An Apprenticeship or The Book of Pleasures

One of my favorite books. So beautifully written

I'm very much enjoying this story of obsession and LOOOoooove! I've read a lot of Lispector and wish I would have started w her short stories, then this "relationship" novel.

I highlighted half of the novel. Seriously, why do I even bother?No one pulls you under the waves of a story like Lispector. I really enjoy making a hot coffee and spending a few hours lost in whatever she has created. It's my favorite way to experience her writing.In this story we are face to face with what it is like to fear love. To fear giving away a part of a self you haven't developed and can't even decide if you CAN give away. We see the emotional tug of war that happens (on both sides) as partners* try to enter into one another's lives.In true Lispector form, she drags you deep deep deep down into the lived experience and doesn't let you go until long after you close the novel.

The novel reads like a philosophical meditation on what it means to love someone. I do not normally rate books on amazon, but this deserves all 5 stars. It is an excellent work.

Such an interesting romance (?) book. Deeply insightful, if a bit strange. I feel like I’ve taken a philosophy class studying the art of finding ones self.

When I was deciding to buy this I read a review that said, “bunch of mumbo jumbo” which I thought was hilarious so I bought it. But it’s ACTUALLY mumbo-jumbo. It makes no sense, and this is coming from someone who enjoys prose/poetry, this book is just a bunch of yap about nothing and I find myself not caring for either of the characters. Lori is not like the other girls, and her love with Ulisses is supposed to be so deep and profound, to tell you this Lispector writes stuff like “immediately desiring you, that body of yours that isn’t even pretty, but it’s the body I want.” And sentences go on for pages. Ulisses is supposed to be all intellectual too I guess but it feels poorly done. If you’re unsure seriously get something else. I got this book along with The Lover (Duras) which I felt was far superior and is around the same length. Get that instead