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A General Theory of Oblivion by José Eduardo Agualusa - 5* - My Review

Set in Angola during and after revolution and independence, this book tells the story of Ludo, a woman who barricaded herself insider her apartment to avoid the violence occurring outside. She lived there for thirty years. It is a fictionalized story based on a real Portuguese woman who lived in Angola and kept diaries. Other characters come into the narrative briefly and appear later with a more robust version of their story. Ludo is only one of several narrators, and her story highlights the human desire for connection, reaching out to her the animals that come to the terrace of her apartment. Other narrators provide the details of the violence and turmoil of Angola’s wars, and the involvement of Portugal, Cuba, Zaire, and South Africa. The story is beautifully told, contrasting Ludo’s isolation and compassion against the chaos of wartime Angola. I really loved this little gem of a story. It is an informative read about a region and time period about which I had not previously read extensively. It led me to do more research on the history of Angola, which is always a positive sign. It is also an emotionally touching story.

"God weighs souls on a pair of scales. In one of the dishes is the soul, and in the other, the tears of those who weep for it. If nobody cries, the soul goes down to hell. If there are enough tears, and they are sufficiently heartfelt, it rises up to heaven. Ludo believed this. Or wanted to believe this. That was what she told Sabalu: 'People who are missed by other people, those are the ones who go to Paradise. Paradise is the space we occupy in other people's hearts.'"

I had this on all of my Subdue boards, but I never got to it. You review has convinced me to move it up on my TBR.

Yes l loved it. It's a very unique story. I look forward to your thoughts whenever you get a chance to read it