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O Desejo de Kianda
«João Evangelista casou no dia em que caiu o primeiro prédio. No Largo do Kinaxixi. Mais tarde procuraram encontrar uma relação de causa a efeito entre os dois notáveis acontecimentos. Mas só muito mais tarde, quando a síndroma de Luanda se tornou notícia de primeira página do New York Times e do Frankfurter Allgemeine. Aliás João Evangelista casou às cinco da tarde, na Conservatória do Kinaxixi, e o prédio caiu às seis. A existir relação, parece claro ser o casamento a causa e nunca o suicídio do prédio. O problema é que as coisas nunca são tão límpidas como gostaríamos.» Pepetela, Prémio Camões 1997
119 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
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About the author
Pepetela
44 books231 followersArtur Carlos Maurício Pestana dos Santos is a major Angolan writer of fiction. He writes under the name Pepetela.
A white Angolan, Pepetela fought as a member of the MPLA in the long guerrilla war for Angola's independence. Much of his writing deals with Angola's political history in the 20th century. Mayombe, for example, is a novel that portrays the lives of a group of MPLA guerrillas who are involved in the anti-colonial struggle, Yaka follows the lives of members of a white settler family in the coastal town of Benguela, and A Geração da Utopia reveals the disillusionment of young Angolans during the post-independence period. Pepetela has also written about Angola's earlier history in A Gloriosa Família and Lueji, and has expanded into satire with his series of Jaime Bunda novels. His most recent works include Predadores, a scathing critique of Angola's ruling classes, O Quase Fim do Mundo, a post-apocalyptic allegory, and O Planalto e a Estepe, a look at Angola's history and connections with other former communist nations. Pepetela won the Camões Prize, the world's highest honour for Lusophone literature, in 1997. Pepetela is a Kimbundu word that means "eyelash," as does "pestana" in Portuguese. The author received this nickname during his time fighting with the MPLA.
A white Angolan, Pepetela fought as a member of the MPLA in the long guerrilla war for Angola's independence. Much of his writing deals with Angola's political history in the 20th century. Mayombe, for example, is a novel that portrays the lives of a group of MPLA guerrillas who are involved in the anti-colonial struggle, Yaka follows the lives of members of a white settler family in the coastal town of Benguela, and A Geração da Utopia reveals the disillusionment of young Angolans during the post-independence period. Pepetela has also written about Angola's earlier history in A Gloriosa Família and Lueji, and has expanded into satire with his series of Jaime Bunda novels. His most recent works include Predadores, a scathing critique of Angola's ruling classes, O Quase Fim do Mundo, a post-apocalyptic allegory, and O Planalto e a Estepe, a look at Angola's history and connections with other former communist nations. Pepetela won the Camões Prize, the world's highest honour for Lusophone literature, in 1997. Pepetela is a Kimbundu word that means "eyelash," as does "pestana" in Portuguese. The author received this nickname during his time fighting with the MPLA.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
March 11, 2021
اعتراف میکنم وقتی این کتاب رو توی صفحه ی اینستاگرام نشر مهری دیدم، عاشق طراحی جلدش شدم؛ بعد از اون، تگ شدن اسم مهدی غبرایی به عنوان مترجم نظرم رو جلب کرد. تردید داشتم بخرمش یا نه که دیدم تابحال هیچی از ادبیات افریقا نخوندم و خوبه که تجربه کنم.
حالا که خوندمش چقدر راضی ام از انتخابم برای این روزا🍃
در جایی که مردم عادی دنبال حقوق اولیه ی خودشونن و درگیر مسائل استعمار و احزاب سیاسی و بخوربخورِ قدرتمندا، روح آب برمیگرده و انتقام اسارتش رو از انسان میگیره. صدای روح آب رو فقط شما میشنوید و کاساندرا🌊
لازمه از ترجمه ی بی نقص و لذت بخش غبرایی هم براتون بگم؟
پ.ن: مهری، نشر مهربون و کار درست🌱
حالا که خوندمش چقدر راضی ام از انتخابم برای این روزا🍃
در جایی که مردم عادی دنبال حقوق اولیه ی خودشونن و درگیر مسائل استعمار و احزاب سیاسی و بخوربخورِ قدرتمندا، روح آب برمیگرده و انتقام اسارتش رو از انسان میگیره. صدای روح آب رو فقط شما میشنوید و کاساندرا🌊
لازمه از ترجمه ی بی نقص و لذت بخش غبرایی هم براتون بگم؟
پ.ن: مهری، نشر مهربون و کار درست🌱
November 12, 2018
This is a brief novella that takes aim at the hypocrisy and arrogance of Angola’s ruling classes. The political situation is symbolized by a couple: Carmina, a communist youth leader who later embraces exploitative capitalism when political winds shift; and her husband João, a well-meaning but ineffective man who retreats into computer games as the capital city of Luanda crumbles around him – quite literally, as buildings mysteriously collapse, leaving their occupants unharmed.
