In a small apartment building in a modest section of Lisbon, you will find an assortment of characters going about their own complicated lives while very much minding each others’ along the way. There is the philosophical cobbler who decides to take in a lodger, with whom he develops a familial bond. There are the sisters who have fallen on harder times trying their best to raise 2 girls while keeping up appearances. There is the couple who are at each others’ throats, even while vying for their son’s love, and the family who are challenged by their beautiful yet unruly daughter. They all have their secrets and yet they all agree that there is much to say about the kept woman amongst them…
This novel captures the routine lives of folks living amongst each other, seeing each other coming and going, and, of course, making assumptions about each other. There is occasional joy, often misery, and for the fortunate few, love.
Because there are so many characters and so many different stories within the story, the novel can be challenging to keep track of, particularly at the outset. As it moves along, however, and we are more familiar with each of the plot lines, it serves more to move the book along and keep our interest. There are certainly some plots that are more intriguing than others: some that border on tedious, some about which I yearn to learn more.
All in all, it is an interesting, slice-of-life novel, with a diverse cast of characters that will amuse and give you something to think about after turning the final page.
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