Though not new books, quite old really, anyone interested in Latin American literature, defined broadly, should not hesitate to read the works of the great Uruguayan author Eduardo Galeano. He is a "mosaicist" stylistically, but writes about history, society, and moral/cultural matters with great acuity and genius. Try out The Book of Embraces (El Libro de los Abrazos) for starters. Of course, he is best known for Memorias de Fuego and Venas Abiertas de Latina America, but all his books reward study.
- Thread starter Marianopolita
- Start date
Libros en espa?ol
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Summer reading 2009
Once again it?s that time of year in which I challenge myself to reading some good books. There?s something about the summer that just gives me inspiration to read more even though I read books of all kinds all year round. I chose my preliminary summer reading list for 2009 a few weeks ago and surely as time goes by it will change or I may just read other books. I make a list as a guide so I know what books I would like to focus on. However, in a broad sense I just go with the flow. Once I finish one, I take break for a few days then move on to another.
2009 proves to be another great year in Spanish literature and I will feel fortunate if I can read at least a few of what is available. Time is always of essence but should not be an excuse to not dedicate time to such an enriching past time. Therefore, once again here on DR1 I will use this thread for my summer reading reviews, comments, suggestions etc. In the past I have started separate threads for book reading book I don?t sense a great community of Spanish book readers on this forum so this thread will be where the bulk of my comments will be posted in conjunction with my summer reading section in my mini blog. The only difference is it will also have comments on French literature as well that?s also part of my reading list this summer. (DR1 Dominican Republic Forums - Summer reading 2009)
I just finished reading La orilla africana by Rodrigo Rey Rosa. I mentioned this book in post #83 in 2007 which is the first book to kick off my reading for the summer of 2009 although it?s not on my preliminary list. A few days ago I had the urge to read a short novel and that was the one I pulled off the shelf. (http://www.dr1.com/forums/527931-post83.html)
In brief, this author continues to please me with the simplicity of his writing style. The book is interesting because it really has no beginning or end. The setting is in Tangier, Morocco and the author, a Guatemalan native who moved there at one point to flee from the conflict in his home country thus the descriptions, the story, and the language; (Arabic of the Maghreb region) are very real. The book is about the happenings and fate of two young men one Moroccan and the other Colombian as they experience life in this local culture. One was born into it the other having to learn to adapt at the same time under the influence and symbolism of a lechuza (owl) which in the local culture is not a symbol of good luck.
My curiosity once again has been peaked regarding literature from this region. I will get more exposure from another author?s perspective from a book on my current reading list however in French.
Looking ahead regarding reading more from this author from Guatemala is Piedras encantadas also mentioned in my post #83. I will be able to get a used copy of the book and I look forward to reading it in the near future. The setting is in Guatemala, the story seems controversial and surely it will reflect some of the Latin American social idiosyncrasies that are so embedded in the culture of a potential volatile region of Latin America. The current events of Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras are prime examples of a perpetual problem of these three countries- crime and violence.
-Marianopolita
Once again it?s that time of year in which I challenge myself to reading some good books. There?s something about the summer that just gives me inspiration to read more even though I read books of all kinds all year round. I chose my preliminary summer reading list for 2009 a few weeks ago and surely as time goes by it will change or I may just read other books. I make a list as a guide so I know what books I would like to focus on. However, in a broad sense I just go with the flow. Once I finish one, I take break for a few days then move on to another.
2009 proves to be another great year in Spanish literature and I will feel fortunate if I can read at least a few of what is available. Time is always of essence but should not be an excuse to not dedicate time to such an enriching past time. Therefore, once again here on DR1 I will use this thread for my summer reading reviews, comments, suggestions etc. In the past I have started separate threads for book reading book I don?t sense a great community of Spanish book readers on this forum so this thread will be where the bulk of my comments will be posted in conjunction with my summer reading section in my mini blog. The only difference is it will also have comments on French literature as well that?s also part of my reading list this summer. (DR1 Dominican Republic Forums - Summer reading 2009)
I just finished reading La orilla africana by Rodrigo Rey Rosa. I mentioned this book in post #83 in 2007 which is the first book to kick off my reading for the summer of 2009 although it?s not on my preliminary list. A few days ago I had the urge to read a short novel and that was the one I pulled off the shelf. (http://www.dr1.com/forums/527931-post83.html)
In brief, this author continues to please me with the simplicity of his writing style. The book is interesting because it really has no beginning or end. The setting is in Tangier, Morocco and the author, a Guatemalan native who moved there at one point to flee from the conflict in his home country thus the descriptions, the story, and the language; (Arabic of the Maghreb region) are very real. The book is about the happenings and fate of two young men one Moroccan and the other Colombian as they experience life in this local culture. One was born into it the other having to learn to adapt at the same time under the influence and symbolism of a lechuza (owl) which in the local culture is not a symbol of good luck.
My curiosity once again has been peaked regarding literature from this region. I will get more exposure from another author?s perspective from a book on my current reading list however in French.