Knowing nothing about the country going in, I found this a fairly engaging read, and the story is well-translated, but it would likely work better for readers familiar with recent Angolan history. Magical realist and absurdist elements – like the dispossessed protesting by going nude in public – obscure the actual history, leaving the foreign reader wondering what really happened. And while it is difficult to separate the personal from the political in such a short and pointed story, there is this recurring notion that all is right in the home when the husband takes the reins and publicly chastises his wife; I wasn’t sure how much Pepetela finds Carmina’s ruling the roost objectionable simply because she’s a woman, and how much because this specific woman is morally bankrupt.
Nevertheless, this is an interesting book from which I did learn a bit about Angola, and at 100 pages it’s a very quick read.
Knowing nothing about the country going in, I found this a fairly engaging read, and the story is well-translated, but it would likely work better for readers familiar with recent Angolan history. Magical realist and absurdist elements – like the dispossessed protesting by going nude in public – obscure the actual history, leaving the foreign reader wondering what really happened. And while it is difficult to separate the personal from the political in such a short and pointed story, there is this recurring notion that all is right in the home when the husband takes the reins and publicly chastises his wife; I wasn’t sure how much Pepetela finds Carmina’s ruling the roost objectionable simply because she’s a woman, and how much because this specific woman is morally bankrupt.
Nevertheless, this is an interesting book from which I did learn a bit about Angola, and at 100 pages it’s a very quick read.
January 6, 2017
Πολύ ενδιαφέρον βιβλιαράκι με πολλούς συμβολισμούς οικολογικούς και πολιτικούς με μια μικρή δόση από μαγικό ρεαλισμό
January 24, 2012
Angolan author Pepetela’s most well known work, “O desejo de Kianda” is a nicely ironic political tale packed with twists, colorful characters, witty satire and beautiful magical realism. This is a book in ehich you feel anything can happen and a lot does. But through all the wildness, the book retains its cohesion and clarity, making universal political statements and philosophical observations.
February 4, 2009
Is there a name for that whole genre of books about ineffectual men? If not, there should be. This book would be classed in that genre - it focuses on a guy who plays computer games while his country (Angola) is falling apart, and his wife, a politician who identifies with her socialist roots to the point that she can't see she's a ruthless capitalist. And in the background, buildings in their town's central square keep falling down inexplicably - the buildings disintegrate and the people and things inside float down without injury.
Really well done on the whole. The translation is awesome - it doesn't have that stilted formality shared by a lot of translated lit, but reads like it's in its original language.
Really well done on the whole. The translation is awesome - it doesn't have that stilted formality shared by a lot of translated lit, but reads like it's in its original language.
Read
July 5, 2020Was this the first computer game novel? Magic realism meets post colonial satire and Sid Meier’s Civilization in this hugely entertaining story of Angola’s first decades after independence. While ever opportunistic Party cadre Carmina keeps herself busy learning how to best exploit the new opportunities when it’s good by Marx and hello Hayek, João turns to computer games to deal with his trepidation. Oh and there’s an uncanny mystery concerning collapsing apartment blocks.
Higly recommended.
Higly recommended.
June 30, 2020
Με την επιθυμία της Κιάντα, ενώ δεν είχα ιδέα ούτε πού πέφτει η Αγκόλα, αφυπνίστηκα και διάβασα την ιστορία μίας χώρας της Αφρικής για την οποία κάτι ενθυμούμην από το μπαμπά μου που έλεγε "ο πόλεμος της Αγκόλας" και "οι Αμερικάνοι και ο πόλεμος της Αγκόλας" κλπ. Μερικά πράγματα, τα ακούς αφηρημένα να τα λένε οι μεγάλοι και, ίσως, μες το μυαλό σου τα λες και γραφικά ....
