Sunday 31 August 2014

Manual of Painting and Calligraphy: A Novel by José Saramago

Here we are with my other favorite writer: Saramago.
The love for him grew really in the last couple of years and I wonder how I could have ignored him for so long!

The way he can enter the human brain is fascinating, and at times, quite scary.

This book came with me on holiday, and I am sorry for it 'cause I couldn't give the right concentration and time that Saramago always deserves!

This is the story of a so-called-painter, Mister H, specialised in portrait of rich families. Mister H is perfectly aware of his poor skills and his poor ability so he decides to try another form of art, writing.
In the way from a white canvas to a white page he slowly discover himself in a personal and artistic growth.

Must say, not the best reading of Saramago I did. The first few pages I barely recognised his style; but I discover this was one of his first book, so clearly he had still not found his unique style. Said that, the book get very interesting after the first part and toward the end I couldn't stop reading it, as it happen always with Saramago's book.

Therefore, it wouldn't be the first book I'd recommend for this writer, but if you already love him, like me, you would still enjoy the reading quite much.

Friday 8 August 2014

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

Charlie is a little kid born in a very poor  and simple family. Despite his poor destiny he has the eyes full of dreams and hope for the future.
One day he wins the Golden Tickets that opens for one day for him and his Granpa the gate for a great adventure inside the marvelous Willy Wonka's Factory

This is the classic children book of all times. I always wanted to read it and I finally did in a long wait to the dentist.

It is almost impossible to read the book without thinking of Johnny Depp and the great interpretation he did in the movie adapted from the book. It is also quite hard to read the songs of the Oompa-Loompas without trying to give them a singing tone.

A nice, magic reading! I am gonna watch the movie soon again!

Saturday 2 August 2014

The little hero by Crofts Andrew

This is the true story of  Iqbal Masih. We are in Pakistan where Iqbal is forced into slavery in a carpet factory in order to pay a never-ending family debt. With courage and determination Iqbal free himself from this situation and join the Bonded Labor Liberation Front, with the intent of studying to liberate the other thousands kids in slavery situations in his country.

Iqbal became an internationally renowned opponent of child and slave labor and, with his charisma and determination, he helped to save many children from slavery.

The story and the reality don't have a happy end for Iqbal but his life opened the eyes to a big problem of our society.

Here you can find more info about him and here you can find a very well done comic strips about his life.

The book is intense and very touching and makes you think a lot.
How many of the things we buy on a daily basis are done by kids forced to labor? How much are we contribuiting to the kid's slavery? Those are questions that should be addressed more carefully from each of us and we should demand a more clear labeling of the product we buy.
No more Iqbal should be forced to work!!!!