I’ve picked up this book with the intention of reading it as part of my “book club” with John. So far, I don’t like it that much, although it’s been growing on me – maybe it’s because it has a very didactic kind of way of separating you from the characters. The dialogue is stilted, perhaps as a result of the translation and perhaps purposely, and I find it difficult to enjoy because of that. However, I can definitely see why Jose Saramago is a Pulitzer Prize winner – so there you are.