The High Mountains of Portugal

A Novel

By: Yann Martel

Narrated by: Mark Bramhall

Length: 10 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

The author of the best-selling Life of Pi returns to the storytelling power and luminous wisdom of his master novel.

In Lisbon in 1904, a young man named Tomás discovers an old journal. It hints at the existence of an extraordinary artifact that - if he can find it - would redefine history. Traveling in one of Europe's earliest automobiles, he sets out in search of this strange treasure.

Thirty-five years later, a Portuguese pathologist devoted to the murder mysteries of Agatha Christie finds himself at the center of a mystery of his own and drawn into the consequences of Tomás' quest.

Fifty years on, a Canadian senator takes refuge in his ancestral village in Northern Portugal, grieving the loss of his beloved wife. But he arrives with an unusual companion: a chimpanzee. And there the century-old quest will come to an unexpected conclusion.

Filled with tenderness, humor, and endless surprise, The High Mountains of Portugal - part quest, part ghost story, part contemporary fable - offers a haunting exploration of great love and great loss, asking questions about faith and lack of faith that are at the heart of all of Yann Martel's novels.

©2015 Yann Martel (P)2015 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Narrator Mark Bramhall delivers a confident performance of Yann Martel's exploration of faith and personal tragedy.... Bramhall is achingly convincing as the grief-stricken Tomás." ( AudioFile)

A good light read

A story about the odd things people suffering from grief do; and how those actions affect others and intertwine. Three separate stories all connected by that same theme.

Still processing...

The High Mountains of Portugal is a book that stays with you. I just finished it and throughout the week I've pondered its meaning and tried to tie the story together and understand the symbolism. The reader is excellent and once again Mr. Martel has painted a beautiful story to mindfully and thoughtfully gaze upon.

Did not disappoint.

I have been haunted for years by the Life of Pi. This book had more of that weird, charming and sometimes unsettlingly dreaminess that I loved. Wonderful characters and although the pacing was somewhat uneven it did not lose my interest at any point.

Well - its kinda worth the read but ....

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Maybe to the right person. Its quite contrived and hard to understand the point of its telling.

Would you ever listen to anything by Yann Martel again?

Maybe i love the life of Pi

What about Mark Bramhall’s performance did you like?

Hi performance was good the story was just lacking.

Could you see The High Mountains of Portugal being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

No

An Amazing Achievement

Would you listen to The High Mountains of Portugal again? Why?

Definitely. I've already listened to numerous parts of the book multiple times. The writing is beautiful. The magical realism needs to be experienced more than one time to catch multiple meanings.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The High Mountains of Portugal?

I cannot say without spoilers. Each of the 3 sections is quite memorable on its own. Together the three sections produce a sort of mystery. The ending was awesome.

Which character – as performed by Mark Bramhall – was your favorite?

If I say, I will spoil the last third of the novel. Actually in my Book Club, I will ask which was your favorite character. I predict multiple answers.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

I fear that no film can equal the impact of this audible book.

Any additional comments?

This is a book that is meant to be savored and shared with friends. It spans comedy and tragedy, many of the great themes of life and love (human and animal love). A native Portuguese speaker must judge the performer's pronunciation of Portuguese, but it was very beautiful and musical to my uneducated ear. I LOVE THIS BOOK.

crazy magic

each individual story is compelling, but the tie- in at the conclusion...deeply satisfying to the soul

Surreal Onion

This book earns 5 stars because, like the proverbial onion, it has layers and layers to ponder for months to come. It's a surreal journey, over generations, that make you think about faith, loss, "progress" and extinction. I particularly enjoyed the funny little connections from past to future, the best example being walking backwards. It's not a spoiler, but the practice of walking backwards is just one of the many fairy tale like elements in this book that make you consider that even when you want to resist moving forward, it's inevitable.

Absolutely fascinating!

This is one of the most intriguing, humorous, thoroughly enjoyable book I've listened to in a long time - beautifully expressed, hilarious and sad at the same time. The imagery and discussions powerful! It's a book I'll have to listen to again and again.

Excellent

This was the best reader I've encountered and will look forward to hearing him again. The story was interesting and well developed. Unfortunately, I did not like the ending. Admittedly, I think I just wanted to hear more and perhaps a clearer explanation of the key elements. Martel, however, does not disappoint. It was nevertheless an intriguing and skilled piece of artistry that summoned forth detailed visuals from my imagination.

Such a great book

What did you love best about The High Mountains of Portugal?

The characters in the story and the element of fantasy in how the story unfolds. In the end, everything fits together.

What did you like best about this story?

The reader doesn't find out what happened to Tomas

What does Mark Bramhall bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Loved his voice and performance

Who was the most memorable character of The High Mountains of Portugal and why?

Loved the story of Odo and Peter