________________________________
Being a portuguese student this book is part of my school program of portuguese for the 11th grade. Most of my classmates hate this bo More...
Well, 1st of all 90... 95% of the persons (maybe 100%) who don't like maias don't have the vocabulary/maturity/education to understand it. I'm not saying they're dumb. Maybe they've tried to read it too soon or maybe they need more culture to understand it.
Being Portuguese_____________________________________
Being a portuguese student this book is part of my school program of portuguese for the 11th grade. Most of my classmates hate this bo More...
Mar 09, 2011
Renata
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Terminei o livro e fiquei triste. Quem poderia prever?
O livro foi escrito de uma forma que não era para ter fim e sim continuar eternamente a descrever os fatos cotidianos da vida diletante dos fidalgos de Lisboa. O enredo, a trágica estória dos Maias, muitas vezes não passa de pano de fundo para se descrever hábitos e costumes, a criticar uma sociedade que se mostra prostrada, observando e admirando as outras culturas européias, perdida em sua tentativa de se equiparar a França (em More...
O livro foi escrito de uma forma que não era para ter fim e sim continuar eternamente a descrever os fatos cotidianos da vida diletante dos fidalgos de Lisboa. O enredo, a trágica estória dos Maias, muitas vezes não passa de pano de fundo para se descrever hábitos e costumes, a criticar uma sociedade que se mostra prostrada, observando e admirando as outras culturas européias, perdida em sua tentativa de se equiparar a França (em More...
Jun 11, 2009
Marian
rated it:
I wrote this when I had given up:
"I have to admit that I can't get into this book. I love Costas's translation--I've never read one of hers I didn't--but life is too short to be bored for so long. If you've read a few hundred novels in your life, you know more or less where this one is going, and the stereotypes suck all the air out of the room. I'm putting this back in my to-read queue. One day I may have the courage to delete it altogether."
But recently I More...
"I have to admit that I can't get into this book. I love Costas's translation--I've never read one of hers I didn't--but life is too short to be bored for so long. If you've read a few hundred novels in your life, you know more or less where this one is going, and the stereotypes suck all the air out of the room. I'm putting this back in my to-read queue. One day I may have the courage to delete it altogether."
But recently I More...
Sep 02, 2008
Núria
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'Los Maia' es una gran novela que acaba de una manera perfecta. Es uno de los mejores finales de toda la historia de la literatura. Después que la trama ya se ha resuelto en el penúltimo capítulo, el último capítulo es un epílogo en el que Carlos da Maia vuelve a Lisboa, diez años después de haberse marchado. Él y su amigo Joao da Ega recorren las calles y se encuentran viejas y nuevas caras: todo ha cambiado pero todo sigue igual. Los dos son y sobre todo se sienten más viejos. Conversan sobre
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Feb 07, 2008
Mariana
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Welcome to Portuguese 19th century society! Sit back and enjoy a throughly well written, critical, satirical, humoristic and surprisingly actual view of its virtues and flaws, its characters and habits, its morals and ideas - all by the hand (or should I say pen?) of the most extraordinary of Portuguese novelists and Realistic writers.
The Maias tells the story of a family - from Afonso da Maia (the great patriarch) to his son Pedro (who loves greatly and tragically) to Pedro's son, C More...
The Maias tells the story of a family - from Afonso da Maia (the great patriarch) to his son Pedro (who loves greatly and tragically) to Pedro's son, C More...
Jan 11, 2008
Naciulinda
rated it:
In Portugal. where I went to high school, this is required reading. It's a classic and a wonderful reflection of Portuguese "high" society at the time, and the critique in a lighthearted and at times humorous way. Although the author also "rubbed elbows" would the upper class, he used his experiences to narrate (changing the names) what he saw and lived, and when published, many were offended and upset as they read their lives being made a mockery of and secrets divulged. in
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Feb 09, 2010
Steve
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This novel is an account of nineteenth century Portuguese society’s attempts to balance its traditions with the cultural influences form the rest of the continent which are ever more holding sway over the country’s elite. The story centres on an heir to a respectable Lisbon family who has to navigate himself through the social mores and morality of the capital’s higher echelons whilst defending the family honour. Great social commentary but little substance in terms of plot.
