This book was one that initially confused me but then really drew me in, and I may go as far as saying it was the most captivating book I’ve read so far in the class! I think my captivation with this novel stems from its truly ‘weird’ manner of presentation – it’s at once a story of Macabéa and also an internal (or perhaps external?) dialogue of a writer and his own thoughts and challenges while crafting the book we are reading. The more I think about it, the more confusing it gets; the narrator is using the story he creates and Macabéa as a way to get through his own thoughts and feelings connected to Macabéa, but perhaps Lispector herself is also using this narrator as a way to express her feelings? It gets increasingly more meta the more I think about it being a story within a story that may also be a writer speaking directly to us via another writer. And yet, through it all, it kept my attention!
I had not really considered the effect a novel’s title may have on a reader’s experience until I watched the lecture and contemplated the other titles Lispector left at the start of the book. While “The Hour of the Star” didn’t hold significance to me before I began reading, it became very symbolic of Macabéa’s journey and how she burned so brightly with hope in her final hour. Were this book given another title that was less abstract and more direct or indicative of the subject matter, I think a reader may have come to dislike the narrator’s prose because they would have expectations of a story and would be met with something much different. “Singing the Blues” indicates a sense of sadness; “Cheap Tearjerker” or “A Sense of Loss” may lead readers to expect a sad ending and ruin their reading experience.
The “separation” between Lispector and her narrator created a sort-of philosophical question within me, surrounding my so-called ‘involvement’ in the book as a reader. Rodrigo the narrator is not done writing the book as I am reading it, and I am to balance out my thoughts of Macabéa’s story with what I think about Rodrigo’s comments. Do I feel different emotions for Macabéa because of what Rodrigo feels? Or am I allowed to feel my own pity or perhaps indifference to her struggle?
As Lispector mention in her dedication, as is echoed in lecture, Lispector is still waiting for an answer, and by giving us a list of potential other titles – and by interspersing a narrative with someone else’s thoughts – the reader becomes much more involved in the process; perhaps Lispector makes us into another character?
I have a question that maybe no one can truly answer, for we are not the author: what do you think the (explosions) in the text mean? Lecture mentions they may “indicate some hidden violence”, but do you think they could signal revelations or importance? Or maybe they’re just another element of weirdness added to keep the reader on their toes. Maybe you have better thoughts (explosion!).
Jon
March 11, 2023 — 11:06 am
“do you think they could signal revelations or importance?”
I like the idea that the explosions are also revelations… but perhaps not noticed by the narrator? After all, he never comments on them. It’s as though they took place in the background and (again) it’s up to the reader to think about what, if anything, they might mean. (Great post, by the way!)
Julia Moniz-Lecce
March 12, 2023 — 9:57 am
Hi Julia,
Cool post! I agree that I didn’t really consider the role of the title. Thinking about it now, I would consider it referencing the hour it would take to read the novel (give or take) and perhaps the star being the character of Macabea. Therefore, it’s referencing the experience of the reader reading about this “star” for an hour. However, your idea of it being about her final hour is really cool too! I like it! It just shows how much (or little?) a title contributes to a work and how it can shift or change the reader’s perceptions. Looking forward to discussing this further in class!
Jon
March 12, 2023 — 11:48 am
“it’s referencing the experience of the reader reading about this “star” for an hour.”
Oooh, I like this idea! (Not that there’s any one “right” answer to the question, of course.)
Julia Tatham
March 13, 2023 — 11:09 am
Thinking about how the hour is the person reading the novel is also a cool way to think about this! I hadn’t considered that, but it makes sense with Lispector trying to make the reader apart of the novel too. Thanks for your thoughts!
Nandita Parmar
March 12, 2023 — 10:37 am
Hi!
Really good thoughts – I agree, as a reader I felt even more involved given the style of the narrative!
For me, the book belt very moment-moment, and so I interpreted the random explosions as an add-on to the momentary nature of literally everything in this novel – hope, despair, love, etc. Even though these things have lasting effects, they are but explosions in one’s life that seem to occur within a small and fast moment.
neko smart
March 12, 2023 — 4:40 pm
“the narrator is using the story he creates and Macabéa as a way to get through his own thoughts and feelings connected to Macabéa, but perhaps Lispector herself is also using this narrator as a way to express her feelings?” — I totally agree with this statement; I thought perhaps Lispector was wrestling with her relationship to her own femininity through the narrator’s ruminations on Macabéa.
In response to your question, I think the explosions definitely signify some type of revelation or perhaps they’re simply a tool to add emphasis to certain areas of the novel — like a highlighter of sorts? They also may just be a random poetic tool employed by Lispector for no rhyme or reason. Great question!
Marisa Ortiz
March 13, 2023 — 10:26 pm
Hi, I really love your thoughts here! I particularly agree with your conflicting feels about Rodrigo and the lens he places over Macabea’s story. He was harsh and critical in a way that made it difficult at times to parse misogyny from reality. I remember in the very beginning of the narration, Rodrigo mentions that he is a man and that his manhood is necessary to the narration because a woman wouldn’t be able to withstand the emotions of the story. I wonder what Lispector’s intention was there; maybe a somewhat facetious nod to the reader?