Books to Celebrate 50 Years of Freedom and Democracy in Portugal

On 25 April 1974, tanks took over the streets of Lisbon and carnations were put in gun barrels as a group of young military captains staged a coup. It became known as the Carnation Revolution and put an end to 48 years of dictatorship in Portugal, which consisted of seven years of a military dictatorship, followed by 41 years of the “Estado Novo” regime created by Salazar. The revolution was (almost) bloodless (four civilians were killed by the political police, having one of its officers also died) and became closely linked to the two songs that served as signals to the captains involved – “Depois do Adeus” by Paulo de Carvalho and “Grândola, Vila Morena” by José Afonso.

As we are now celebrating the 50 years of the revolution that overthrew the fascist regime in Portugal, I decided to recommend some appropriate books. However, as I can already picture some type of people eager to claim that the Portuguese dictatorship was not fascist, but “just” authoritarian and conservative, let’s take a quick look into the characteristics of the “Estado Novo” (“New State”) regime beforehand. 

Established by António de Oliveira Salazar in 1933, it created an authoritarian state, promoted a strong defence of nationalism and of the concept of homeland. There was only one party (“União Nacional”) with a militia (“A Legião Portuguesa”). The state exerted its repressive power via censorship, a political police force (the officers also had informers everywhere, who were popularly known as “bufos”) and the limiting of freedom of reunion. There was political propaganda and the cult of a leader (Salazar was promoted as a genius). Finally, there was a corporatist organisation of the working relations and society in general, meaning that free trade unions were forbidden, as were strikes, and that it was the economic corporations run by the state that negotiated with employees. All of these are also principles of the fascist ideology of Mussolini, whom at some point Salazar had a picture of in his office. Although the documents of the regime never directly mentioned fascism, the similarities are striking. There was also a lot of arm stretching, if you know what I mean, particularly before the end of the Second World War. In terms of differences, the “Estado Novo” regime was probably not as focused on militarism and there was a much stronger emphasis on Catholicism.  

‘A Noite’ by José Saramago

My rating: 4 stars

On this day fifty years ago, Portugal was still under a fascist (or fascist-inspired for the pedantic) regime. A Noite, a play written by José Saramago, is set on the night of the revolution that put an end to it in 1974. The action takes place solely in the building of a national newspaper linked to the regime and focuses on the reactions of the journalists and other workers to the events unfolding.

It’s the night of the 24th to the 25th of April. The lead editor of the newspaper, Abílio Valadares, phones to the censors’ office to know whether there are many cuts and changes required. Censorship doesn’t seem to bother him. He sends an employee to the office to collect the corrections needed and to take further news pieces for revision. While waiting, he has a conversation with the reporter responsible for parliamentary affairs about conspiracies and the imprisonment of intellectuals following a failed rebellion in the previous month.

The main people responsible for the newspaper are allies of the regime, but not all of the workers agree with that stance. While the director of the newspaper has just written an article about the cultural situation in Portugal that characterises him as a man of the regime, albeit one that wants to be ready for anything that may happen, Torres, the journalist responsible for the news of the provinces, is quite clearly one of the few in the newsroom who is against it. He is not interested in going up the career ladder, because that would require him to be complicit with the regime.

‘Small Things Like These’ by Claire Keegan

My rating: 4 stars

The title of Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan couldn’t have been more apt. In this affecting novella, which I read for Reading Ireland Month, and also in real life, too many people treated as unimportant or as undeserving of collective action occurrences that should have shocked everyone, even though small actions could have made a positive impact on the life of others. Sadly, it has taken too long for people to challenge one of the most corrupt and hypocritical institutions that has ever existed – the Catholic Church.

The main character, Bill Furlong, is a coal and timber merchant. His mother became pregnant with him when she was 16 years old. At the time she was working as a domestic for Mrs Wilson, who helped Bill throughout his life. His mother died when he was only 12 and he has never known his father’s identity. He is now married and has five daughters.

The action of the novella takes place during the weeks leading up to Christmas in Ireland. While Furlong’s wife focuses on all the preparations, he can’t help but to muse on his life. He doesn’t feel like he is achieving much, every day feels the same, he believes that he doesn’t spend enough time with his family. It also bothers him not knowing who his father is. When he goes to a convent to deliver coal, what he witnesses troubles him, as it was to be expected from an empathetic character. That portrayal is successfully achieved.

