Reviews

The Lost Steps by Alejo Carpentier

rickyturner's review against another edition

adventurous challenging slow-paced

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

2.5

I didn't love this book but I stuck with it because there were elements of Carpentier's prose I really loved. Parts of it reminded me of Melville's "Encantadas". But then he would also write these long, contrived paragraphs with way too many literary allusions and references. There are ways to fill writing with references to classic work without it feeling so bloated and distracting.

The protagonist is very annoying to me and I hate the way he talks about/treats the women in his life. His whole adventure felt like the cliche male fantasy of running away from miserable, modern society to move to a third world country and be with some traditional woman untainted by modern thought and education. The protagonists enemy is his own cowardice and cynicism and I'm not sure he ever realizes it in this story.

salmonite's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

2.5

faintgirl's review against another edition

4.0

I loved the first half of this book. It's not often that I find a piece of writing particular quotable, but Carpentier has an incredible, scathing wit that seems most prominent on the subject of the end of love, or perhaps lust. He is at his most captivating during his attempt to shed the shackles of his former life, the modern day one in NYC that no longer holds much joy for him. By the time he makes it to the jungle and plains, stepping back in time to a simpler life, it all goes a bit middle aged man in a crisis and the novel loses it's shine for 70 pages or so. I loved the character of Mouche, despite the fact I would have hated to know her, and the character of Rosario seemed an idol, rather than a human being. I guess this was kind of the point.

Looking forward to reading more by this chap!

jake_'s review against another edition

adventurous challenging reflective slow-paced

4.5

anyajulchen's review against another edition

5.0

Más que una historia, parece un estudio de personaje. Tenemos al protagonista, en su vida diaria, de repente siendo arrojado a una misión para la cual no considera tener energías, ni ganas. Sin embargo, a medida que va avanzando la trama, este va descubriéndose a sí mismo, a través de las peligrosas situaciones que debe enfrentar.

El toque de la novela es, sin duda, la capacidad del autor y su manejo del lenguaje. Hasta el mínimo trozo del texto está bien trabajado, adecuado a una lírica muy hermosa, a través de las sensaciones y pensamientos del protagonista.

Fue una ligera lectura muy tranquila, que me hizo reflexionar sobre lo que es en verdad la felicidad y las necesidades. Deberían darle una oportunidad al libro. No se arrepentirán.

copusb's review

adventurous challenging emotional informative reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.5

litchyn's review against another edition

challenging reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No

2.25

kaithrin's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

3.5

 5 stars for the writing but 2.5 stars for the story.

Carpentier's wordplay, and equally West's beautiful translation, were phenomenal. My personal favourite phrase was "nebulous menace" but there were too many brilliant words to count.

However, incredible vocabulary aside, the content was not nearly as enjoyable. 

The 'noble savage' concept is particularly irritating, along with the main character who - although married and travelling with an affair partner already - spends most of the book lusting after a 'simplistic' native woman (or criticising his affair partner's virtues with seemingly no self-reflection).

The misogyny and 'noble savage' vibes got old quick so although the prose was beautiful, it was a bit of a slog to get through. I enjoyed the ending though, a bit of poetic justice to it all. 

chillcox15's review against another edition

5.0

Exploration narrative as break-up story, word drunk on modernist understandings of music theory. Loved it.

bianca_topete's review

adventurous challenging reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.0