Μικρό βιβλίο και ευκολοδιάβαστο, μας δίνει μια ιδέα, μέσα από τα λόγια του αφηγητή, της κατάστασης που επικρατούσε στη χώρα τη δεκαετία του '80. Βυθισμένη στη διαφθορά, παραπαίοντας στο χείλος της καταστροφής και της κατασπατάλησης του φυσικού της πλούτου και των κάθε λογής αποθεμάτων της, ασφυκτιά από τον μοιραίο εναγκαλισμό των υαινών που τη λυμαίνονται. Ο αφηγητής, άγεται και φέρεται από τη σύντροφο του, μία μαινάδα διαπλοκής και επωφελείται από τον πλούτο και τις παροχές που εκείνη συσσωρεύει, όχι χωρίς κριτική, μια ανήμπορη όμως κριτική, η οποία δεν αλλάζει στο παραμικρό τον ρου των γεγονότων.
Με έναν υποδόριο σαρκασμό, κάποιες φορές στα όρια της αφηρημάδας, ο Πεπετέλα περιγράφει μέσα από τα κατορθώματα της ολιγαρχίας, την εκδίκηση της φύσης, μπερδεύοντας δοξασίες των γηγενών και μύθους.
Το φαινόμενο γύρω από το οποίο περιστρέφεται το βιβλίο έχει να κάνει με την ξαφνική πτώση μίας πολυκατοικίας στην κεντρική πλατεία της πόλης. Η πολυκατοικία φαίνεται σαν να "κάθεται" και οι άνθρωποι της "κατεδαφίζονται" μαλακά, πετώντας με χάρη στον αέρα, μέσα σε πολύχρωμες κορδέλες φωτός. Δεν υπάρχουν θύματα, αν και το λογικό θα ήταν να υπήρχαν και οι άνθρωποι σύντομα ασχολούνται με το να περισώσουν όσα από τα υπάρχοντα τους μπορούν.
Αυτή η αλληγορία ομολογώ ότι με συνεπήρε και σε αυτήν οφείλει τα 4 αστέρια το μικρό αυτό βιβλίο. Συνέλαβα τον εαυτό μου να βρίσκεται στο Χίλτον και να το βλέπει να κατεδαφίζεται απαλά και να πετάνε οι ένοικοι, γιατί η ιστορία της Αγκόλας πολύ έμοιαζε με τη δική μας ...
Μικρό βιβλίο και ευκολοδιάβαστο, μας δίνει μια ιδέα, μέσα από τα λόγια του αφηγητή, της κατάστασης που επικρατούσε στη χώρα τη δεκαετία του '80. Βυθισμένη στη διαφθορά, παραπαίοντας στο χείλος της καταστροφής και της κατασπατάλησης του φυσικού της πλούτου και των κάθε λογής αποθεμάτων της, ασφυκτιά από τον μοιραίο εναγκαλισμό των υαινών που τη λυμαίνονται. Ο αφηγητής, άγεται και φέρεται από τη σύντροφο του, μία μαινάδα διαπλοκής και επωφελείται από τον πλούτο και τις παροχές που εκείνη συσσωρεύει, όχι χωρίς κριτική, μια ανήμπορη όμως κριτική, η οποία δεν αλλάζει στο παραμικρό τον ρου των γεγονότων.
Με έναν υποδόριο σαρκασμό, κάποιες φορές στα όρια της αφηρημάδας, ο Πεπετέλα περιγράφει μέσα από τα κατορθώματα της ολιγαρχίας, την εκδίκηση της φύσης, μπερδεύοντας δοξασίες των γηγενών και μύθους.
Το φαινόμενο γύρω από το οποίο περιστρέφεται το βιβλίο έχει να κάνει με την ξαφνική πτώση μίας πολυκατοικίας στην κεντρική πλατεία της πόλης. Η πολυκατοικία φαίνεται σαν να "κάθεται" και οι άνθρωποι της "κατεδαφίζονται" μαλακά, πετώντας με χάρη στον αέρα, μέσα σε πολύχρωμες κορδέλες φωτός. Δεν υπάρχουν θύματα, αν και το λογικό θα ήταν να υπήρχαν και οι άνθρωποι σύντομα ασχολούνται με το να περισώσουν όσα από τα υπάρχοντα τους μπορούν.
