Henry’s review of The City and the Mountains > Likes and Comments

Henry,

This really is a fascinating review and Jacinto appears quite remarkable.

This part particularly stood out for me, for progress in mankind, achievements and aspirations if nothing else:

"The young man.Loved gadgets.Buying the latest ones.Whether they worked or not.Fascinated by machines.That Jacinto,with his vast riches.Had no trouble,acquiring.Telephones,telegraph machines,the phonograph. And finally, electricity,which functioned, occasionally.Technology,was his king...Jacinto's motto , "Absolute Knowledge X Absolute Power X Absolute Happiness". He even built.A telescope,on the roof.Of his mansion.Viewing the stars and planets.Many a night.Also books,30,000,Jacinto had.He liked them.Piled up to the ceiling.Growing like a fungus.Threatening to take over.The entire, enormous house.Unstoppable."

It's absolutely marvellous what this individual did and why has no-one else commented on it? I find it bizarre. Amazing...Books (he doesn't really have many does he? that's a shame), building a telescope (I have enough problems purely looking through mine), gadgets...

The description is super.

Lynne, Queiros is considered by many(including me).Portugal 's greatest writer.But he is not well known.In non -Portuguese speaking nations.

Well Henry you've convinced me and I'm been reading about this writer. Quite young when he died wasn't he?

Well I've purchased the book. I'm really looking forward to reading it. I think it's about ten down in the list but when I get it and if it "springs" out to me, well then I'll read it straight away! That's the beauty of books - choice!

Everyone complains about Amazon but I live miles from a decent bookshop and although I like reading in French as I live in France, I still prefer my own language, even though it will be a translation (hope it's a good one!) in this particular case.

Amazon delivers my books promptly and there's no postage to pay. If I were still in England, I would, of course, go to the nearest bookshop as browsing through books is such a pleasure for me.

Thanks again for the review Henry. Now I'll go back to bed for half an hour and have my black coffee laced with honey from our local apiarist. Bees are lovely, aren't they?

Yes,I agree.I noticed so many famous writers.From the past.Died of TB.Now it can be cured.Such a shame.All the unwritten books!

Henry, This book arrived in the post this morning and I cannot wait to start reading it this evening. The story looks super but it all depends on the writing style...

Henry, This book arrived in the post this morning and I cannot wait to start reading it this evening. The story looks super but it all depends on the writing style...

Hope you like it,Lynne.

Henry, This is an excellent book!

Glad.Lynne ,I am going to read more of his books.

Super!!!!

Thanks so much for introducing me to another new writer -- well, I mean, new to me.

Did you read this in English or the original Portuguese? I'm having trouble finding it in English in he Kindle format, and my Spanish won't be enough to help me read it in Portuguese, I fear.

Do my reviews in English, so read it in that language( a quirk).On Amazon, Margaret Jull Costa, does a fine job of translating, get new book for $6.38.

Even though 220 million people speak Portuguese and is the fastest growing language on the internet.

Wow, another great review of yours!!

Thanks,Aditi, the writer is not well known today, but is a great author.Portugal's best.

Henry wrote: "Even though 220 million people speak Portuguese and is the fastest growing language on the internet."

I've toyed with learning Portuguese, but I'm learning French this summer instead.

I've been told that there's a class that will help a Spanish speaker learn tolerable Portuguese in a semester, but it's at Indiana University in Bloomington, which, unfortunately, is two hours away. :-( So it's French for me.

Oh, wow! This brings me back to my school days! Great review, Henry. I had completely forgotten about this one...! Adding it to my list to hopefully re-read it soon.

Some say Portugal's greatest novelist, and I agree.

He might be! I have a thing for Saramago though, but since I haven't read Eça in so long (back in my school days), I think I'd be unfair to compare both right now...

I have to read Os Maias.

How can one be bored with 30,000 books?!

Some people need a purpose to live...

Marita, how I thank you for those nice words,Eca was a great writer.

Awesome review sweetie :)

Thank you my friend, it is good of you to say.

Very good review, Henry. I did not know Eca wrote this. I like Father Amaro and The Tragedy of the Street of the Flowers.

I think like many others that Eca is Portugal's greatest writer, read too Father Amaro, The Relic , and this one, The City and the Mountains. Will buy more of the novelist books, thanks Jim.