The Invisible Life of Euridice Gusmao
“This is the story of Euridice Gusmao, the woman who might have been.” In 1940s Rio de Janeiro, Euridice is a housewife with two children. She suffers from idleness and boredom. Any attempt to bring herself fulfillment outside her household duties is quickly squelched by her husband, the superior Antenor. In a parallel storyline, her sister Guida has run away with the wealthy Marcos, and they marry. Marcos is nothing of what she thought, and he abandons the pregnant Guida. Years later and after much hardship, she swallows her pride and returns to her family.
With humor and fresh, clever writing, the author addresses women’s issues in mid-century society. She often strays from the path of Euridice and Guida to weave in the lives of many other characters. These are delightful vignettes of the numerous people surrounding the lives of the two sisters. Keep a pencil handy to keep track of all the mothers, fathers, children, cousins, grandparents, in-laws, neighbors, and townspeople. For example, there is Zelia, the neighbor with “a turtle’s neck, which seemed to lengthen from inside her collar any time she saw someone of interest pass by her house” and her husband whose “burps outnumbered his syllables uttered.” All the characters’ stories and descriptions are so cleverly told and so much fun to read.
I loved this book. It puts a spotlight on women living in the ´40s, and is told with originality and skill. It is such a refreshing read, and I highly recommend it. This is the author’s debut novel, and I will watch for anything new from her in the future.
