leasummer's review against another edition
3.0
The book was surprising, I wasn't expecting such truth. The theme for me was the brutality and suffering of woman that goes on all the time, across the generations.
isajaneff's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jenmat1197's review against another edition
3.0
The story opens in 1900 in Uruguay. A lost infant appears in a tree, and sets in motion 3 generations of strong women. Pajarita (the lost infant) grows up and opens an herbal store that saves her family. She gives birth to Eva. Eva has to sacrafice her childhood to work in a shoe shop, because her family is so poor. Unfortunately, while she is there, she is mistreated by the owner of the shop, and she needs to find another job. She finds a waitressing job to help support her family, but her passion is poetry. Eva finds a rich husband and gives birth to Solome who grows up under her mother's dream for her to go to University. But Solome becomes a Tupamara during a time of Uruguay upheaval. Solome is arrested and is put in jail and finds herself pregnant with.....a girl. But she cannot keep her daughter (Victoria) so she is taken and raised away from the prison walls.
After 8 years in prison, Solome is released, but Victoria only knows her as an doding aunt. The families are all re-united. Pajarita is now 90 years old, but she the powerful matriarch of the family. These strong women have all had unplanned lives, but their strong personalities turned their fate.
This was a fair book. I think it has more to offer than what I got out of listening to it. As much as I want to get into audiobooks to help get through some of these novels, I don't think I am ablt to give them the attention they need. I think there are certain books that audio works for, but this wasn't one of them. I found myself having to rewind quite a few times.
The style of writing is also not one of my favorites. It has some magical realism mixed in with historical facts, and at times I felt it confusing. I did like all of the women protagnoist, though, so that saved the novel.
After 8 years in prison, Solome is released, but Victoria only knows her as an doding aunt. The families are all re-united. Pajarita is now 90 years old, but she the powerful matriarch of the family. These strong women have all had unplanned lives, but their strong personalities turned their fate.
This was a fair book. I think it has more to offer than what I got out of listening to it. As much as I want to get into audiobooks to help get through some of these novels, I don't think I am ablt to give them the attention they need. I think there are certain books that audio works for, but this wasn't one of them. I found myself having to rewind quite a few times.
The style of writing is also not one of my favorites. It has some magical realism mixed in with historical facts, and at times I felt it confusing. I did like all of the women protagnoist, though, so that saved the novel.
maplessence's review against another edition
5.0
Such a powerful book that I want to think about my review!
But...wow.
Edit: & I'm still thinking about this book, which grew more powerful with each chapter! The best work of fiction that I have read this year.
De Robertis has a beautiful, evocative style which reminds me (a lot!) of Isabel Allende.
My only minor nitpick is some of the dialogue can be banal & strays into the telling not showing territory. But I'm certainly going to forgive this in a first novel.
Actually, I have a second nitpick, but this is with the publisher. The blurb with the large print edition I'm reading in one sentence gives away far too much of Salome's story. Try to avoid looking at that.
But...wow.
Edit: & I'm still thinking about this book, which grew more powerful with each chapter! The best work of fiction that I have read this year.
De Robertis has a beautiful, evocative style which reminds me (a lot!) of Isabel Allende.
My only minor nitpick is some of the dialogue can be banal & strays into the telling not showing territory. But I'm certainly going to forgive this in a first novel.
Actually, I have a second nitpick, but this is with the publisher. The blurb with the large print edition I'm reading in one sentence gives away far too much of Salome's story. Try to avoid looking at that.
jonbrammer's review against another edition
3.0
This novel should have a two-star review based on the first 250 pages, but I bumped it up a star for its strong ending. I couldn't escape the thought that I was essentially reading Marquez-lite - which isn't a fair comparison, but one that The Invisible Mountain invites. Particularly irksome is the emphasis on the poetic skills of some of the characters, but when we actually get to read some of the poetry it seems overwrought and amateurish. This is the same criticism I had of _The Song is You_ - if you're going to talk about someone writes brilliant poetry/lyrics, your examples better support this assertion.
Despite these complaints, it was interesting to learn about Uruguayan history, and the ending was powerful and unsentimental. Worth reading, but nowhere near a classic.
Despite these complaints, it was interesting to learn about Uruguayan history, and the ending was powerful and unsentimental. Worth reading, but nowhere near a classic.
sarah_soli's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.5
Carolina de Robertis is a wonderful writer. After reading her book Cantoras, I decided I wanted to read all her books, so I went back to her debut, The Invisible Mountain.
Overall, this is a very good book, with lush, descriptive writing and fully realized characters. There are some issues that I think are first novel problems, mainly with the pacing. This is a novel about three generations of women: Pajarita, Eva, and Salomé. As the book changed to the perspective of a each new character, the previous story felt unfinished.
It's definitely worth reading, and I'm looking forward to getting to de Robertis' books to see her growth as a writer.
Overall, this is a very good book, with lush, descriptive writing and fully realized characters. There are some issues that I think are first novel problems, mainly with the pacing. This is a novel about three generations of women: Pajarita, Eva, and Salomé. As the book changed to the perspective of a each new character, the previous story felt unfinished.
Spoiler
I'd have liked to understand more about Pajarita during Eva's childhood. We know Pajarita is upset that her husband convinces Eva to drop out of school to go work. And she knows something is causing Eva to get sick. Does she suspect anything? When Eva stops speaking to her father, how does that impact Pajarita and Ignacio's relationship? They stay together, but what is that like? This is a man who abused her and abandoned her and now he's been part of something that harms their child. What does Pajarita feel about any of this? By the time the book got to Salomé, it started to drag, which is a shame, because I would have loved to feel more invested in that storyline, since it takes place at roughly the same time period as Cantoras. But by that point, it did feel like de Robertis had run out of steam a bit, and she spends a lot of time recounting events from earlier in the book. There's also a Forrest Gump-ish use of historical figures. Eva meets a young Che Guevara, and then is at a party with Evita. These moments could have been meaningful to the story (Eva feels a kinship with Evita and Che is there on the day of future freedom fighter Salomé's birth) but not much is done with them, so they end up feeling a bit cheesy and unnecessary.It's definitely worth reading, and I'm looking forward to getting to de Robertis' books to see her growth as a writer.
bibliophilelinda's review against another edition
5.0
Wow...lyrical and powerful. Three generations of strong, revolutionary women from Uruguary during the 1910's through the 1980's. A wonderful book that spoke volumes to me about the trials and tribulations my Argentine family went through during WWI, WWII, the military dictatorships, and the dirty wars. Loved the book wholeheartedly.
anniesmanybooks's review against another edition
4.0
Beautifully written historical novel and family saga, set in Montevideo, Uruguay in the 1900s. Lyrical and moving, this novel portrays three generations of very different women and their struggles, work, loves and losses, but its greatest achievement for me was the vivid depiction of the history and culture of Uruguay. Recommended!
Read for my Around the World challenge.
Read for my Around the World challenge.
snownotsowhite's review against another edition
5.0
Carolina De Robertis continues to amaze me, and with each word I fall in love with her more and more. Her words buoy me and comfort me. Like Perla, this book has my heart and soul.