Reviews

I had been wanting to read this book for months. The description sounded like my perfect book: a historical fiction based in South America (Nicaragua) during a dictatorship in which the main character joins the National Liberation Movement. Moreover, a subplot of an indigenous female warrior who ‘inhabits’ the main character’s body.

Sounds amazing right?

It’s not.

The main character is whiny, spoilt and in a permanent state of dufus. She pissed me off from the beginning with her constant mental masturbations and her inability to keep her feelings in order. It almost seemed as though she had been written by a man hell bent on maintaining the shit stereotypes set on women.

Oh and let’s not forget her mans. A manipulative, jealous macho who treats Lavinia like a baby bird who hasn’t learned how to fly. Again, it would seem as though it were written by a man!?!

I kept reading this book hoping, praying it would get better but, funnily enough, the ending was THE WORST BIT.

I am shocked at how this book is so revered as not only are the characters mind numbingly irritating but it seems as though it were Belli’s first ever book using the most basic and boring language I’ve ever read (this however could be due to translation so don’t want to be too excessive in berating Belli’s writing).

Sorry Allende but this book was not for me and frankly not for anyone who can walk, talk and breathe.

lara25_02's review against another edition

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informative inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

annainthebooks's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Content Warnings

leitag's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

merenguita's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional inspiring sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Este libro propone una forma de acercarse al inconsciente de los personajes con un toque de realismo mágico. La escritura es íntima y bellísima, dejando que uno pueda entrever las contradicciones en el diálogo interno del personaje principal junto con sus miedos, preocupaciones y deseos.
A través de toda la historia están muy presentes los diálogo entre la revolución y el machismo y también la colonización y la dictadura, lo cual para mí fue sumamente interesante y está muy bien logrado.
Debo admitir que me costó un poco engancharme como al final del primer tercio del libro pero valió completamente continuar.

Content Warnings

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