Looking ahead regarding reading more from this author from Guatemala is Piedras encantadas also mentioned in my post #83. I will be able to get a used copy of the book and I look forward to reading it in the near future. The setting is in Guatemala, the story seems controversial and surely it will reflect some of the Latin American social idiosyncrasies that are so embedded in the culture of a potential volatile region of Latin America. The current events of Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras are prime examples of a perpetual problem of these three countries- crime and violence.
-Marianopolita
Update-Summer reading 2009
As anticipated I am enjoying my reading sabbatical completely. Although the daily routine of life continues, I like to dedicate extra time to reading as much as possible until mid fall. It?s not only reading novels that are enjoyable but also discovering new authors and their literary collection that make this past time so enriching. I am sure many fellow readers share my sentiments.
Since the focus is on Spanish literature, I will say that there continues to be a wealth of interesting books of all kinds. This includes novels, political books, autobiographies, biographies just to name a few popular categories. Without doubt documentation is happening, writers are putting pen to paper and in my opinion there seems to be a contemporary literary boom. I often hear people say there?s nothing to read. I think the problem is that they do not know what to choose and who the popular authors are.
For those who are tapping into Spanish literature for the first time, it is a good idea to start with some of the best sellers which will give you quite a vast exposure to how diverse Spanish literature is. Although the contemporary greats of the past twenty to thirty years or so are still popular; there?s a whole new group of authors specifically in Latin America who are definitely well on their way to becoming the next generation of great writers. I think once you find a book and an author that you like, the journey into Spanish literature and its diverse selections is one that can possibly have no end.
The ways to discover new authors or diversify your literature selection include browsing in book stores and reading the summary at the back of the books. If you are an online shopper, Amazon specifically, the system automatically suggests books based on your purchase history, join a book club, read websites dedicated to books or ask fellow readers who share this hobby and passion.
DISCOVERY OF NEW AUTHORS
One author I discovered on Amazon last week is William Ospina. He is Colombian and apparently is well on his way to becoming part of the elite writers of Latin America. I read the reviews online of one book, Urs?a and purchased it based on the editorial summary and the comments by readers. In brief it?s a novel about the Spanish conquest of America. It turns out this week he was awarded the winner of the R?mulo Gallegos de novela, edici?n 2009 award for his most recent novel El pa?s de la canela. There are many good links about the writer, award and the novel.
William Ospina gana premio R?mulo Gallegos | La Voz de Houston | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle, William Ospina gana Premio Rmulo Gallegos - El Universal - Cultura
I finally purchased a copy of The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao. I hope to be able to read the novel in the very near future. It?s no fun reading articles and commentary by others who read the book without being able to give my opinion. However, for now I am sticking to my preliminary list as detailed in the link in the post above. Once I read those books, I will put together another list for the second part of the summer.
I am currently reading Purgatorio by Tom?s Eloy Mart?nez. It?s a very good novel by this Argentinean writer. I am glad I decided to sample his literature. I will post my commentary soon once I am finished the book.
-Marianopolita
As anticipated I am enjoying my reading sabbatical completely. Although the daily routine of life continues, I like to dedicate extra time to reading as much as possible until mid fall. It?s not only reading novels that are enjoyable but also discovering new authors and their literary collection that make this past time so enriching. I am sure many fellow readers share my sentiments.
Since the focus is on Spanish literature, I will say that there continues to be a wealth of interesting books of all kinds. This includes novels, political books, autobiographies, biographies just to name a few popular categories. Without doubt documentation is happening, writers are putting pen to paper and in my opinion there seems to be a contemporary literary boom. I often hear people say there?s nothing to read. I think the problem is that they do not know what to choose and who the popular authors are.
For those who are tapping into Spanish literature for the first time, it is a good idea to start with some of the best sellers which will give you quite a vast exposure to how diverse Spanish literature is. Although the contemporary greats of the past twenty to thirty years or so are still popular; there?s a whole new group of authors specifically in Latin America who are definitely well on their way to becoming the next generation of great writers. I think once you find a book and an author that you like, the journey into Spanish literature and its diverse selections is one that can possibly have no end.
The ways to discover new authors or diversify your literature selection include browsing in book stores and reading the summary at the back of the books. If you are an online shopper, Amazon specifically, the system automatically suggests books based on your purchase history, join a book club, read websites dedicated to books or ask fellow readers who share this hobby and passion.
DISCOVERY OF NEW AUTHORS
William Ospina gana premio R?mulo Gallegos | La Voz de Houston | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle, William Ospina gana Premio Rmulo Gallegos - El Universal - Cultura
I finally purchased a copy of The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao. I hope to be able to read the novel in the very near future. It?s no fun reading articles and commentary by others who read the book without being able to give my opinion. However, for now I am sticking to my preliminary list as detailed in the link in the post above. Once I read those books, I will put together another list for the second part of the summer.
I am currently reading Purgatorio by Tom?s Eloy Mart?nez. It?s a very good novel by this Argentinean writer. I am glad I decided to sample his literature. I will post my commentary soon once I am finished the book.
-Marianopolita
Comentario- Purgatorio-Tom?s Eloy Mart?nez
Vale la pena leer este libro si quieres conocer a este escritor argentino que figura en la lista de los mejores escritores de nuestros tiempos. He visto sus libros en las librer?as pero no me interesaba comprar uno, aunque fue ganador del prestigioso premio, Premio Alfaguara de Novela 2002 por su novela El vuelo de la reina.