Αυτή η αλληγορία ομολογώ ότι με συνεπήρε και σε αυτήν οφείλει τα 4 αστέρια το μικρό αυτό βιβλίο. Συνέλαβα τον εαυτό μου να βρίσκεται στο Χίλτον και να το βλέπει να κατεδαφίζεται απαλά και να πετάνε οι ένοικοι, γιατί η ιστορία της Αγκόλας πολύ έμοιαζε με τη δική μας ...
August 5, 2012
Este é um daqueles livros que se lêem de uma assentada. É pequenino, quase um conto a dar para o comprido. Não é o meu Pepetela favorito, aliás este não é o registo que mais aprecio no escritor, no entanto gostei bastante da história.
No dia de casamento de João Evangelista com Carmina, membro do Comité Central, tem início, em Luanda, um fenómeno que ninguém consegue explicar. No dia do casamento cai o primeiro prédio no Largo do Kinaxixi. Cair um prédio, sem razão aparente já seria de estranhar, quando a queda do prédio parece desafiar todas as leis da física o acontecimento torna-se um fenómeno. Como é que é possível que o prédio tenha caído lentamente, com todas as pessoas a chegarem ilesas ao chão? Estranho? Sim, no mínimo. Mais estranho só mesmo se a queda do prédio não for única mas o primeiro prédio do Largo do Kinaxixi que rui daquela forma. Pouco a pouco, todos os prédios do Kinaxixi vão caindo, sem que ninguém consiga encontrar uma razão lógica para o fenómeno que acaba por ser apelidado de Síndrome de Luanda. Um por um, os prédios de um bairro residencial recente, habitado pela classe média de Luanda, vai desaparecendo.
No bairro existe um prédio cuja construção nunca foi terminada e junto a ele existe uma espécie de lago, barrento e putrefacto. Cassandra é uma das muitas crianças que moram nesse prédio e apenas ela parece pressentir a razão do estranho comportamento dos prédios naquele bairro. Cassandra ouve uma voz que apenas ela consegue ouvir. A voz de Kianda, a figura que os angolanos crêem que habita em todos os lagos, rios e mares, uma sereia. O bairro do Kinaxixi foi construído em cima de uma lagoa, onde naturalmente habitava Kianda. A pessoas que assistiram à destruição da lagoa, contam que uma mafumeira, a mafumeira de Kianda, chorou sangue pelo cepo durante uma semana. Será que o Síndrome de Luanda não é apenas Kianda a fazer cumprir o seu desejo de restituir a lagoa ao seu sítio original? Será que a natureza está a reclamar o seu espaço novamente?
Enquanto a natureza reclama o seu direito à terra, ao seu espaço, os homens guerreiam e vivem deslumbrados pelo poder e pelo dinheiro e João Evangelista vive num mundo de fantasia. Alheio ao que se passa à sua volta, passa os dias a jogar jogos de estratégia no computador, construindo civilizações enquanto lá fora se vão destruindo alguns dos pilares da civiliação.
Mais uma história de Pepetela que toca o tema da guerra e da corrupção em Angola. Onde os ideais são facilmente postos de parte se o que está em causa são milhões de dólares. Por milhões de dólares alguém que sempre lutou pelo povo e do lado do povo que tem a oportunidade de servir esse mesmo povo nas mais altas esferas do poder político de Luanda, sucumbe à tentação e fica milionário com o negócio de compra e vendas de armas, que alimentam a guerra civil que estalou na sequência das eleições. As mesmas eleições que legitimam a presença desses representantes do povo permite que estes lucrem com o conflito que se inicia.
Gostei e recomendo!
Boas leituras!
No dia de casamento de João Evangelista com Carmina, membro do Comité Central, tem início, em Luanda, um fenómeno que ninguém consegue explicar. No dia do casamento cai o primeiro prédio no Largo do Kinaxixi. Cair um prédio, sem razão aparente já seria de estranhar, quando a queda do prédio parece desafiar todas as leis da física o acontecimento torna-se um fenómeno. Como é que é possível que o prédio tenha caído lentamente, com todas as pessoas a chegarem ilesas ao chão? Estranho? Sim, no mínimo. Mais estranho só mesmo se a queda do prédio não for única mas o primeiro prédio do Largo do Kinaxixi que rui daquela forma. Pouco a pouco, todos os prédios do Kinaxixi vão caindo, sem que ninguém consiga encontrar uma razão lógica para o fenómeno que acaba por ser apelidado de Síndrome de Luanda. Um por um, os prédios de um bairro residencial recente, habitado pela classe média de Luanda, vai desaparecendo.
