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elizabethberger's review against another edition
3.0
3.5. I knew absolutely nothing about Guinea and I have certainly learnt something. The story itself and the characters are fairly generic and predictable, it is the backdrop that is the scene stealer here.
sssnoo's review against another edition
4.0
I waivered between 3 and 4 stars for this book. I have to say it took me forever to read it - literally months, and that is very unusual for me. It was slow and some of the colonial perspective made my skin crawl. That said there are few books that so vividly portray Equatorial Guinea and the cocoa plantations that give us our chocolate. Learning that history in the context os a well written novel is pleasurable. Some of the language in the book is memorable in its beauty. I read it in English so in Spanish I expect it is remarkable. The romance aspects were not very compelling to me except for Basila's. She was the one woman that stode out far ahead of the others in personal integrety and strength.
I appreciated the author's end notes. The book is thoroughly researched. I believe some of the aspects that I didn't like very much were because, well, they were times in history portrayed fairly acurately and they are depressing times I wish history could do over. The characters flaws, while irritating are also probably pretty representative of how relationships are seen across the spectrum. I recommend the read.
I appreciated the author's end notes. The book is thoroughly researched. I believe some of the aspects that I didn't like very much were because, well, they were times in history portrayed fairly acurately and they are depressing times I wish history could do over. The characters flaws, while irritating are also probably pretty representative of how relationships are seen across the spectrum. I recommend the read.
diskin40's review against another edition
4.0
I have to admit that it was the title that first drew me in. I love a good historical novel and this book delivered. There are so many books out there for specific time frames so I was very intrigued to find this book on a part of history of which I knew very little. Both the history and characters were well developed. This is the kind of book that stays with you.
I am thankful to have received this book through a Goodreads give away.
I am thankful to have received this book through a Goodreads give away.
cova's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
sad
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
5.0
findallyreading's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
3.0
attytheresa's review against another edition
5.0
I found this a really interesting and beautiful novel, one I highly recommend. It's the story of a white Spanish family from the Spanish Pyrenees who worked on the cocoa plantations during the Spanish colonization of the Equatorial Guinea island of Fernando Po (n/k/a Bioko) from the 1930s to about 1971 when the whites were forced to leave an independent Equatorial Guinea by the psychopathic dictator. Descendants of the family revisit Bioko in 2003/2004 looking to unravel some family secrets involving potential half-siblings and past events, and the title refers to the stories heard during the long winters in the Pyrenees about life under the palms on the cocoa plantation. At its heart, this is a love story - of a man for a woman and a man for a place.
The author does a superb job of weaving the actual history of Bioko into the fictional story; it even drives portions of it. As I reached the halfway point of the book, I realized how little I knew about Spanish colonies in Africa or even about Equatorial Guinea today. So I did some research and it did inform my reading going forward. But such research is really unnecessary because the author has interwoven her own research, including the rich oral histories of family and neighbors who were among the Spaniards who traveled to work on Fernando Po. The novel sings with this truth. I was just impatient.
But one wonder my research did provide that is not in the book ... actual photographs of the astonishing corridor of tall palms leading to the cocoa plantation on Fernando Po, Sampaka. Just google images of Sampaka Equatorial New Guinea.
I read this as my book written by someone from a country I have not visited - Spain - for the Pop Sugar 2017 Reading Challenge. It would also fit a book set in two different time periods.
The author does a superb job of weaving the actual history of Bioko into the fictional story; it even drives portions of it. As I reached the halfway point of the book, I realized how little I knew about Spanish colonies in Africa or even about Equatorial Guinea today. So I did some research and it did inform my reading going forward. But such research is really unnecessary because the author has interwoven her own research, including the rich oral histories of family and neighbors who were among the Spaniards who traveled to work on Fernando Po. The novel sings with this truth. I was just impatient.
But one wonder my research did provide that is not in the book ... actual photographs of the astonishing corridor of tall palms leading to the cocoa plantation on Fernando Po, Sampaka. Just google images of Sampaka Equatorial New Guinea.
I read this as my book written by someone from a country I have not visited - Spain - for the Pop Sugar 2017 Reading Challenge. It would also fit a book set in two different time periods.
alex2v's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-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
4.0
mel781issa's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-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? No
5.0
galy's review against another edition
4.0
He tardado en leer este libro más de lo que debería. Pero tengo que decir que me ha gustado mucho y que lo único que me ha hecho dudar más al cogerlo es que la historia avanza lentamente. Una vez me enganchó pasada la mitad del libro me lo terminé enseguida.
Esta es la historia de Kilian, su hermano Jacobo, su sobrina Clarence y el resto de su familia. Tiene parte de flashbacks y parte del presente. En los flashbacks, se cuenta la vida de Kilian y Jacobo cuando deciden irse a trabajar a la isla Fernando Poo junto a su padre lejos de su madre y su hermana. Allí te describen su trabajo, la vida de la gente de allí y cómo se van adaptando. En el presente, Clarence encuentra unas cartas que cuentan algo del pasado de su padre y su tío del que nunca hablan y decide intentar investigar sobre el tema.
Me ha gustado mucho más la parte de los flashbacks que el presente porque me ha parecido diferente y muy interesante. Una vez me aclaré con todos los nombres, me metí tanto en la historia que, en un punto que paran los flashbacks los eché en falta.
Al comenzar la historia me pareció que había muchas descripciones que no veía necesarias para avanzar pero más adelante ni lo noté porque el libro consiguió crear una imagen muy clara de todo lo que ocurría en mi cabeza mientras lo leía, que era la idea de dichas descripciones. Me encariñé con los personajes (¡con algunos más que con otros!) y quise saber más sobre sus vidas y cómo acabaría todo.
Una historia muy intrigante y entretenida sin duda.
Esta es la historia de Kilian, su hermano Jacobo, su sobrina Clarence y el resto de su familia. Tiene parte de flashbacks y parte del presente. En los flashbacks, se cuenta la vida de Kilian y Jacobo cuando deciden irse a trabajar a la isla Fernando Poo junto a su padre lejos de su madre y su hermana. Allí te describen su trabajo, la vida de la gente de allí y cómo se van adaptando. En el presente, Clarence encuentra unas cartas que cuentan algo del pasado de su padre y su tío del que nunca hablan y decide intentar investigar sobre el tema.
Me ha gustado mucho más la parte de los flashbacks que el presente porque me ha parecido diferente y muy interesante. Una vez me aclaré con todos los nombres, me metí tanto en la historia que, en un punto que paran los flashbacks los eché en falta.
Al comenzar la historia me pareció que había muchas descripciones que no veía necesarias para avanzar pero más adelante ni lo noté porque el libro consiguió crear una imagen muy clara de todo lo que ocurría en mi cabeza mientras lo leía, que era la idea de dichas descripciones. Me encariñé con los personajes (¡con algunos más que con otros!) y quise saber más sobre sus vidas y cómo acabaría todo.
Una historia muy intrigante y entretenida sin duda.