Esta novela cuyo tema principal se mueve entre el pasado y el presente, trata del purgatorio de la protagonista que est? afligida a causa de su amor por su esposo. Mientras la trama se desarrolla, el/ la lector@ aprende el valor del amor y el poder de los sentimientos cuando Sim?n desaparece de repente y vive los pr?ximos treinta a?os tratando de encontrarlo.
Recibe mensajes y cartas sobre su supuesto paradero. Creyendo los enga?os de la gente, la protagonista viaja a varios pa?ses como Brasil, Venezuela y M?xico y vive a?os buscando a Sim?n. En mi opini?n, el/ la lector@ debe entender la importancia de saber un poco de la historia de un pa?s para que el tema principal tenga m?s sentido. La Argentina tuvo una dictadura militar desde 1976 hasta 1983. Como resultado, dej? su huella en la sociedad e influy? en el pensamiento y comportamiento de los argentinos. Cre? mucha desconfianza y cierto recelo entre ellos.
Sin revelar m?s detalles sobre la historia, los temas principales son 'los desparecidos' y el purgatorio (el sufrimiento). Era imposible seguir viviendo sin saber qu? pas? con Sim?n pero al mismo tiempo no sab?a c?mo dejar de pensar en ?l. Entre el pasado y el presente el escritor desarroll? bien la trama. Es un libro que toca temas profundos.
Si quieres probar una voz contempor?nea, te recomiendo este libro de Tom?s Eloy Mart?nez. Seguro que en el futuro leer? m?s en su colecci?n.
-Marianopolita
Purgatorio- Tom?s Eloy Mart?nez
Vale la pena leer este libro si quieres conocer a este escritor argentino que figura en la lista de los mejores escritores de nuestros tiempos. He visto sus libros en las librer?as pero no me interesaba comprar uno, aunque fue ganador del prestigioso premio, Premio Alfaguara de Novela 2002 por su novela El vuelo de la reina.
Esta novela cuyo tema principal se mueve entre el pasado y el presente, trata del purgatorio de la protagonista que est? afligida a causa de su amor por su esposo. Mientras la trama se desarrolla, el/ la lector@ aprende el valor del amor y el poder de los sentimientos cuando Sim?n desaparece de repente y vive los pr?ximos treinta a?os tratando de encontrarlo.
Recibe mensajes y cartas sobre su supuesto paradero. Creyendo los enga?os de la gente, la protagonista viaja a varios pa?ses como Brasil, Venezuela y M?xico y vive a?os buscando a Sim?n. En mi opini?n, el/ la lector@ debe entender la importancia de saber un poco de la historia de un pa?s para que el tema principal tenga m?s sentido. La Argentina tuvo una dictadura militar desde 1976 hasta 1983. Como resultado, dej? su huella en la sociedad e influy? en el pensamiento y comportamiento de los argentinos. Cre? mucha desconfianza y cierto recelo entre ellos.
Sin revelar m?s detalles sobre la historia, los temas principales son 'los desparecidos' y el purgatorio (el sufrimiento). Era imposible seguir viviendo sin saber qu? pas? con Sim?n pero al mismo tiempo no sab?a c?mo dejar de pensar en ?l. Entre el pasado y el presente el escritor desarroll? bien la trama. Es un libro que toca temas profundos.
Si quieres probar una voz contempor?nea, te recomiendo este libro de Tom?s Eloy Mart?nez. Seguro que en el futuro leer? m?s en su colecci?n.
-Marianopolita
Commentary- Jos? Mar?a Mendiluce - Pura vida
Life in the land of 'pura vida' is not as great as one may think at least not for some in Costa Rica. It depends on the perspective from which one chooses to assess the situation. Like many places in the world, the rich, the poor and the middle class will have a different version of their country depending on their own personal situation. Some will say it?s a great place to live and others will run given the opportunity.
The story in a broad sense really centers on the plight of the less affluent Black Costa Ricans of Jamaican origin that historically feel like misplaced persons in another man?s land. Those who are unaware of Costa Rica?s history may not even know that Costa Rica has a Black population (Afro-costarricense) from Jamaica who arrived in the late 19th century to work on the railroad. The first generation of Costa Ricans of Afro (Jamaican) descent began after the arrival of this original group. However, what kind of life did they live and how were they welcomed and accepted by the locals? In modern day Costa Rica these descendants of Jamaicans live predominantly on the coast in Lim?n and it?s well known that it?s an area were Costa Rica?s afro community lives.
The theme is one with which many in Latin America should be able to identify or understand exists. Limited job opportunities, poor and incomplete education and cycles of poverty in many families make hope for the future very grim. Some families survive and live day to day but see the hope for the youth dissipate as they involve themselves in drugs, the drug culture, alcohol, and a care free life that eventually passes them by. To break the cycle of poverty for some can be perceived as a miracle.
