Martha Batalha

A darkly comic portrait of two rebellious sisters in 1940s Rio de Janeiro that illuminates contemporary issues of feminism and domestic equality.

The Invisible Life of Euridice Gusmao

Lindsay

jooooo-riaan

Vivian

A compelling story about two sisters - talented & vivacious Euridice and beautiful & rebellious Guida - in 1950s and 60s Rio de Janeiro, that offers a series of glimpses into the lives of Brazilian women from all walks of life. One thing they had in common, is that as a woman, they were invisible. They had to conform to the patriarchal expectation - be a good, loyal and content housewife, cook, clean, and serve. Yet the women were restless underneath, they had to break through. Some of the characters are quite eccentric and unforgettable. 

The author had a whimsical and witty tone throughout the story, no matter how harsh the realities. Lacking some depth, but still quite an enjoyable and unputdownable read.

'Zesty' Daily Mail 'A real gem of a book' Stylist A wickedly funny tale of two rebellious sisters in 1940s Rio de Janeiro Euridice is bright and ambitious. But this is Brazil in the 1940s, and society expects her to be a loving wife and mother. While Antenor is busy congratulating himself on his excellent catch, Euridice spends her humdrum days ironing his shirts and removing the lumps of onion from his food, dreaming of the success she could have made of herself – as a writer, dressmaker or culinary whizz – in another life. Her free-spirited sister Guida, on the other hand, is the kind of person who was 'born knowing everything'. When she returns from her failed elopement with stories of heartbreak and loss, the lives of Euridice and her husband are thrown into confusion, with disastrous consequences. The Invisible Life of Euridice Gusmao is a darkly comic debut, bursting with vibrant Brazilian spirit and unforgettable characters – a jubilant novel about the emancipation of women.

Euridice is young, beautiful and ambitious, but when her rebellious sister Guida elopes, she sets her own aspirations aside and vows to settle down as a model wife and daughter. And yet as her husband's professional success grows, so does Euridice's feeling of restlessness. She embarks on a series of secret projects from creating recipe books to becoming the most sought-after seamstress in town -- but each is doomed to failure. Her tradition-loving husband is not interested in an independent wife. And then one day Guida appears at the door with her young son and a terrible story of hardship and abandonment.

Suzanne

What an incredible book. There are several stories weaved together of characters we meet, of their families, their joys in there many many heartaches.
I’ve never been to Brazil, but the book paints a beautiful picture of it.
I read the translation by Eric Becker which was very beautiful. 
Look forward to reading more of her work.

The Invisible Life of Euridice Gusmao

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