High Mountains of Portugal – A Book Review

Yann Martel is the author of Life of Pi, the #1 international bestseller and winner of the 2002 Man Booker (among many other prizes) and “High Mountains of Portugal”  Is his most recent work that has been published this year .

“High Mountains of Portugal” -Yann Martel 

In Lisbon in 1904, a young man named Tomás discovers an old journal. It hints at the existence of an extraordinary artifact that—if he can find it—would redefine history. Traveling in one of Europe’s earliest automobiles, he sets out in search of this strange treasure.This is  the 1st part of the story  where the character is homeless,lonely grieving about his loss .

the 2nd part of the story homewards is where the story takes a gap and takes us through another characters journeys  ,Thirty-five years later, a Portuguese pathologist devoted to the murder mysteries of Agatha Christie finds himself at the center of a mystery of his own and drawn into the consequences of Tomás’s quest.

Fifty years on, a Canadian senator takes refuge in his ancestral village in northern Portugal, grieving the loss of his beloved wife. But he arrives with an unusual companion: a chimpanzee. And there the century-old quest will come to an unexpected conclusion.The third and final part of the story is home where the story concludes after another Fifty years on, a Canadian senator takes refuge in his ancestral village in northern Portugal, grieving the loss of his beloved wife. But he arrives with an unusual companion: a chimpanzee. And there the century-old quest will come to an unexpected conclusion.

The moment you read what the book  is about ,You want to give it a read.The book is written in three parts homeless,Homeward and home. And its  interesting  since its about three stories  that has a common conclusion and very descriptive,describing every detail and making the reader imagine the setting as if he is there. The story is a little odd and not every reader will enjoy this.

 The book blurb has one thought that makes you question –

Three journeys.Three broken hearts . One question …

What’s life without stories ?