Jul 29, 2010
Dalton
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Me lembro de ter visti a mini série que a Globo fez desta obra e ter adorado cada minuto. Mas a obra escrita, pareceu perder a graça por ter seu segredo revelado na tela. Por isso evitei le-la de lá para cá.
Sei lá eu porque resolvi este ano ler Os Maias. Embora eu soubesse como seria o desenlace, foi a trama que me apaixonou e é por ela que recomendo a leitura.
Afonso da Maia, meu personagem favorito, com sua sabedoria e cachimbo, com sua admiração pelos ingleses, com seu More...
Sei lá eu porque resolvi este ano ler Os Maias. Embora eu soubesse como seria o desenlace, foi a trama que me apaixonou e é por ela que recomendo a leitura.
Afonso da Maia, meu personagem favorito, com sua sabedoria e cachimbo, com sua admiração pelos ingleses, com seu More...
Aug 11, 2010
Kristin
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This is a beautiful book. I can't really even consider writing a solid review of it because I did not get to give it the time it deserves. The Maias and I got together during a very busy time. But, I am committing now to reading and enjoying this book again in the future.
What I will say is this book is an achievement. Many critics slot him in right next to Balzac, which I can certainly see--except I think stylistically that Queirós comes out on top. He feels much smoother to me and a More...
What I will say is this book is an achievement. Many critics slot him in right next to Balzac, which I can certainly see--except I think stylistically that Queirós comes out on top. He feels much smoother to me and a More...
Jul 12, 2011
Craig
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This is an absolutely formidable novel. The book itself is very big but you do not notice it because the story is so interesting that you just can't stop reading it. I have listened to an unabridged free audio book version of this book. It has a very good description of what the Portuguese society looked like in the 19th century which, to some extent, still applies today.
Apr 03, 2009
Ophelia
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As a realist novel, Os Maias is a sublime work of art. It really takes the mirror metaphor to a new level (Stendhal once wrote that a novel must be like a mirror walking down the road).
However, these same qualities make it an extremely boring read, since it's more a novel about life in XIX Portugal than a novel with a real, defined plot. That makes it tedious at times, and the 800+ pages don't help any.
However, these same qualities make it an extremely boring read, since it's more a novel about life in XIX Portugal than a novel with a real, defined plot. That makes it tedious at times, and the 800+ pages don't help any.
Dec 15, 2008
Laura
rated it:
...a little bit boring so far? but worth finding out what the portuguese version of the 19th century novel is like....
ok, i totally take it back! not boring at all. i think at first, i found it hard to reconcile the two prevailing tones in which the book is written: Votairian irony and a kind of light romanticism. it turns out to be really beautiful and affecting in the end. it really scratched my 19th century novel itch.
ok, i totally take it back! not boring at all. i think at first, i found it hard to reconcile the two prevailing tones in which the book is written: Votairian irony and a kind of light romanticism. it turns out to be really beautiful and affecting in the end. it really scratched my 19th century novel itch.
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Jul 24, 2008
Katherine
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a friend keeps recommending jose saramago to me. i don't think i'm smart enough for saramago but saramago calls this dude portugal's greatest novelist - so i think it's a worthy replacement for saramago.
the nyt review makes this novel sound like something of a socially conscious bodice-ripper, which appeals to me.
UPDATE: i didn't find this book to be terrible socially conscious, but it was conscious (and critical) of Polite Society. there is a definite kinship between w More...
the nyt review makes this novel sound like something of a socially conscious bodice-ripper, which appeals to me.
UPDATE: i didn't find this book to be terrible socially conscious, but it was conscious (and critical) of Polite Society. there is a definite kinship between w More...
Jan 10, 2012
Maria
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An emblematic romance by Eça, it shows how society's rules and the secrecy that veiled most "affairs" in the time of "Victorian" morals may end up in a shocking discovery...
