The Book of Disquiet by Fernando Pessoa

A long book which does away mostly with character, dialogue and plot. A central character who is a lot of people the main one, Bernardo being a 'mutilated' Fernando, the same environment but more restricted. The lethargy of a still great capital city in a country which ruled the world for centuries. A ledger clerk who is underpaid and accepts it as he has become almost fond of the office where he works as a near robot and who thinks Vasques, his common but energetic boss is ok. A man who is never lonely and yet is surprised and pleased when the waiter at his everyday eating place notices he has left half his bottle of red and says 'I hope you feel better soon.'

An era where city writers slept and sometimes wrote their thoughts in their rooms but ate in restaurants, and walked quiet waterfront streets at evening listening to the chatter of others. A state of mind dreamy, reflective and also wide alert.

I thought I would find it 'too flimsy'. I'm a reader and writer who feeds on character, plot and dialogue. It took me a little while to get into it but I don't find it flimsy. Bit by bit I'm slipping into 20's Lisbon, lapping it up.