Author: Jose Eduardo Agualusa
Translator: Daniel Hahn
Publisher: Archipelago books
Blurb: On the eve of Angolan independence an agoraphobic woman named Ludo bricks herself into her apartment for 30 years, living off vegetables and the pigeons she lures in with diamonds, burning her furniture and books to stay alive and writing her story on the apartment’s walls.
Almost as if we’re eavesdropping, the history of Angola unfolds through the stories of those she sees from her window. As the country goes through various political upheavals from colony to socialist republic to civil war to peace and capitalism, the world outside seeps into Ludo’s life through snippets on the radio, voices from next door, glimpses of someone peeing on a balcony, or a man fleeing his pursuers.
Me: Before anything else, hi! So sorry about the sudden disappearance - the last few months have been a time of a lot of change and just growth for me, and I've also been doing quite a bit of reading. I'm glad to be back!
I was completely blown away by this book. It's been a while since I've discovered such a gorgeous, thoughtful piece that also reads so easily.
