Martim had committed a crime. He believes he killed his wife and has been on the run since then. He takes refuge in Vila Baixa owned by a woman named Vitoria who lives with her cousin, Ermelinda.
His temporary stay seemed fascinating and established a relationship between them. Everything was a soft prolongation but he finally was free, quiet and stable. There was so little time left for him to cover and start in a new way though. Little by little Martim was caught on his feelings, perception, anxiety and act. He had been held prisoner within the structure of his past.
I enjoy reading about antiheroes because their brain is not confined by strict moral values. Even though the character is bad I get mixed with the passion and emotional turmoil of the story's flow.
Seeing how he justifies and explains even the most terrible actions is so 'different' to me. I always find that Martim's motivations are very complex and it’s impossible to predict.
At the end of the day, it’s hard to hate them (yes, three of them) when you have access to their most private thoughts and know all the events that led them to be the way they are. This novel is a modern classic that offers a slow-paced symbolism of realism and escapism and was originally published in 1961.
Thanks to @times.reads and @putrifariza for the review copy. Opinions are my own 💙
*Available at all major bookstores in Singapore and Malaysia and their online stores