No bairro existe um prédio cuja construção nunca foi terminada e junto a ele existe uma espécie de lago, barrento e putrefacto. Cassandra é uma das muitas crianças que moram nesse prédio e apenas ela parece pressentir a razão do estranho comportamento dos prédios naquele bairro. Cassandra ouve uma voz que apenas ela consegue ouvir. A voz de Kianda, a figura que os angolanos crêem que habita em todos os lagos, rios e mares, uma sereia. O bairro do Kinaxixi foi construído em cima de uma lagoa, onde naturalmente habitava Kianda. A pessoas que assistiram à destruição da lagoa, contam que uma mafumeira, a mafumeira de Kianda, chorou sangue pelo cepo durante uma semana. Será que o Síndrome de Luanda não é apenas Kianda a fazer cumprir o seu desejo de restituir a lagoa ao seu sítio original? Será que a natureza está a reclamar o seu espaço novamente?
Enquanto a natureza reclama o seu direito à terra, ao seu espaço, os homens guerreiam e vivem deslumbrados pelo poder e pelo dinheiro e João Evangelista vive num mundo de fantasia. Alheio ao que se passa à sua volta, passa os dias a jogar jogos de estratégia no computador, construindo civilizações enquanto lá fora se vão destruindo alguns dos pilares da civiliação.
Mais uma história de Pepetela que toca o tema da guerra e da corrupção em Angola. Onde os ideais são facilmente postos de parte se o que está em causa são milhões de dólares. Por milhões de dólares alguém que sempre lutou pelo povo e do lado do povo que tem a oportunidade de servir esse mesmo povo nas mais altas esferas do poder político de Luanda, sucumbe à tentação e fica milionário com o negócio de compra e vendas de armas, que alimentam a guerra civil que estalou na sequência das eleições. As mesmas eleições que legitimam a presença desses representantes do povo permite que estes lucrem com o conflito que se inicia.
Gostei e recomendo!
Boas leituras!
March 18, 2012
[DUTCH]
João Evangelista speelt apathisch zijn videogames, terwijl om hem heen flatgebouwen instorten zonder dat iemand weet waarom. Het lied van de watergeest laat zien wat zowel het kolonialisme als de onafhankelijkheid van Angola allemaal kapot hebben gemaakt voor de gewone man.
Pepetela heeft het volste recht van spreken als hij kritiek uitoefent op de Angolese politieke elite: hij vocht voor de onafhankelijkheid van zijn geboorteland, tegen Portugal. Ook zat hij in de Angolese regering van 1975 tot 1982. In zijn negende roman zijn de politici opportunistisch en corrupt. En dat is dan zacht uitgedrukt. Zij handelen in wapens, bevoordelen vrienden en familie en de communisten stappen van de ene op de andere dag over op het vrije-marktdenken.
Lees meer
João Evangelista speelt apathisch zijn videogames, terwijl om hem heen flatgebouwen instorten zonder dat iemand weet waarom. Het lied van de watergeest laat zien wat zowel het kolonialisme als de onafhankelijkheid van Angola allemaal kapot hebben gemaakt voor de gewone man.
Pepetela heeft het volste recht van spreken als hij kritiek uitoefent op de Angolese politieke elite: hij vocht voor de onafhankelijkheid van zijn geboorteland, tegen Portugal. Ook zat hij in de Angolese regering van 1975 tot 1982. In zijn negende roman zijn de politici opportunistisch en corrupt. En dat is dan zacht uitgedrukt. Zij handelen in wapens, bevoordelen vrienden en familie en de communisten stappen van de ene op de andere dag over op het vrije-marktdenken.
Lees meer
December 25, 2025
A short book but every corner of it is crawling with socialist and slightly humanist ideas. I like how he makes every sentence count and how our character, does nothing for the story except to observe, collect information and describe exactly what position in the political spectrum a reader of this book is in. It was full days read and there's a ton of information one can glean from this about Luanda.
January 10, 2021
Historia fabulada de la Angola independizada de la metrópole. Guerras de poder y corrupción, élites y desheredados, contado de forma amena, sin crítica amarga, sin querer dar lecciones, pero ahí queda escrito. Injusticias como germen de una futura revolución de las masas... Escrito en 1995, parece de plena actualidad.
