Eça de Queiroz (Dedalus)
Like many of de Queiroz’s work, The Maias is about a family and their struggles. This time the family is told to us through three generations, just like Gilmore Girls. And just like Gilmore Girls, there’s a grandparent who thinks they know best, a lost and whimsical parent who makes mistakes in their love life, and a child of the family who does great in their education, living the life the grandparent wants, but also fails in their love life just like their parent.
The beginning of the novel portrayed a fast paced and intriguing family struggle. But as the story focused on the youngest member of the family, that exciting drama fell to a slow plunge of information. Even the storyline became predictable, losing the shock value in the reveal. That being said, this book was first published in 1888 and so it should be given the same amount of slack you would give the Brontë Sisters in terms of plot.
Price: £14.99 Info: www.dedalusbooks.com