6 of 1001 Books: Jose Saramago's The Year of the Death of Ricardo Reis

Upon opening this book I didn't think I would like it as much as I did but, the character and story grew on me as I continued on. Jose Saramago is a very unique writer in the way he depicts his character's threw his style. While my unfamiliarity with Portuguese's history did hurt my ability to understand some areas it did make me more curious to learn. The setting also helps in the time of 1936 which, seems to give the story a beautiful backdrop.

The year is 1936 and, Ricardo Reis has returned to Portugal from Brazil  after a 16 year stay in the middle of huge countries for the country. A new dictator is beginning his reign and, Reis is settling into the very bland city of Lisbon. In Lisbon he lives in a hotel before settling into an apartment where he falls into two different attractions with two different women, one the daughter of a rich man and, the other a chambermaid. He also begins meeting with the ghost of a dead poet, Fernando Pessoa, who is beginning the process of leaving earth in 9 months.