The protagonist in this story Ariadna, a foreigner originally from Barcelona and lives in New York is the glimmer of hope for a young Black Costa Rican who meets her on a job assignment in Costa Rica. Both intrigued by the drastically different life styles of each other rapidly become involved and it?s not long before the protagonist realizes that 'pura vida' comes with a huge emotional cost.
The author Jos? Mar?a Mendiluce presents a realistic portrait of a life that so many know of in Latin America but some foreigners only understand when they see it or experience a part of it themselves. Unfortunately, the sad ending once again cuts a young man?s dream short due to the reality of his own misfortune.
This book is an easy read, well-written, and an eye-opener about the life of some people in a country that clearly has two faces. This novel, finalist of the Premio Planeta Award in 1998 could have easily been the winner.
My next book will be a switch in language to French. I will be reading a novel titled Il ?tait parti dans la nuit written by an author from one of the Arab Northern African countries also known as the Maghreb region. I am interested in reading it because it?s about people who leave their country on home made boats (equivalent to yolas) in an attempt to cross the Mediterranean Sea to Europe. We all know what happens much too often and the result is a tragic loss of lives. I am looking forward to sampling this author for the first time and ascertaining a new perspective on a theme so familiar to many countries.
It will be interesting to see how this story compares to the risky and deadly yola crossings from DR to Puerto Rico.
See link for a brief 20 page preview:
Il ?tait parti dans la nuit - Google Books
-Marianopolita.
PURA VIDA
Jos? Mar?a Mendiluce
Jos? Mar?a Mendiluce
The story in a broad sense really centers on the plight of the less affluent Black Costa Ricans of Jamaican origin that historically feel like misplaced persons in another man?s land. Those who are unaware of Costa Rica?s history may not even know that Costa Rica has a Black population (Afro-costarricense) from Jamaica who arrived in the late 19th century to work on the railroad. The first generation of Costa Ricans of Afro (Jamaican) descent began after the arrival of this original group. However, what kind of life did they live and how were they welcomed and accepted by the locals? In modern day Costa Rica these descendants of Jamaicans live predominantly on the coast in Lim?n and it?s well known that it?s an area were Costa Rica?s afro community lives.
The theme is one with which many in Latin America should be able to identify or understand exists. Limited job opportunities, poor and incomplete education and cycles of poverty in many families make hope for the future very grim. Some families survive and live day to day but see the hope for the youth dissipate as they involve themselves in drugs, the drug culture, alcohol, and a care free life that eventually passes them by. To break the cycle of poverty for some can be perceived as a miracle.
The protagonist in this story Ariadna, a foreigner originally from Barcelona and lives in New York is the glimmer of hope for a young Black Costa Rican who meets her on a job assignment in Costa Rica. Both intrigued by the drastically different life styles of each other rapidly become involved and it?s not long before the protagonist realizes that 'pura vida' comes with a huge emotional cost.
The author Jos? Mar?a Mendiluce presents a realistic portrait of a life that so many know of in Latin America but some foreigners only understand when they see it or experience a part of it themselves. Unfortunately, the sad ending once again cuts a young man?s dream short due to the reality of his own misfortune.
This book is an easy read, well-written, and an eye-opener about the life of some people in a country that clearly has two faces. This novel, finalist of the Premio Planeta Award in 1998 could have easily been the winner.
My next book will be a switch in language to French. I will be reading a novel titled Il ?tait parti dans la nuit written by an author from one of the Arab Northern African countries also known as the Maghreb region. I am interested in reading it because it?s about people who leave their country on home made boats (equivalent to yolas) in an attempt to cross the Mediterranean Sea to Europe. We all know what happens much too often and the result is a tragic loss of lives. I am looking forward to sampling this author for the first time and ascertaining a new perspective on a theme so familiar to many countries.
It will be interesting to see how this story compares to the risky and deadly yola crossings from DR to Puerto Rico.
See link for a brief 20 page preview:
Il ?tait parti dans la nuit - Google Books
-Marianopolita.
I haven't got my copy yet and would be interested to hear comments from people who have read this new novel:
Review extracted from: New Book: Hugo Luis S?nchez?s El puente de coral Repeating Islands
Review extracted from: New Book: Hugo Luis S?nchez?s El puente de coral Repeating Islands
Not familiar with the author's work-
I have never heard of this author before and I have searched for the availability of this book in the online market but it seems to be limited. I have mentioned this before, the big name Spanish publishing houses are popular on the high volume online websites but this book was published by Ediciones Uni?n, a publishing house with which I am not familiar.
I read the summary by the author and it does seem captivating and any addition to Caribbean literature in Spanish is great in my opinion as authors from this region face some stiff competition from authors from South America. It?s just such a high producing region especially countries like Argentina, Colombia, Chile and even Peru that it puts pressure on the less popular Latin authors to have a voice.
