Reviews with content warning for Sexual content - The Adventures of China Iron

Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

The Adventures of China Iron by Gabriela Cabezón Cámara

18 reviews

callyham's review

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adventurous

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claireclimbstrees's review

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adventurous challenging dark funny hopeful reflective sad slow-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

4.25

To steal a quote from the translator's note, this is a "Kaleidoscopic book." It drifts and shifts through the narrative much like the characters shift through the Argentinian landscapes. As someone who lived in Argentina and studied some of the social and historical issues facing the marginalized people of the country, I found the various levels of social and political commentary fascinating. I squirmed along with the casual racism, grotesque colonialism, and horrific abuses painted across the novel. Simultaneously, I basked in the glorious beauty of the natural world and of a woman's growth to freedom—sexual and otherwise. This book does not shy away from anything and the main character's early naiveté leaves it to the reader to understand the underlying issues with the lessons she learns.
This novel is beautifully written and translated. Its form leaves dialogue to bleed into thoughts and actions, while the sections bleed between present and recent past and hinted at futures all while still maintaining a general linearity. The grim second half nearly lost me, and I have questions around the ethics of the depiction of native life at the end of the novel, yet it's conclusion paints such an achingly picturesque life that is tragically shadowed by impending military conquest that I can't help but love it. It is unlike most anything else I have ever read.

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