‘The Golden Fool’ by Robin Hobb

My rating: 4 stars

The Realm of the Elderlings is a fantasy world full of mysteries even for the characters who are part of it. Gradually, Robin Hobb gives readers more and more answers, though. The Golden Fool, the second book in the Tawny Man Trilogy, serves as a gripping bridge between the first (about which there will be some spoilers ahead) and the third books, while also introducing new characters, presenting new challenges and delving into extremism as a possible result of discrimination via the use of magical elements.

Fitz’s problems in this book are manifold. One of them is connected with his adoptive son, Hap, who thinks Fitz’s name is Tom Badgerlock. After recovering Prince Dutiful from Piebalds’ hands, Fitz goes to Jinna’s house to tell Hap that Nighteyes has died. The young man arrives drunk, but he still shows his sadness. Hap is not only struggling at his apprenticeship, but he is also becoming reckless, acting without taking possible consequences seriously, and is not accepting advices from those concerned about him. Fitz is afraid that he is making the same mistakes that he did.

When he is returning to Buckkeep castle, Fitz realises that the Piebalds are somewhere around and haven’t given up on their scheme for getting revenge and power. He believes that they want to use him to threaten the Farseer line. Soon another reason for concern presents itself, though. While going to Chade’s room to tell him of his worries about the Piebalds, Fitz spies on the Outislander princess that is to become Dutiful’s betrothed and discovers that she is not keen on having to marry the Prince in the future. Dutiful seems to have warmed to Fitz, whom he also believes to be Badgerlock, the servant of Lord Golden that is actually the Fool in disguise, and insists that he attends the betrothal ceremony.

Books by Irish Authors You Should Read

Do you want to take part in Reading Ireland Month, hosted by Cathy, but still don’t know what to read? Although March, the month to celebrate Irish authors, has already started, there’s still time to select a few books. I haven’t read many books by writers from the island of Ireland yet. However, as I enjoyed almost all of the ones that I read, I have five recommendations that are all very different from one another.  Some were written in recent years, others are classics. Hopefully one or two books will appeal to you, so you will either join us in this reading event or you will just add them to your wish list to read in the future.

One by One in the Darkness by Deirdre Madden

As One by One in the Darkness by Deirdre Madden goes back and forth in time, readers are introduced to a grieving family and learn more about the hardships that Northern Irish people experienced during the Troubles. The lives and tribulations of the characters are engrossing and their emotions, despite being presented in an understated way, are raw and impactful. In 1994, Cate decides to go back to her hometown in Northern Ireland for a while, in order to reveal important news to her family. She has two sisters, Helen and Sally. Their father was murdered two years before. Helen is struggling to overcome her grief.

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

A classic I need to reread at some point, The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde tells the story of a man who is terrified of losing his beauty. For that reason, he sells his soul so a picture of him ages and decays, while he retains his splendour and youth. He then adopts a libertine lifestyle that will end up having tragic consequences.

Reading Ireland Month is Coming

The time to celebrate books written by Irish authors is near. This March, Cathy from 746 Books will once again host Reading Ireland Month! She encourages us to read any type of books, between 1 and 31 of March, as long as their authors are from the island of Ireland. If we wish we can also theme our music-listening and viewing choices around this celebratory month.

I’m usually terrible at taking part in reading events and challenges, because I tend to never have the appropriate books at the right time. I only participated in Reading Ireland Month once before, two years ago, for example. This year, however, I was prepared and have, in fact, been eagerly waiting to take part in The Begorrathon, having ordered two books by Irish authors back in January.

My plan is to read the books by Irish authors mentioned below and also to try to watch some movies and TV series. Are you curious to know what my choices are?

Big Books Worth Your Time

Big books can be intimidating. Holding a large volume can lead to various questions. How long will it take to finish reading such a colossal number of pages? Will we regret spending weeks in the company of a book that ultimately may leave us unsatisfied? How many other books can we read during that time instead? It’s important to always remember ourselves, however, that reading is not a competition and a huge book can be a source of great enjoyment. It often allows us to be immersed in a complex story and feel like we know a group of characters intimately.