Marvelously written, a picture of society and culture, a study into the psychology of a certain time frame...
Maria Carmo.
Marvelously written, a picture of society and culture, a study into the psychology of a certain time frame...
Maria Carmo.
Feb 22, 2011
Carvas
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Que história!
Não sei o que tem, tem momentos de seca completa, mas tem qualquer coisa que nos faz envolver na história.
Absolutamente brilhante. Compreendo bem porque é que os teenagers não gostam de o ler - é desmotivador. Mas quem se decide a ler não se vai arrepender.
Não sei o que tem, tem momentos de seca completa, mas tem qualquer coisa que nos faz envolver na história.
Absolutamente brilhante. Compreendo bem porque é que os teenagers não gostam de o ler - é desmotivador. Mas quem se decide a ler não se vai arrepender.
Mar 01, 2010
Myimaginariumspace
rated it:
Li no Secundário ...li-o 3 xs e chorei das 3 xs a minha mãe já perguntava "porque lês algo que te faz chorar?" é simplesmente um livro fascinante, li logo o mistério da estrada de sintra que tb me fascinou e pretendo lê-los todos! :)
Sep 27, 2010
Serenella
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I'm terrible at writing reviews, and I'm definitely not worthy of reviewing this book, but I just had to gush about it here. I read it years ago, and I still recall some of the passages, so gorgeously written it is. The story is also amazing: sad, yes, but incredible. Eça de Queirós is my favourite Portuguese novelist by far, and I consider this his masterpiece. The only thing I regret is that I've only read it once so far. Will definitely read it again at some point.
Mar 30, 2009
Kimi
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i read this in english, not portuguese, but i couldn't find the english edition i read on the goodreads list. it was translated by margaret jull costa, who translates javier marias' books. (and i really like her translations).
anyway, the first book i read by 'the best portuguese writer' according to saramago. i did really enjoy it but i spent too long on it (got distracted, lost thread, etc.). if you are going to read it (600 pages plus), then harold bloom and i really recommend the costa More...
anyway, the first book i read by 'the best portuguese writer' according to saramago. i did really enjoy it but i spent too long on it (got distracted, lost thread, etc.). if you are going to read it (600 pages plus), then harold bloom and i really recommend the costa More...
Apr 15, 2010
Sunlover
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im not aware if there's an english version of this book, but if there is, i comepletly recomend it! its a great story about The Maias, a high society family and about the portuguese reallity late 19 century.
Jun 10, 2011
Paula
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A argúcia e a fina ironia transportamnos para um mundo realista. As personagens modeladas e as circunstâncias envolventes levam-nos a um enredo envolvente.
Lê-se, relê-se e vai-se lendo.
Lê-se, relê-se e vai-se lendo.
May 19, 2010
Linda
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A sort of Dickens-James blend, set late 19th century Lisbon. The protagonists are of the extremely wealthy idle class in the historical when Portugal is slowly suffering the result of its centuries of political decadence and strict social stratification.
Jan 13, 2011
It's a very descriptive book on the beggining. Really good story, with a great twist. It was part of school reading, but I only read it when I felt the urge to do so.
Aug 19, 2011
Catarina
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Leitura realizada no âmbito da disciplina de Literatura Portuguesa e Português. É sempre desagradável ler algo por obrigação, mas este foi uma surpresa.
O inicio é algo aborrecido, mas, depois da descrição de toda a situação da família Maia, toma o seu ritmo e consegue descrever uma sociedade portuguesa que, depois de tantos anos, ainda se pode encaixar nestes moldes.
O inicio é algo aborrecido, mas, depois da descrição de toda a situação da família Maia, toma o seu ritmo e consegue descrever uma sociedade portuguesa que, depois de tantos anos, ainda se pode encaixar nestes moldes.
Oct 22, 2010
Borreicho
rated it: 
Read it for school. Hated it because it was an obligation. It's probably a great book, but I didn't enjoy it then and I don't think I'll read it ever again.