I began reading again as my summer reading plans were a disaster due to unforeseen events and once again I have had to stop. I started Isabel Allende?s new release, La isla bajo el mar and I have had to stop reading it. I hope to resume reading asap and I am considering starting from scratch as I only reached page 75. I started a separate thread with hopes of enticing some new readers and loyal fans. See here. http://www.dr1.com/forums/general-s...ation-la-isla-bajo-el-mar-isabel-allende.html
If others are looking for good Spanish literature to read, especially novels, there are plenty of good choices both contemporary and classic that can keep you reading for many years to come. Some of the most popular books on the top ten charts currently include (in no specific order):
1/ "La isla bajo el mar" - Isabel Allende
2/ "El vencedor est? solo" - Paulo Coelho
3/ "Demasiados h?roes" -Laura Restrepo. I almost bought this book last month because it seems interesting but to add one more to a huge pile of books held me back. However, it?s good to buy them when they are on sale.
4/ "El viajero del siglo" - Andr?s Neuman- Premio Alfaguara de novela 2009
I did manage to buy Piedras encantadas brand new from a private seller (refer to my post #102) and I will read it as soon as I can.
-Marianopolita.
I have never heard of this author before and I have searched for the availability of this book in the online market but it seems to be limited. I have mentioned this before, the big name Spanish publishing houses are popular on the high volume online websites but this book was published by Ediciones Uni?n, a publishing house with which I am not familiar.
I read the summary by the author and it does seem captivating and any addition to Caribbean literature in Spanish is great in my opinion as authors from this region face some stiff competition from authors from South America. It?s just such a high producing region especially countries like Argentina, Colombia, Chile and even Peru that it puts pressure on the less popular Latin authors to have a voice.
I began reading again as my summer reading plans were a disaster due to unforeseen events and once again I have had to stop. I started Isabel Allende?s new release, La isla bajo el mar and I have had to stop reading it. I hope to resume reading asap and I am considering starting from scratch as I only reached page 75. I started a separate thread with hopes of enticing some new readers and loyal fans. See here. http://www.dr1.com/forums/general-s...ation-la-isla-bajo-el-mar-isabel-allende.html
If others are looking for good Spanish literature to read, especially novels, there are plenty of good choices both contemporary and classic that can keep you reading for many years to come. Some of the most popular books on the top ten charts currently include (in no specific order):
1/ "La isla bajo el mar" - Isabel Allende
2/ "El vencedor est? solo" - Paulo Coelho
3/ "Demasiados h?roes" -Laura Restrepo. I almost bought this book last month because it seems interesting but to add one more to a huge pile of books held me back. However, it?s good to buy them when they are on sale.
4/ "El viajero del siglo" - Andr?s Neuman- Premio Alfaguara de novela 2009
I did manage to buy Piedras encantadas brand new from a private seller (refer to my post #102) and I will read it as soon as I can.
-Marianopolita.
Comentario- La isla bajo el mar-Isabel Allende by Marianopolita
Mis pensamientos acerca del libro:
Una vez m?s ha sido un placer leer uno de los libros de Isabel Allende. La isla bajo el mar toca un tema muy pol?mico, la esclavitud en el Saint-Domingue del siglo XVIII. Sin duda es un tema que le da al libro un aspecto muy real porque la esclavitud formaba parte de la historia de la isla.
Aunque no he le?do todos los libros de su colecci?n, creo que ?ste es un ?xito porque el tema es bien distinto y no tiene nada que ver con su vida personal. La escritora presenta la esclavitud a trav?s de la ficci?n pero al mismo tiempo gracias a los personajes, Zarit?, la esclava mulata de nueve a?os y Valmorain, 'el villano, el amo blanco franc?s de los esclavos', hay mucho realismo en la novela.
Me imagino que desarrollar un tema as? no fue f?cil para la escritora dado que en su pa?s natal, Chile, la esclavitud no exist?a, aunque s? hab?a discriminaci?n contra los ind?genas. Por lo tanto, requiere de mucha investigaci?n sobre la historia de la isla en aquella ?poca.
Seg?n la autora, 'hay m?s esclavos en el mundo que nunca antes hubo. Hay 27 millones de esclavos en el mundo en este momento'. En mi opini?n, esa cifra refleja la triste realidad de la situaci?n a nivel mundial.
La isla bajo el mar es una novela ejemplar, buena lectura y muy recomendada.
…summary to follow
This book is a fictional examination of slavery in the Caribbean, a topic that is very controversial since it still exists today in many forms. The setting of the story is Saint-Domingue of the 18th century which is modern day Haiti and part of Hispaniola.
A first of its kind novel for the well-known author Isabel Allende, once again via strong and vibrant characters her novel brings to light an issue that had profound repercussions on the island at the time and IMO, is a reflection of some of the political, cultural and social currents specifically about race, color and racial classification in modern day Hispaniola.
The main character is Zarite, a domestic slave*. The book reveals the painful reality of this young girl who was sold to her owner Valmorain Toulouse at nine years old and the suffering she endures under the control of her master. As the author herself said in an interview:
...'las condiciones de trabajo eran siniestras pero Zarit? ten?a un poco m?s suerte que otro porque no le toc? trabajar en la ca?a de az?car. Era una esclava dom?stica pero igual era muy poca oportunidad'.
Zarite's goal is to change her life, gain her freedom and help her children. Due to her tireless efforts and the uprising of the other slaves on the sugar plantation their lives take a drastic turn. The prose of the author and sequence of events keeps the reader intrigued throughout the novel. The shift in setting and the outcome of the lives of the central characters makes the novel a very enlightening read and can serve as a reminder that 'slavery' as it was in the 18th century may not exist today but it certainly exists in other forms in many countries around the world. The book is well worth the read and definitley is a boost to Isabel Allende's collection.
