Alentejo Blue

by Monica Ali
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An evocative tale of belonging and exile by one of Britain's best young novelists.

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Synopsis

Alentejo Blue is the story of the Portuguese village of Mamarrosa told through the lives of those who live there and those who are passing through – men and women, children and old people, locals, tourists and expatriates.For some, such as Teresa, a beautiful, dreamy village girl, it is a place from which to escape; for others – the dysfunctional Potts family – it is a way of running from trouble (but not eluding it). Vasco, a café owner who has never recovered from the death of his American wife, clings to a notion that his years in America make him superior to the other villagers. One English tourist makes Mamarrosa the subject of her fantasy of a new life, while for her compatriots, a young engaged couple, Mamarrosa is where their dreams finally fall apart. At the book’s opening an old man reflects on his long and troubled life in this beautiful and seemingly tranquil setting, and anticipates the return of Marco Afonso Rodrigues, the prodigal son of the village and a symbol of this now fast-changing world. The homecoming is the subject of continuing speculation, and when Marco Afonso Rodrigues does finally appear, villagers, tourists and expatriates are brought together and jealousies, passions and disappointments must inevitably collide.

Editorial Reviews

"(Ali is) 'a writer with a keen eye for physical and emotional detail, and a style, mixing the tart with the lyrical which pulls you fast into her chosen world'" - The Times

"(Ali's) 'assured writing and gentle humour are a constant delight'" - Daily Mail

"Compelling, atmospheric and elegantly written" - Tatler

"Ali gives us a glimpse into a world that's truly exotic ... brilliantly evocative" - Daily Express

"Well written and often entertaining .... a perfectly pleasant read" - Daily Telegraph

"If you're looking for an intelligent holiday read, this has it all" - Marie Claire

"The grace of Ali's words is dazzling" - Time Out, New York

"Using luminous, heartfelt language, the award-winning Ali weaves a tapestry of human frailty." - Library Journal

"With it's supple prose and acute insights into a wildly mixed bag of characters, Alentejo Blue establishes definitively that Monica Ali is a major literary talent." - Entertainment Weekly

"Ali writes like a dream. Every so often you stop mid-sentence to admire the prose." - Now Magazine (Canada)

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