Only at an advanced level. Clarice Lispector's A Hora da Estrela is short, but its strange, self-questioning narration is hard work, so read it for the writing and not because its length makes it look like an easy novel.
- Level
- Advanced
- Format
- Book
- Year
- 1977
Why it works for learners
What you gain here is an encounter with one of Brazil's most distinctive literary voices. The narrator keeps stopping to doubt, comment and circle around the act of telling. That teaches you to follow reasoning in Portuguese, rather than just events. Set among poor migrants from the northeast in Rio, it also shows you a side of Brazilian society. Its short length means you can read it twice, which this book rewards.
What makes it hard
Short does not mean simple. Sentences break conventions, the tone shifts between irony and pity, and abstract reflections can run for pages before the story resumes. You may understand each word and still not know where the narrator is heading, and that is partly the point.
How to use it
Read a few pages at a sitting, then write what the narrator seems to be doing, in a sentence. Do not expect a plot at first. If you lose the thread, press on and reread later. A second reading will be far more rewarding.
More for Portuguese learners: our Portuguese guides.
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