Last Sunday I've got the best surprise gift from my sister: a book with James Joyce's A portrait of the artist as a young man and Dubliners. The first one I have never read, even having a very poor pocket edition from Penguins Classics (maybe because of that!) and the second is one of my favorite books from all times, but I had only in Portuguese.
Inside the book there was only a simple note: (When I saw) I thought I should give you this... So thoughtful and lovely!
The first thing I did was read my favorite short story from Dubliners, "Eveline". It's a very sad story about the girl from the title, stuck in a life without perspective or happiness, at the very afternoon when she has to decide to runaway or not. I can't remember another book where I felt the sadness of a character so strongly as in this one.
It's funny (in the lack of a better word) how we can fall in love with things that make us sad but Joyce made me understand Eveline like I knew her... I don't mind sharing her doubts and misery.
Thanks, sis!