October 8, 2008
Yet another direct indictment from Pepetela, though there's symbolism here the message here is plain and writ large. Given the state of things in Luanda, it can hardly afford to be otherwise. It's enjoyable and informative enough, but nothing sets it apart from the other Pepetela I've read.
November 7, 2013
Una sabrosa novela corta, llena de anotaciones hiperbólicas de una ciudad que cae de edificio en edificio.
Una ruta por barrios y municipios de la Ciudad de Luanda, que no para de cambiar y moverse. Visto desde unos ojos críticos, combinando el humor y el ácido.
Una ruta por barrios y municipios de la Ciudad de Luanda, que no para de cambiar y moverse. Visto desde unos ojos críticos, combinando el humor y el ácido.
October 28, 2015
Petpetela’s ‘O desejo de Kianda' relates how the ideology of the ruling class of Angola is overhauled by the people, embodied in the powers of the Kimbundu spirit Kianda. It is compelling as historical and political fiction yet at times unsubtle with symbolism
January 4, 2017
O meu escritor angolano favorito =)
January 30, 2022
(Review in English below)
Η "συμμετοχή" της Ανγκόλα στην προσπάθειά μου να διαβάσω ένα βιβλίο από κάθε χώρα του κόσμου.
Ένα εξαιρετικό δείγμα μαγικού ρεαλισμού από έναν κορυφαίο συγγραφέα.
Όταν η πραγματικότητα διαλύει τα όνειρά μιας χώρας μετά την ανεξαρτησία της, όταν η ιδεολογία χάνει πανηγυρικά από τις προσωπικές φιλοδοξίες και τις φυλετικές έριδες, η φύση εμφανίζεται να παίρνει το πάνω χέρι για να δείξει τη ματαιότητα αυτών των συμπεριφορών.
Και μέσα σε όλο το χάος, ένας πρωταγωνιστής που είναι χαμένος στη δική του πραγματικότητα, εθισμένος στα παιχνίδια στρατηγικής.
Ως άλλος George Orwell, ο Pepetela νιώθει την απομυθοποίηση του αγώνα που και ο ίδιος έδωσε (στη δική του περίπτωση για την ανεξαρτησία της πατρίδας του) και με όπλο την πένα του κατακεραυνώνει τους υπαίτιους.
~~~~~~~~~
This was the book by an Angolan author I read in my attempt to read one book from every country in the world.
An excellent example of magical realism from a major author.
When reality destroys a country's dreams following its independence, when ideology loses hands down the battle with personal ambition and racial and tribal tensions, nature steps up to highlight the pointlessness of these behaviours.
And in all this chaos, a protagonist who is lost in his own reality, addicted to strategy games.
Like a new George Orwell, Pepetela feels disillusioned following his own literal fighting (in his case for his country's independence) and using his pen as a weapon criticises those responsible.
Η "συμμετοχή" της Ανγκόλα στην προσπάθειά μου να διαβάσω ένα βιβλίο από κάθε χώρα του κόσμου.
Ένα εξαιρετικό δείγμα μαγικού ρεαλισμού από έναν κορυφαίο συγγραφέα.
Όταν η πραγματικότητα διαλύει τα όνειρά μιας χώρας μετά την ανεξαρτησία της, όταν η ιδεολογία χάνει πανηγυρικά από τις προσωπικές φιλοδοξίες και τις φυλετικές έριδες, η φύση εμφανίζεται να παίρνει το πάνω χέρι για να δείξει τη ματαιότητα αυτών των συμπεριφορών.
Και μέσα σε όλο το χάος, ένας πρωταγωνιστής που είναι χαμένος στη δική του πραγματικότητα, εθισμένος στα παιχνίδια στρατηγικής.
Ως άλλος George Orwell, ο Pepetela νιώθει την απομυθοποίηση του αγώνα που και ο ίδιος έδωσε (στη δική του περίπτωση για την ανεξαρτησία της πατρίδας του) και με όπλο την πένα του κατακεραυνώνει τους υπαίτιους.
~~~~~~~~~
This was the book by an Angolan author I read in my attempt to read one book from every country in the world.
An excellent example of magical realism from a major author.