* and clearly a sexual slave
As well, the timing of me finishing the book and the recent events in Haiti is incredible. It makes the book that much more real.
I can't believe the ending, once again Isabel Allende's novel has strong female characters.
I am taking a brief break and then I will go to the huge pile of books I have and choose one. As usual, I will provide a summary once completed.
-MP.
Mis pensamientos acerca del libro:
Una vez m?s ha sido un placer leer uno de los libros de Isabel Allende. La isla bajo el mar toca un tema muy pol?mico, la esclavitud en el Saint-Domingue del siglo XVIII. Sin duda es un tema que le da al libro un aspecto muy real porque la esclavitud formaba parte de la historia de la isla.
Aunque no he le?do todos los libros de su colecci?n, creo que ?ste es un ?xito porque el tema es bien distinto y no tiene nada que ver con su vida personal. La escritora presenta la esclavitud a trav?s de la ficci?n pero al mismo tiempo gracias a los personajes, Zarit?, la esclava mulata de nueve a?os y Valmorain, 'el villano, el amo blanco franc?s de los esclavos', hay mucho realismo en la novela.
Me imagino que desarrollar un tema as? no fue f?cil para la escritora dado que en su pa?s natal, Chile, la esclavitud no exist?a, aunque s? hab?a discriminaci?n contra los ind?genas. Por lo tanto, requiere de mucha investigaci?n sobre la historia de la isla en aquella ?poca.
Seg?n la autora, 'hay m?s esclavos en el mundo que nunca antes hubo. Hay 27 millones de esclavos en el mundo en este momento'. En mi opini?n, esa cifra refleja la triste realidad de la situaci?n a nivel mundial.
La isla bajo el mar es una novela ejemplar, buena lectura y muy recomendada.
…summary to follow
This book is a fictional examination of slavery in the Caribbean, a topic that is very controversial since it still exists today in many forms. The setting of the story is Saint-Domingue of the 18th century which is modern day Haiti and part of Hispaniola.
A first of its kind novel for the well-known author Isabel Allende, once again via strong and vibrant characters her novel brings to light an issue that had profound repercussions on the island at the time and IMO, is a reflection of some of the political, cultural and social currents specifically about race, color and racial classification in modern day Hispaniola.
The main character is Zarite, a domestic slave*. The book reveals the painful reality of this young girl who was sold to her owner Valmorain Toulouse at nine years old and the suffering she endures under the control of her master. As the author herself said in an interview:
...'las condiciones de trabajo eran siniestras pero Zarit? ten?a un poco m?s suerte que otro porque no le toc? trabajar en la ca?a de az?car. Era una esclava dom?stica pero igual era muy poca oportunidad'.
Zarite's goal is to change her life, gain her freedom and help her children. Due to her tireless efforts and the uprising of the other slaves on the sugar plantation their lives take a drastic turn. The prose of the author and sequence of events keeps the reader intrigued throughout the novel. The shift in setting and the outcome of the lives of the central characters makes the novel a very enlightening read and can serve as a reminder that 'slavery' as it was in the 18th century may not exist today but it certainly exists in other forms in many countries around the world. The book is well worth the read and definitley is a boost to Isabel Allende's collection.
* and clearly a sexual slave
As well, the timing of me finishing the book and the recent events in Haiti is incredible. It makes the book that much more real.
I can't believe the ending, once again Isabel Allende's novel has strong female characters.
I am taking a brief break and then I will go to the huge pile of books I have and choose one. As usual, I will provide a summary once completed.
-MP.
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My favorite novel is "Un viejo que le?a novelas de amor," by Luis Sepulveda. He has quite a fascination with ants as an agent of entropy. It's set in the jungles of Chile.
Books, books and more books
I have that book in my home library. I have not read it yet and probably won't for a while. I have so many that I don't plan anymore. I just go with the flow. On average I read about five (Spanish) novels per year. In the past I have read more but time is a factor now so I read as much as I can. That book however, according to the editorial summary is set in the jungle of Ecuador not Chile as you mentioned and it has very mixed reviews based on the comments of reviewers on Amazon. Some say although the literature itself is rich, it's a boring read where as others have said the complete opposite. To each his own I guess. I always make a few attempts to read a book when one does not appeal to me because sometimes I am not in the right frame of mind.
I have yet to decide on my next novel but I'm anticipating that whatever book I read I will enjoy. There is so much good literature in Spanish to choose from, it makes my choice that much more difficult but I pretty much narrowed it down to a few books. As well, I would like to read at least one English novel this year and minimum two French ones so it's going be a challenge, not so much what to read but time wise.
A few books I am considering to read next, a choice from these ones but I have not decided yet:
1/
El asalto- Reinaldo Arenas. He's a good Cuban author. Almost two years ago I read Antes de que anochezca and I was really impressed with his writing.
