I’ve tried to write this review several times but none were satisfactory. I’ve decided there are too many interesting facets of Lispector’s story to include and do justice to in a short review; that it is better to keep it simple and instead urge people to read it for themselves. This is the first novel I’ve read by Clarice Lispector but I am eager to read many more; she has a powerful and unique voice.
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The Hour of the Star is a tale of a girl called Macabéa who has every reason to be unhappy, but isn’t. At the hands of a cruel fate, she ploughs on, oblivious to how sad her life is, listening to the radio clock and drinking coca-cola. We are touched by both her innocence and ignorance; through her pitiful existence we contemplate our own humility and gratefulness for what we have, as well as how we treat others who have less than ourselves. For such a short book, it encapsulates a lot of life and the human condition. This is a book and a character that will leave an impression - highly recommended! ( )

A dark story told in a rich, lengthy, and somewhat frustrating tone. Striking, nevertheless. ( )

A most unusual, beautifully written story. ( )

É, realmente, um soco no estômago. Com a velocidade de um Lomachenko e a potência de um Sam Langford: “When Sam hit me to the body, I looked behind me to see if his fist had come out the other side”.

Pois, se o estilo é o homem, não foi só punho, mas Clarice inteirinha me atravessou, peito, veias, até às cordas vocais. Um soco estranhíssimo, em que alguém lhe diz quando, como e onde lhe golpeará, narra enquanto o faz, e, ainda sim, saber tudo isso em nada o alivia ou o prepara para o derradeiro — talvez o torne até torne mais incisivo.

"E agora — agora só me resta acender um cigarro e ir para casa. Meu Deus, só agora me lembrei que a gente morre. Mas — mas eu também?!
Não esquecer que por enquanto é tempo de morangos.
Sim."

Feliz dia das mães. ( )

That was not at all what I was expecting. Lovely philosophy and investigation of story-telling. I'm going to think about it for a while now.