The Hour of the Star
by Clarice Lispector (1977)
2022 reads, 20/20:
“Who was she asking? God? She didn’t think about God, God didn’t think about her. God belongs to those who manage to get him.”
Clarice Lispector’s The Hour of the Star is a short but intense read about Macabéa, a poor girl who grew up living in the slums of Brazil. She is now a typist, living with four other roommates, and the most basic of human needs (including sadness and having a future) are “luxuries” to her. Paradoxically, however, since she has never experienced true happiness, she thus does not know she is unhappy. This novella explores her life, upbringing, and relationships with her aunt, roommates, and boyfriend Olímpico.
But Lispector takes this story to a whole new level of meta by playing with narrative in a groundbreaking way. Another character, Rodrigo S.M. (introducing himself by claiming he is one of the more important characters), constantly breaks from his narration to comment, lament, or flat-out complain about how he feels about the story, about writing in general, or about Macabéa. Flavors of existentialism and identity crises are interspersed, and through the introspective and dream-like writing style, the story shifts focus from Macabéa to the relationship between Rodrigo and Macabéa (could Rodrigo be doing this on purpose?).
This sort of narrative creates multiple layers of story, a third-person tale inside of a first-person novella – and I’d say that we could even extend the layers to include me, the reader of the story, and Lispector, the author of the narrator of the story (this becomes even more complicated when you realize Macabéa was based off Lispector’s childhood).
“…I substitute the act of death for a symbol of it. A symbol that can be summed up in a deep kiss but not on a rough wall but mouth-to-mouth in the agony of pleasure that is death. I, who symbolically die several times just to experience the resurrection.”
It’s short enough such that I’d recommend it to anyone, especially those who want to explore a new writing style, and what it means to narrate a story.
2022 Epilogue: This was a great year for reading. I’ve read so many books that have been on my radar for a while, as well as some unexpected finds. My top three books this year would probably be The Crying of Lot 49, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, and The Hour of the Star – but by no means does this discount every amazing read I’ve had this year. Excited for 2023 (and to finally finish the Harry Potter series…)!