I have five books to recommend that are longer than 700 pages and that are worth all of the time you’ll spend reading them. They are not all pitch perfect. Their tiny limitations won’t make you want to give up on them, though.   

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke

A massive tome of around one thousand pages, Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke is an alternate history and fantasy novel that is hugely entertaining. Set in the 19th century, it has as main characters two practical magicians who are recruited to help in the war against Napoleon, while also having to deal with an amusing but dangerous fairy. The fantasy elements are complemented by an interesting examination on women’s rights, slavery and class disparities. Moreover, the book benefits from many visual descriptions and suggestive metaphors.

Books with Great Couples

This year, Valentine’s day felt like an unmissable opportunity to recommend books that feature great couples. The novels that I’m about to mention don’t include my favourite love stories (I wrote a post about them some years ago), but they revolve around characters who have interesting, engrossing, believable or compelling relationships (not all of them healthy) with others. Those connections can be either more long lasting or more fleeting. They won’t leave readers indifferent regardless.

Furthermore, these are books that, despite not being perfect, are worthy reads for a variety of reasons and not only because of the couples in them. It’s the books as a whole that I’m recommending and not just the relationships in them.

The King’s General by Daphne du Maurier

Taking place throughout various years in the 17th century, The King’s General by Daphne du Maurier follows two main characters, Honor Harris and Richard Grenville, while exploring themes connected with love, pride, disloyalty and acceptance. Although Richard has many faults, Honor falls in love with him. An accident leads to their separation, but they end up meeting again a few years later. Their interactions remain as entertaining and as engaging, despite them having grown older. While Honor is bold and rebellious as a young woman, never being afraid of speaking her mind, her experiences as an adult make her become undoubtedly perceptive. Richard is a multifaceted character, being both capable of humane and despicable acts. He is delightfully sardonic as well.

‘Poor Things’ by Alasdair Gray

My rating: 4 stars

When writing fiction, many authors endeavour to make readers forget that the story they are being presented with isn’t real. Alasdair Gray, on the other hand, consciously hoped that readers would question the veracity of everything that is part of Poor Things. It consists of a book penned by Dr Archibald McCandless in the 19th century but only unearthed in the 1990s, a letter by Victoria McCandless, and critical notes by Alasdair Gray, who claims to merely be the editor of the two previous writings.

Before becoming a writer, Dr Archibald McCandless was a house surgeon and a public health officer. He was from a poor family and only managed to go to medical school after his mother passed away, leaving him all of her savings. He struggled to make ends meet anyway. One of his professors told him that he would never be respected by his peers unless he dressed as if he came from a rich family or attended their gatherings. It was at medical school that he met Godwin Baxter, who had a piercing voice. He was the illegitimate son of a doctor and a nurse. His father educated him following only science.

McCandless once visited Baxter’s house and, while trying to make him reveal the concept of his late father’s discovery that he was trying to improve, told him that his colleagues thought that he was a harmless madman. Baxter ended up disclosing that he could replace parts of an animal with those of another. However, as he realised that they were never really friends to begin with and McCandless only spent time with him because the richer students didn’t want his company, he refused to tell him more and they parted ways.

Books Featuring Impactful Houses

The characters and the plot are more often than not the most memorable components of a book. There are sometimes, however, other elements that stand out as well, even if not as much as the other two. Some novels feature houses that serve not only as a mere setting for the development of the plot, but that also offer something extra to the story, like aiding in the creation of a specific ambiance, providing clues for what is to come, or some of its elements being essential for the actions of the characters.

There are five books that immediately come to mind when thinking about ones that comprise houses that play a significant part in the story. 

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

The unnamed narrator of Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier recalls throughout the book what happened after she married Maxim de Winter, whom she met in Monte Carlo. She had always been insecure, but that trait of her personality only got worse when she moved to Manderley, Maxim’s family home. She kept diminishing herself in comparison with his deceased first wife – Rebecca. Manderley plays an important part in this atmospheric and enthralling story. Not only does the novel start with a mention of a dream about the narrator returning to Manderley after the events about to be revealed, but the house also seems to be perceived as a representation of a picture-perfect life that may or may not be true.