Goodreads Monday is a weekly meme that was started by @Lauren’s Page Turners but is now currently being hosted by Emily @ Budget Tales Book Blog. This meme is quite easy to follow – just randomly pick a book from your to-be-read list and give the reasons why you want to read it. It is that simple.

This week’s book:

A General Theory of Oblivion by José Eduardo Agualusa

Blurb from Goodreads

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.

A General Theory of Oblivion is a perfectly crafted, wild patchwork of a novel, playing on a love of storytelling and fable.

Why I Want To Read It

Happy Monday everyone! Well, technically it is already Tuesday. This is the first time that I am posting late. I was too tired yesterday even though it was a holiday. HAHA. Anyway, I hope the ghost month has been kind to everyone although we are a couple of days away from greeting a new month. Filipinos can already feel the Christmas vibe. Do know that the Philippines starts its Christmas season upon the entry of the -ber months; it is said that we have the longest Christmas season. By September 1, malls and radio stations will already be playing Christmas songs. As the year approaches its final stretch, I wish nothing but blessings and good news in the coming months. I hope that everyone will be healthy, in body, mind, and spirit.

I know most of us dread Mondays but I still hope that everyone will have a productive work week ahead. I hope everyone will have a great week ahead. Mondays, after all, also present new opportunities to do well. With the first day of the week comes a new blogging week. As has been customary, a fresh Goodreads Monday update is going to open this blogging week. I am still in the midst of an immersion in the works of African literature. The time is ripe for another African literature month since the last time I hosted one was back in early 2021. To align with this month’s reading motif, I will be featuring works of African literature in my Goodreads Monday updates this month. For this week’s update, I am featuring José Eduardo Agualusa’s A General Theory of Oblivion.

Like last week’s featured writer, I do not have an iota about who José Eduardo Agualusa is, again underlining how lacking my exploration of African literature is. Born in Angola to parents of Portuguese and Brazilian descent, Agualusa has established a reputation as a journalist and writer. His works are commended for their exploration of the colonial and contemporary history of Angola, Brazil, Mozambique, and Goa, all former Portuguese colonies. He is cited by the Booker Prize as one of the leading voices in the Portuguese-speaking world. I just learned that A General Theory of Oblivion (Teoria Geral do Esquecimento) was shortlisted for the 2016 International Booker Prize.

Admittedly, what is drawing me toward the book is the fact that I have not read any work written by an Angolan writer before. I also admit that my understanding of Angola’s history is quite limited. In exploring works such as A General Theory of Oblivion I am hoping to gain an understanding of the country, its people, and history, even if it is limited. Apart from this, I am quite interested in the concept of having an agoraphobic character steer the story. Does this mean that we will get to see the transformation from her window only? This is piquing my interest.

For now, I am just hoping to obtain a copy of the book. How about you fellow reader? How was your Monday? What books have you added to your reading list? Do drop it in the comment box. For now, happy Monday and, as always, happy reading!