Joaquim Maria Machado de Assis

O alienista

Inês Alegria Ferreira

This was so fun! There is no other way I can possibly describe it. 

I have never read Machado de Assis and I was so eager because not only he is one of the most well-known writers in the world but also he is of Portuguese descendence which makes it a little extra interesting for me. I don't know if being from a South American writer but I found this to be extremely similar to Gabriel Garcías Márquez. Maybe not so all over the place like One Hundred Years of Solitude and others but definitely it had a hint of that super fun and entertaining magical realism.

Overall this was a super fast and enjoyable read. It is definitely a must in everyone's read pile, plus it is super accessible, the edition I got from the library even says on the cover: "recommended reading for 9th grade".

Carolina Lopes

Machado de Assis

A sarcastic criticism of the science of its day, O Alientista, considered a classic of Brazilian literature, tells the story of psychiatrist Simão Bacamarte, who convinces the town of Itaguaí to pay for an assylum, and begins to fill it with residents he believes insane. While the assylum at first has a few patients, it grows quickly until, after a revolt by many in the town is fought off, it includes 4/5ths of the town! Realizing something is wrong, Bacamarte releases those committed saying that those committed are infact normal. Instead, he concludes, the insane are those who are considered normal or exemplary. Then his friends convince him that he is, in fact, exemplary. . .

O Alienista

anna

Jackeline Maleski

Quem é louco? Esta é a questão proposta neste livro. Nessa narrativa, Machado de Assis conta a história do eminente doutor Simão Bacamarte. Dedicado estudioso da mente humana, o médico decide construir a 'Casa verde' - um hospício para tratar os doentes mentais na pequena cidade de Itaguaí. Machado conduz a sua história e defende que tudo é relativo e que a normalidade nem sempre é aquilo que a ciência e os fatos atestam de forma absoluta.

O alienista

Reviews