Book Review| The Air You Breathe

Author Name: Frances de Pontes Peebles

Book Description:

Some friendships, like romance, have the feeling of fate. 

Skinny, nine-year-old orphaned Dores is working in the kitchen of a sugar plantation in 1930s Brazil when in walks a girl who changes everything. Graça, the spoiled daughter of a wealthy sugar baron, is clever, well fed, pretty, and thrillingly ill behaved. Born to wildly different worlds, Dores and Graça quickly bond over shared mischief, and then, on a deeper level, over music. 

One has a voice like a songbird; the other feels melodies in her soul and composes lyrics to match. Music will become their shared passion, the source of their partnership and their rivalry, and for each, the only way out of the life to which each was born. But only one of the two is destined to be a star. Their intimate, volatile bond will determine each of their fortunes--and haunt their memories. 

Traveling from Brazil's inland sugar plantations to the rowdy streets of Rio de Janeiro's famous Lapa neighborhood, from Los Angeles during the Golden Age of Hollywood back to the irresistible drumbeat of home, The Air You Breathe unfurls a moving portrait of a lifelong friendship--its unparalleled rewards and lasting losses--and considers what we owe to the relationships that shape our lives.

My Review:

The Air You Breathe revolves around the two girls Dores and Graça, their friendship which will change everything.

Both were from totally different backgrounds but it clicks immediately between them.

The way how the plot moves showing their passion for music makes me feel like they both complete each other.

This book is beautiful and has musical nature which will make you feel as if you are there with Dores and Graça during 1930s in Brazil.

If you are looking for in-depth character development then this is the one for you.

It is quite bulky and I found it a little boring for the first few pages. I found myself struggling quite a bit but then the plot started getting interesting. I loved this book. But it is not for those who is looking for a lot of action.

Okay so Graça is the daughter of the sugar plantation mill and Dores is the daughter of one of the workers there. Both loved playing with each other and went to the same school. They ran away to chase their dreams and passion for music and ended up in clubs. Graça gradually becomes Sofia Salvador, a very popular performer and Dores was left out at times and the rivalry starts between them. Eventually Graça dies and Dores is the one to narrate this story while being on the verge of dying. She reflects upon the struggles they faced in their lives.

It moves from sugar plantation towards Hollywood just like that.

Also the friendship between Dores and Graça wasn't that simple. They were kind of soul mates at one time but rivals at other times so it was really a good read.

The flow and the structure is really beautiful.

Also I love it because of the strong characters of Dores and Graça. They had passion for music no doubt but they wanted to fulfil their desires and they moved out of their comfort zones and did it.

Ratings: 4/5