When reality destroys a country's dreams following its independence, when ideology loses hands down the battle with personal ambition and racial and tribal tensions, nature steps up to highlight the pointlessness of these behaviours.
And in all this chaos, a protagonist who is lost in his own reality, addicted to strategy games.
Like a new George Orwell, Pepetela feels disillusioned following his own literal fighting (in his case for his country's independence) and using his pen as a weapon criticises those responsible.
May 15, 2020
"L'esprit des eaux " de Pepetela (140p)
Ed. Actes Sud
Bonjour les fous de lectures....
Découverte d'un auteur angolais.
Fin des années 8o dans la capitale angolaise, un étrange phénomène apparait:
Des immeubles s'effondrent en douceur les uns après les autres.
Les habitants en sortent indemnes, ahuris mais ayant tout perdu.
C'est le premier pas vers la misère.
En parallèle, nous suivons le destin de Carine et de son mari.
Elle, jeune apparatchik du régime, est prête à tout pour gravir les échelons. Lui, regarde tout cela comme un jeu étrange et se demande comment tout cela va se terminer.
S'imbrique dans le récit la voix de Cassandre , petite fille qui endort l' " esprit des eaux"
Etrange récit tout en symbolique où les chutes d'immeubles traduisent l'effondrement de tout un peuple ( la guerre civile est proche).
Mais l'auteur met également en avant l'accès au pouvoir des femmes africaines et rompt ainsi avec les idées reçues que la femme dans les pays d'Afrique doit uniquement s'occuper du mari et des enfants.
Ici c'est le contraire, Carmina a un caractère fort et ne rêve que d'ascension sociale alors que son époux a peu d'ambitions et passe ses journées à jouer aux jeux vidéo.
L'auteur, sous une plume surréaliste, met en avant les réalités de son pays ( corruption, légendes , place des femmes dans la société).
Agréable moment de lecture mais sans plus.
Je n'en garderai pas un souvenir impérissable .
Ed. Actes Sud
Bonjour les fous de lectures....
Découverte d'un auteur angolais.
Fin des années 8o dans la capitale angolaise, un étrange phénomène apparait:
Des immeubles s'effondrent en douceur les uns après les autres.
Les habitants en sortent indemnes, ahuris mais ayant tout perdu.
C'est le premier pas vers la misère.
En parallèle, nous suivons le destin de Carine et de son mari.
Elle, jeune apparatchik du régime, est prête à tout pour gravir les échelons. Lui, regarde tout cela comme un jeu étrange et se demande comment tout cela va se terminer.
S'imbrique dans le récit la voix de Cassandre , petite fille qui endort l' " esprit des eaux"
Etrange récit tout en symbolique où les chutes d'immeubles traduisent l'effondrement de tout un peuple ( la guerre civile est proche).
Mais l'auteur met également en avant l'accès au pouvoir des femmes africaines et rompt ainsi avec les idées reçues que la femme dans les pays d'Afrique doit uniquement s'occuper du mari et des enfants.
Ici c'est le contraire, Carmina a un caractère fort et ne rêve que d'ascension sociale alors que son époux a peu d'ambitions et passe ses journées à jouer aux jeux vidéo.
L'auteur, sous une plume surréaliste, met en avant les réalités de son pays ( corruption, légendes , place des femmes dans la société).
Agréable moment de lecture mais sans plus.
Je n'en garderai pas un souvenir impérissable .
January 10, 2021
To be honest, what drew me to this book was its title. I fancy a good fantasy story and “The Return of The Water Spirit” sounded like one I might very much enjoy.
The beginning pages drew me to this strong female character, Carmina, who thought of the payment of bride price as an obscurantist tradition. And perhaps unlike many others in the universe of this story, talks back, has strong opinions and dares to venture into politics.
While her intelligence is undeniable and well-written of, the men around her would usually want her strong personality watered down to fit their/societies ideals of a woman.
As interesting as the title of this book was for me, I found it a little lacking in progression, in the fantasy aspect I was very eagerly looking forward to. I had hoped for a little more depth, history or development around the Lagoon and Water Spirit, which had peaked my interest from when I saw the book.
More thoughts on this book via my blog > https://poetryetal.wordpress.com/2021...
The beginning pages drew me to this strong female character, Carmina, who thought of the payment of bride price as an obscurantist tradition. And perhaps unlike many others in the universe of this story, talks back, has strong opinions and dares to venture into politics.
