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sbhatnag's review against another edition
3.0
This is why I like book clubs - you end up reading books that you wouldn't normally pick up. I enjoyed reading about Teresa Mendoza and her evolution as "Queen of the South." However, I could have done without all the maritime technicalities. I was also interested in how Arturo Perez-Reverte, as a man, portrayed experiences of "womanhood" - including rape and pregnancy - both which the character experienced with a degree of indifference. One last thing: don't watch the USA series based on the book. It *royally* sucks!
cherircohen's review against another edition
5.0
I just finished reading this again, and if possible, I liked it even more.
melaniecraft's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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
ivanssister's review against another edition
3.0
I have one quibble with this book, but it's probably just one of my "things" that no one else really cares about. There was a lot of "we're from Sinaloa, that's how we do it" and that concept drives me batty...I just don't get it.
Otherwise, this was an intriguing look into drug trafficking, and had some interesting characters. An interesting action-packed end, and I didn't really see it coming when they revealed what Guero really was.
Otherwise, this was an intriguing look into drug trafficking, and had some interesting characters. An interesting action-packed end, and I didn't really see it coming when they revealed what Guero really was.
willkay's review against another edition
5.0
I'm on holiday - hurrah! This means it is time to turn my attention to the (very important) task of learning Spanish. I made two "New Year's Resolutions". One was to learn some Spanish before the year was out, the other was to keep a running list of the books I have read on this here blog. So, time to work on one of my resolutions.
Instead of learning Spanish I have been reading! The Queen of the South by Arturo Perez-Reverte is the latest book that I have finished. The best way to describe it is "a page turner". On the opening page the heroine, Teresa Mendoza, receives a call on a phone, a phone that she has been told that: "If it rings start running. And don't stop running. Ever." The book covers the next twelve years of her life as she flees Mexico, ends up in Africa, spends time in jail, moves to Spain and then finally returns home.
It is really difficult to explain how much I liked this book. It's strange, I am sat here at the computer, reading as I type and I realise that I am being slightly "flat" in my description - which isn't fair to the book because it is a fast-paced, thrilling ride. Teresa starts the book as a girlfriend of a drug runner and ends up building a huge drug-running empire. The book is written in a very clever way, the author acts as an investigative journalist, writing the "biography" of "The Queen of the South" (as Mendoza becomes know). However, the book is written in such a way that at the end I googled Teresa Mendoza because I really, really thought she was a real person. The book includes many situations, many people that have happened or existed. And by the end of the book I had become so involved with the main character that I wanted her to be real. I wanted her to find the peace that she deserved. And yes, I realise that wanting a major drug runner to escape and live in peace is not the way I normally feel but the author makes you become invested in the characters. Hell, by the end of the book I had fallen in love with most of the drug runners and dealers and actually hated the authorities and their "witch hunts".
The other wonderful thing about this book was it gave me an insight into how Mexicans think and behave. Obviously I live with one (a Mexican that is) and have a small handle on her behaviour patterns but it was fascinating to discover that instead of Maria being a totally unique individual, she is also a product of her country. There was a lot of familiarity, for me, in the book. Place names, Spanish/Mexican expressions, a general understanding of "that's the way they think" and a total recognition of "that's the way they dress and wear their hair".
I loved this book. Because of the world I now occupy, drugs (running and dealing) are part of my life background - not because I am involved but because I come across it most every day, it exists in my life - and the history of drug cartels is something that I have become interested in. The fact that my nickname at Maria's office is that of a famous drug dealer might have something to do with my fascination. The fact that three times a week I cross the border knowing that as I do, there is a good chance that right next to me is someone smuggling drugs interests me.
This review probably doesn't do the book justice. I really enjoyed it, would recommend it.
bertinat's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
4.0
robynryle's review against another edition
So far, not as intriguing as The Club Dumas, but trying to give it a chance to get off the ground.
christar_123's review against another edition
3.0
This was a fast moving, exciting book but there were parts of it that I didn't really get into. I thought that the set up of the 'reporter' writing and researching about Teresa's life was not necessary (though I did like the progression from the beginning when she was described by those who knew her as "nothing special" to the later, "she was very intelligent, gifted" etc.) Overall though, this section could have been left out.