2/
Los vivos y los muertos- Edmundo Paz Sold?n- IMO, he's an interesting contemporary author from Bolivia. He has a few novels that are definitely worth reading. Looking forward to this as the reviews are positive.
3/
Tan veloz como el deseo- Laura Esquivel- all the ratings on Amazon are five stars for this novel so I'm quite curious about this book by the renowned author of Como agua para chocolate.
4/
Lagartija sin cola- Jos? Donoso
This book seems quite profound simply because of the author's writing style. I am not sure I want get into this type of reading right now but maybe later on in the year. I bought the book because I wanted to sample his literature knowing he is one of Latin America's best from a great era in Latin literature.
I also want to start reading some more literature from the older generation of classic authors such as Garc?a M?rquez, Cabrera Infante, Vargas LLosa, Carlos Fuentes, Alejo Carpentier etc. If I get a chance to read at least one book from any of these classic great authors this year I will be content.
-MP.
I have that book in my home library. I have not read it yet and probably won't for a while. I have so many that I don't plan anymore. I just go with the flow. On average I read about five (Spanish) novels per year. In the past I have read more but time is a factor now so I read as much as I can. That book however, according to the editorial summary is set in the jungle of Ecuador not Chile as you mentioned and it has very mixed reviews based on the comments of reviewers on Amazon. Some say although the literature itself is rich, it's a boring read where as others have said the complete opposite. To each his own I guess. I always make a few attempts to read a book when one does not appeal to me because sometimes I am not in the right frame of mind.
I have yet to decide on my next novel but I'm anticipating that whatever book I read I will enjoy. There is so much good literature in Spanish to choose from, it makes my choice that much more difficult but I pretty much narrowed it down to a few books. As well, I would like to read at least one English novel this year and minimum two French ones so it's going be a challenge, not so much what to read but time wise.
A few books I am considering to read next, a choice from these ones but I have not decided yet:
1/
El asalto- Reinaldo Arenas. He's a good Cuban author. Almost two years ago I read Antes de que anochezca and I was really impressed with his writing.
2/
Los vivos y los muertos- Edmundo Paz Sold?n- IMO, he's an interesting contemporary author from Bolivia. He has a few novels that are definitely worth reading. Looking forward to this as the reviews are positive.
3/
Tan veloz como el deseo- Laura Esquivel- all the ratings on Amazon are five stars for this novel so I'm quite curious about this book by the renowned author of Como agua para chocolate.
4/
Lagartija sin cola- Jos? Donoso
This book seems quite profound simply because of the author's writing style. I am not sure I want get into this type of reading right now but maybe later on in the year. I bought the book because I wanted to sample his literature knowing he is one of Latin America's best from a great era in Latin literature.
I also want to start reading some more literature from the older generation of classic authors such as Garc?a M?rquez, Cabrera Infante, Vargas LLosa, Carlos Fuentes, Alejo Carpentier etc. If I get a chance to read at least one book from any of these classic great authors this year I will be content.
-MP.
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When I was in Spain the teacher told us this but I think 4 was the arbitrary number she used. It makes sense especially in a book or something.
Good point jr. It has been so many years since I read any fiction(since like 1990) that I seemed to forget that back then I would run across words in English that I either didn't know outright or wasn't sure and yet I wouldn't look them up. So with that in mind I finished the reading last night without stopping and it was quite enjoyable. Also, I started pondering how one understands the meaning of new words as a child and I realized it was mostly by context and with that in mind I was able to infer the meaning of many words in the book.
I'm on the second story and am mildly pleased that use of the language is very familiar to me, must be a Dominican thing.
I do find it somewhat odd that in the first two short stories that the protagonists are teenage girls while the writers are middle aged men. I don't know if I've ever encountered this before - an author of one sex writing as another. It is a little creepy and calls into question some of the imagined experiences. I hope this isn't a pattern in hispanic or Dominican lieterature.
I do find it somewhat odd that in the first two short stories that the protagonists are teenage girls while the writers are middle aged men. I don't know if I've ever encountered this before - an author of one sex writing as another. It is a little creepy and calls into question some of the imagined experiences. I hope this isn't a pattern in hispanic or Dominican lieterature.
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Reading in the spring/ summer 2010
As I mentioned in my previous post, I took a brief break from reading before resuming and I have been reading consistently for the past three months. I am in a good stretch right now and hope to maintain it throughout the spring and summer months.
Instead of reading Spanish novels, I have been reading French ones which I had also mentioned as one of my goals. I decided to read one novel sooner than later and that I believe that gave me the spark I needed to get back into a good flow, almost like renewed energy. I will mention the book that I read because there is a translated version in Spanish and it may be of interest to a few people. I will finish reading another one today by a Haitian author titled, L’odeur du caf? by Dany Laferri?re. His books are translated into English but I don’t recall seeing anything in Spanish.
Since the earthquake in Haiti my passive curiosity about Haitian literature has been sparked and I have been doing plenty of research on popular authors and their repertoire. What a discovery! I always knew that Haiti had good French writers but I am really impressed with their talent and thanks to this enlightenment, I have even expanded my curiosity to include writers from Martinique and Guadeloupe. I have purchased about twenty novels in last two months mostly by Dany Laferri?re and a few other French authors for future reading. Dany’s collection to me is priority then I will move on to the other novels. As well, the end of March he released a novel about the quake. He happened to be there at the time. I have it and will read it asap. See my mini blog for further discussion about my French literature reading.
