The High Mountains of Portugal
As seen:
By Yann Martel
avg rating
2 reviews
THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER
Lost in Portugal.
Lost to grief.
With nothing but a chimpanzee.
A man thrown backwards by heartbreak goes in search of an artefact that could unsettle history. A woman carries her husband to a doctor in a suitcase. A Canadian senator begins a new life, in a new country, in the company of a chimp called Odo. From these stories of journeying, of loss and faith, Yann Martel makes a novel unlike any other: moving, profound and magical.
A New York Times Bestseller
An Australian Independent Bookseller Bestseller
- on The Globe & Mail’s Bestseller List
- on Toronto Star’s Bestseller List
- on Maclean’s Bestseller List
- on National Post’s Bestseller List
- on McNally Robinson’s Bestseller List
An ABA Indie Bestseller
Reviews
The High Mountains of Portugal
What a great choice as a Book Group read!
This thought provoking novel is in fact a combination of three loosely linked tales, two of which contain further narratives. The stories span a troubled Portuguese priest in the 1600’s; a backward walking widower in the 1900’s; a married couple beset by tragedy in their life in the early Twentieth Century; a grieving Mortician in the 1930’s and finally a Politician who befriends a chimpanzee in the 1980’s.
Not only does time shift in the novel, it also covers a lot of geography– although Portugal, and in particular its ‘High Mountains’ plays a cohesive role. Some of the journeys appealed to some readers more than others, but the picaresque style ensures you are never far from a new bit of scenery. For instance the technicalities and mechanics of the early combustion engine may prove over detailed for some but are swiftly followed by a slow speed romp worthy of Mr Toad!
Among the reasons this works so well as a book group choice are the varied tone ad diverse subject matter in the novel. The tales are by turn tragic, bizarre and at times hilarious. As we might expect from Yann Martel there is more than a sprinkling of magic and the fantastic.
The intriguing novel also contains a plethora of themes: as a whole it is a thoughtful and at times very moving exploration of grief and loss. The power of love and its many forms are also repeatedly illustrated. The novel can also be read as an exploration of faith – both the organised faith of the Catholic Church and also the personal credo by which humans chose to live. The subtle repetitions and mystical coincidences echo the theme of genetics and evolution.
Overall the novel was enthralling and satisfying – leaving us with many questions to ask and ideas to express – both at our group meeting and indeed subsequently.
Thoughts on book: A wonderful fairy-tale like journey. A quirky, magical, fun and compelling read whilst also being dark, disturbing and heart-breaking. An ingenious plot, such as it is, which keeps you reading though the ending is perhaps a little unsatisfactory in that it answers no questions and leaves the reader wanting more (the sign of a good book). Overall, a very good, absorbing and addictive read which stays with you long after the last page is done.
Would you recommend this book to others?: Yes, I definitely would though, as with most books, I would be selective in who I would recommend it to as it would not be everyone's cup of tea from a storyline point of view and a structure point of view; some may not like the 'no chapter' format, the book just being broken up into the three interlinked stories. This didn't bother me though as the book is well-written and absorbing enough not to want to put it down anyway.
Lovely book!