While her intelligence is undeniable and well-written of, the men around her would usually want her strong personality watered down to fit their/societies ideals of a woman.
As interesting as the title of this book was for me, I found it a little lacking in progression, in the fantasy aspect I was very eagerly looking forward to. I had hoped for a little more depth, history or development around the Lagoon and Water Spirit, which had peaked my interest from when I saw the book.
More thoughts on this book via my blog > https://poetryetal.wordpress.com/2021...
April 9, 2023
For a novella of around 100 pages, this is surprisingly dense. The communist regime is falling in Angola and so are random buildings, while the civil war continues. João Evangelista prefers to hide away from this, playing at building civilisations on his computer instead, while his careerist wife Carmina, shifts effortlessly from devoted Party apparatchik to ruling party parliamentarian. Alongside all of this are fantasy elements as a water spirit, long buried under Luandan concrete seeks freedom.
This is book is very obviously, a scathing critique of the ruling elites of Angola, who get endlessly richer, while the poor are very literally left without the clothes on their backs. This means that the characters are essentially two-dimensional figures to serve the point the author as opposed to any wider plot. It is a memorable read, a clever story, but I felt impressed by it, as opposed to truly absorbed by the book.
This is book is very obviously, a scathing critique of the ruling elites of Angola, who get endlessly richer, while the poor are very literally left without the clothes on their backs. This means that the characters are essentially two-dimensional figures to serve the point the author as opposed to any wider plot. It is a memorable read, a clever story, but I felt impressed by it, as opposed to truly absorbed by the book.
May 26, 2025
I read this book as part of my reading of the world project (Angola). This book was exactly what I was looking for when I started this project - a fantastical story based in a cultural frame of reference different from my own. I would consider the genre a sort of play on magical realism. The story focuses on magical responses that are triggered events in the 'real world'. It is a wonderful critique of modern society, and a thoughtful consideration of old vs new, traditional vs contemporary. I rank it four stars rather than five because there were a couple of times when the plot was confusing and I believe that was on the writer's end (or possibly the translator's end?) rather than the reader's end. And I don't think the confusion was an intentional storytelling device. But, overall, well worth the time.
July 21, 2019
Surprisingly, but the novel describing Angola turning to capitalism back in the early 90s fairly well captured the same process that was happening in my home country, Russia. Suddenly thousands of people were left behind, and of course, the party elite was among those who collected themselves sooner than others. Those who didn't were lucky to experience new dimensions of the universe - bright reality of computer games, social isolation, poverty and dependence from others, magic visions, etc. I guess it's the only important thought I had while reading; many years ago Viktor Pelevin, a Russian magic realism writer, had delivered to many everything I needed to know about the communism-capitalism transition on the spiritual state.
October 22, 2023
Quando comprei este livro achei que ia ser um conto fictício a contar a história de Kianda. De repente dei conta que afinal não. Este livro conta a história política, económica, e social de Luanda após a guerra civil. E por ventura, o verdadeiro desejo de Kianda em base a todos os acontecimentos a cidade de Luanda durante este tempo. Pepetela escreve como se nós estivéssemos numa sentada familiar num domingo. O diálogo é informal, formal e poético. Pepetela também escreve este livro com o português angolano em termos de fala, vocabulário e dicas.
November 9, 2021
Interesting read about an ineffective man who has good intentions but just plays computer games while his hometown is collapsing all around him. Enjoyed the magical elements and the discussion it provokes around traditionalism and politics.
November 27, 2022
Better that I thought it was going to be and definitely a book I need to analyze and research further. I believe I understand everything Pepetela was saying but I might be missing something.
I would definitely recommend to others.
I would definitely recommend to others.
February 16, 2023
A small book with a sophisticated plot. I see what the author was getting at, and think he could have developed the plot even better and made it into a larger story. That said, I was impressed with the message he pushed with a seemingly ordinary story of comings and goings.
Read
October 26, 2020Delicate and charming. It exceeded my expectations.
August 31, 2021
What a masterpiece. Short yet so witty. And ominous!
January 12, 2022
Impressionante retrato da Luanda urbana em toda a sua complexidade de extremos numa história distópica e reveladora. Excelente, como tudo que li do autor.
November 14, 2023
quick read for a class. taught me a lot about Angola and what happened after Portugal left. was a little confusing.
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