When Mia's husband of 30 years demands a pause in their relationship – the Pause in question being clever, French, and younger than her by twenty years. It propels her into a brief but spectacular breakdown in a psychiatric unit, and thence to the Minnesota town of her childhood for a summer of recuperation. There she plans to spend time with her elderly mother, teach poetry to a group of pubescent girls, and see if the pause will become a full stop.This was a fast read but an old, tired story dressed up with a lot of vague references and big words. I felt disappointed in the ending as I saw it as a cop out. It had some good moments but the ending was cliche. This isn't really a review of this book so much as just a reminder to myself that I've read it (and maybe a thank you to the author for having written it). In all fairness, probably a four and a half, maybe even a four, but personal life turmoil has had me struggling to find a book that can hold me for more than a paragraph, and this one had me from the first page. This was a beautifully written novel, with literal good and bad poetry scattered throughout, ramblings about philosophy, gorgeously constructed sentences and a likeable narrator.People who know me well will tell you that I'm a book every couple of days type of person, I work in a book store and devour ARCs and published books like there is no tomorrow. (Incidentally, I sell books because I love them but have no hope of ever being able to write them, kind of like an art critic who knows what they like and why, but has no skill to draw anything more complicated than a stick figure). This book filled in the best part of a month's reading for me, only a few pages a night during a time that was really tough, its apparent simplicity, perfect phrases and pacing distracted and calmed me when not much else could. So apologies if you were hoping for a review to help you decide on whether to read or not, but for me, this was a case of picking up the exact right book at the exact right time.
What do You think about Verão Sem Homens (2012)?
Time heals all wounds...there are always alternatives around if we bother to look and discover...
—shiblool
Morsom bok. Men det gjelder også å holde tungen rett i munnen :)
—Rgoody
Riemastuttavan provokatiivinen, paikoin viisaskin kertomus.
—VeronicaKayyy
Nope. Too many poetry references. BORING!
—Sabrina
