The Hour of the Star (Penguin Modern Classics) Paperback – 6 Feb. 2014

This is a very short book that you could read in a single sitting, though it deserves a more sedate pace with time for reflection rather than a gallop. I will have to read more of her work as so far this is the only novel of hers that I have read. Maybe it was a mistake to start with the novel she published shortly before she died, but I can always re-read it after I’ve read more of her.One thing that struck me was that it was a novel that could have been twice as long, maybe five as long, giving us a complete portrait of the central character’s life. But maybe the author says everything that needs to be said about Macabea in barely seventy pages.There are layers here. A female author, a male narrator and a female protagonist. It will take me a while to understand why Clarise Lispector made those choices – not her gender, of course, but the genders of the narrator and the protagonist.Through the lens of this male narrator, Macabea seems to be having a miserable adult life after a miserable childhood. She works as a typist for a pittance. She shares a room with four other young women, but none of them are friends. She meets a worthless, dishonest (and murderous) boyfriend, Olimpico, who then casts her off in favour of her workmate, Gloria. Gloria then lends Macabea money to consult a seer who predicts marriage to the man of her dreams…..What seems like an awful, empty life turns out to be as precious as that of any other human, no matter how wealthy or powerful or happy.

Surreal and imaginatoryOpen conversation between author and her writingStunning story tellingEnigmatic and strangeBest to lose yourself in words

It took me a while to get into this, but the quality of the writing is of a very high standard and almost mezmorises the reader. Lispector's style is very unusual, at times strange, and I didn't always understand what she was trying to say. But Macabea is an original, sympathetic character, struggling to be happy and overcome poverty and a male dominated society. It's a rather bleak, depressing novel, but well written and highly original.

A short story of a writer telling the tale of Macabea, a young Rio slum typist who really has nothing going for her. At only just over 70 pages, I felt it really didn’t have time to develop. An very well written read though

"She Doesn't Know How To Scream" is one of the numerous subtitles for this novel. In a way, Lispector seems to be feeling that she ought to be screaming, or someone should, yet, also, there is something to be said for the inner life that experiences the shots and pangs before the cry out loud. It is here in this void, Lispector often dwells, questioning the empty spaces."I have to add a little something that's very important for understanding the narrative: that it's accompanied from beginning to end by a very slight and constant toothache, something to do with chipped enamel. I also guarantee that the story will be accompanied by the plangent violin played by a thin man right on the street corner. His face is narrow and yellow as if he'd already died. And maybe he had."And there's humour. And there's a jaunty curiosity in all things mundane to spectacular (explosion). It's poetic in its vision, its close ups of small and giant things, yet not pretentious, nor purposely abstract. Though it does have mysterious moments when the words don't all together mean in an obvious way - but they impart something. Something of our condition, the things under the surface life of human beings.It exudes intimacy with subject and reader. And warmth. It breathes with truths but not ones you could write down on a list. The enigma of life is right here.

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Clarice Lispector is one of my favourite writers and this, one of her best works but this translation is definitely not my favourite.

Clarice Lispector is amazing as always - you can read the book as many times as you want there will always be something new