I think that I may not have continued with it, except that so much of the early book was in and around Northern Morocco. I'm not all that interested in reading about drug cartels and the violence and people involved with them, but because of the smuggling between Morocco and Spain, I decided to stick with it. It paid off, I think, because the characters drew me in and I wanted to see how Teresa of the beginning became "The Queen of the South"
The comparison with "The Count of Monte Cristo" definitely gave it some interesting plot points and helped to move things along.
I think that I may not have continued with it, except that so much of the early book was in and around Northern Morocco. I'm not all that interested in reading about drug cartels and the violence and people involved with them, but because of the smuggling between Morocco and Spain, I decided to stick with it. It paid off, I think, because the characters drew me in and I wanted to see how Teresa of the beginning became "The Queen of the South"
The comparison with "The Count of Monte Cristo" definitely gave it some interesting plot points and helped to move things along.
cath518's review against another edition
Did not like the writing style where every other chapter is the author interviewing people about Teresa Mendoza.
giselav's review against another edition
3.0
This is a book that I didn't mind reading, but I don't believe I would ever reread it or even recommend it to a friend.
Pérez-Reverte's Teresa is a character with the potential to be great. She's interesting and powerful, with a strong storyline revolving around her. And yet! And yet!
One of Teresa's main characteristics is that she is cold. She's detached from everything in her life, including life itself. She seems to cling to existence for no apparent reason other than that's all she's ever done. Her detachment reaches even the reader. Throughout 520 pages of this book, at no point did I feel connected to Teresa. Maybe it's because I can't relate to her story as a Mexican drug lord, but frankly I doubt anyone can relate to that.
I've read some other reviews about Pérez-Reverte drawing close parallels to Alexandre Dumas' Count of Monte Cristo. As I've not read that book, I can't comment on this comparison, although I will say Pérez-Reverte's random odes to literature spread across the text always felt a little odd to me, as they were supposed to come from Teresa's string of consciousness and there's only so much I can do to believe she cared that much about the power of a good book.
I also gotta admit I disliked the ending. I won't spoil anything, but it just didn't feel like an adequate ending for such a long book.
Finally, I disliked how the story sometimes switched to the POV of a journalist writing a biography on Teresa Mendoza. I felt like it contributed little to the story and I disliked how judgemental the journalist was. If I don't know a character, why should I care for their opinions on someone else's clothes and drinking habits? These bits just felt out of place to me.
Overall the book is quite well written and interesting, but something about the human component felt amiss to me.
Pérez-Reverte's Teresa is a character with the potential to be great. She's interesting and powerful, with a strong storyline revolving around her. And yet! And yet!
One of Teresa's main characteristics is that she is cold. She's detached from everything in her life, including life itself. She seems to cling to existence for no apparent reason other than that's all she's ever done. Her detachment reaches even the reader. Throughout 520 pages of this book, at no point did I feel connected to Teresa. Maybe it's because I can't relate to her story as a Mexican drug lord, but frankly I doubt anyone can relate to that.
I've read some other reviews about Pérez-Reverte drawing close parallels to Alexandre Dumas' Count of Monte Cristo. As I've not read that book, I can't comment on this comparison, although I will say Pérez-Reverte's random odes to literature spread across the text always felt a little odd to me, as they were supposed to come from Teresa's string of consciousness and there's only so much I can do to believe she cared that much about the power of a good book.
I also gotta admit I disliked the ending. I won't spoil anything, but it just didn't feel like an adequate ending for such a long book.
Finally, I disliked how the story sometimes switched to the POV of a journalist writing a biography on Teresa Mendoza. I felt like it contributed little to the story and I disliked how judgemental the journalist was. If I don't know a character, why should I care for their opinions on someone else's clothes and drinking habits? These bits just felt out of place to me.
Overall the book is quite well written and interesting, but something about the human component felt amiss to me.