French novels read thus far this year:
Le voile de la peur- Samia Shariff (available in Spanish)
L’odeur du caf?- Dany Laferri?re
A brand new release and one of the first authors to write about the earthquake.
'Tout bouge autour de moi':
My mini blog commentary: http://www.dr1.com/forums/blogs/marianopolita/488-tout-bouge-autour-de-moi-dany-laferri-re.html
Once I switch back to Spanish literature, I am not sure what I will read. I feel sort of out touch with the most popular novels currently because I have not been following the weekly lists or reading reviews but that will change soon. I have already started browsing 'los libros m?s vendidos de la semana' to see what people are reading in Latin America.
I will most likely pick a short novel from my list above. Los vivos y los muertos is a strong favourite and then who knows what afterwards but short novels will be my target because time wise they are so much easier to read. As well, I really enjoy reading novels by authors who are not in the top ten. As an avid reader there is nothing more inspiring than discovering an author’s work that has a fantastic collection and is not in the spotlight for whatever reason. It’s almost like a hidden treasure waiting to be uncovered. One thing for sure is there is not a shortage of good literature in English, French or Spanish. You just have to find an author or authors you like and all of sudden the world of books and reading will open up to you.
The reviews about this book are very good. I think this is probably one of this author’s best yet. His style is typical South American writing/ literature.
BTW- I posted a commentary about reading in my mini blog last year. Here it is for those who wish to read it. I think looking up vocabulary is not something questionable. You need to know the meaning of words. The key is to read at your level. The guideline is usually to read one level below as a start and then move forward. If you find that you have to look several words in a passage, page after page, then you need to read a book that’s more on your language level.
http://www.dr1.com/forums/blogs/mar...ove-ones-spanish-language-skills-general.html
-MP.
As I mentioned in my previous post, I took a brief break from reading before resuming and I have been reading consistently for the past three months. I am in a good stretch right now and hope to maintain it throughout the spring and summer months.
Instead of reading Spanish novels, I have been reading French ones which I had also mentioned as one of my goals. I decided to read one novel sooner than later and that I believe that gave me the spark I needed to get back into a good flow, almost like renewed energy. I will mention the book that I read because there is a translated version in Spanish and it may be of interest to a few people. I will finish reading another one today by a Haitian author titled, L’odeur du caf? by Dany Laferri?re. His books are translated into English but I don’t recall seeing anything in Spanish.
Since the earthquake in Haiti my passive curiosity about Haitian literature has been sparked and I have been doing plenty of research on popular authors and their repertoire. What a discovery! I always knew that Haiti had good French writers but I am really impressed with their talent and thanks to this enlightenment, I have even expanded my curiosity to include writers from Martinique and Guadeloupe. I have purchased about twenty novels in last two months mostly by Dany Laferri?re and a few other French authors for future reading. Dany’s collection to me is priority then I will move on to the other novels. As well, the end of March he released a novel about the quake. He happened to be there at the time. I have it and will read it asap. See my mini blog for further discussion about my French literature reading.
French novels read thus far this year:
Le voile de la peur- Samia Shariff (available in Spanish)
L’odeur du caf?- Dany Laferri?re
A brand new release and one of the first authors to write about the earthquake.
'Tout bouge autour de moi':
My mini blog commentary: http://www.dr1.com/forums/blogs/marianopolita/488-tout-bouge-autour-de-moi-dany-laferri-re.html
Once I switch back to Spanish literature, I am not sure what I will read. I feel sort of out touch with the most popular novels currently because I have not been following the weekly lists or reading reviews but that will change soon. I have already started browsing 'los libros m?s vendidos de la semana' to see what people are reading in Latin America.
I will most likely pick a short novel from my list above. Los vivos y los muertos is a strong favourite and then who knows what afterwards but short novels will be my target because time wise they are so much easier to read. As well, I really enjoy reading novels by authors who are not in the top ten. As an avid reader there is nothing more inspiring than discovering an author’s work that has a fantastic collection and is not in the spotlight for whatever reason. It’s almost like a hidden treasure waiting to be uncovered. One thing for sure is there is not a shortage of good literature in English, French or Spanish. You just have to find an author or authors you like and all of sudden the world of books and reading will open up to you.
The reviews about this book are very good. I think this is probably one of this author’s best yet. His style is typical South American writing/ literature.
BTW- I posted a commentary about reading in my mini blog last year. Here it is for those who wish to read it. I think looking up vocabulary is not something questionable. You need to know the meaning of words. The key is to read at your level. The guideline is usually to read one level below as a start and then move forward. If you find that you have to look several words in a passage, page after page, then you need to read a book that’s more on your language level.
http://www.dr1.com/forums/blogs/mar...ove-ones-spanish-language-skills-general.html
-MP.
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I like this book, reminds me when I was locked in El 28.
JJ
Glad you made it out.
By the way JJ, did you ever read "20 Cuentos Dominicanos"?
- Status