melashah's review against another edition
3.0
3.5- stumbled in this book randomly and enjoyed the historical aspect. Also pretty sad but well written.
theaceofpages's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I read this for a reading challenge and, while it did sound interesting, I ended up enjoying this more than I expected to. The tone of this book is very much ne of despair and things falling apart - very appropriate given its contents. It deals a lot with corruption and drug smuggling and grief. I haven't read the original, but the atmosphere is captured incredibly well in the English translation. I imagine it must be at least as good in the original.
The text is beautiful and easy to follow (even if the contents are challenging at times). I very much enjoyed most of it but pats gave me somewhat men writing women vibes (like a character being somewhat fixated on what her breasts look like - I have never met anyone who thinks this way). The characters are incredibly flawed and complex and I loved seeing how they change as the descent into chaos and despair progresses.
Some notes on some of the spoiler warnings (each is individually spoilered)
Drug use/abuse:
Animal abuse: )
Animal death:
The text is beautiful and easy to follow (even if the contents are challenging at times). I very much enjoyed most of it but pats gave me somewhat men writing women vibes (like a character being somewhat fixated on what her breasts look like - I have never met anyone who thinks this way). The characters are incredibly flawed and complex and I loved seeing how they change as the descent into chaos and despair progresses.
Some notes on some of the spoiler warnings (each is individually spoilered)
Spoiler
Drug use/abuse:
Spoiler
Includes medicinal use of morphine, as well as the illegal use (and trafficking) of marihuana, as well as mentions of cocaine (use and manufacture)Animal abuse:
Spoiler
Wild animals being kept in horrible conditions as well as a specific incident which would have caused an animal a lot of fear and panic (at least it's a short scene butSpoiler
the animal diesAnimal death:
Spoiler
As the blurb tells you, a hippo is shot at the start. There is also another big death later on.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug abuse, Grief, Animal death, Mental illness, Animal cruelty, War, and Death
Minor: Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual content, Gun violence, Medical content, Drug use, Violence, and Death of parent
hakberdi's review against another edition
3.0
Básicamente, dos historias que fueron forzadas medio-flojito en un libro.
Aún así, dos historias re interesantes, aunque ambas no tenían el final adecuado: siempre surgieron más y más preguntas.
Es más un libro sobre trauma generacional causada por la época de Escobar que un libro para disfrutar, cachai? Y aquí estoy yo, — aprendiendo todas esas cositas nuevas para mi, leyendo Wikipedia y mirando un mapa de Colombia, — intentando resolver este rompecabezas.
Me encantó el estilo de Juan Gabriel Vázquez — esto si.
————————————
Basically, two stories that were forced half-loosely into one book.
And still, two very interesting stories, even if both didn't have the proper endings: there were always more and more questions appearing in my mind.
It’s more a book about generational trauma caused by Escobar era than a book-to-enjoy, y’know? And here I am, — learning all these new things for me, reading Wikipedia and looking at a map of Colombia, — trying to solve this puzzle.
Although I have to admit that I loved Juan Gabriel Vázquez's writing style.
Aún así, dos historias re interesantes, aunque ambas no tenían el final adecuado: siempre surgieron más y más preguntas.
Es más un libro sobre trauma generacional causada por la época de Escobar que un libro para disfrutar, cachai? Y aquí estoy yo, — aprendiendo todas esas cositas nuevas para mi, leyendo Wikipedia y mirando un mapa de Colombia, — intentando resolver este rompecabezas.
Me encantó el estilo de Juan Gabriel Vázquez — esto si.
————————————
Basically, two stories that were forced half-loosely into one book.
And still, two very interesting stories, even if both didn't have the proper endings: there were always more and more questions appearing in my mind.
It’s more a book about generational trauma caused by Escobar era than a book-to-enjoy, y’know? And here I am, — learning all these new things for me, reading Wikipedia and looking at a map of Colombia, — trying to solve this puzzle.
Although I have to admit that I loved Juan Gabriel Vázquez's writing style.
sandyjhutti's review against another edition
3.0
Wait, what? Protagonist was obsessed with some guy. That guy was killed as they were walking together, he ruined his own life (wife and kid) trying to learn more about the guy who was killed. His life wasn't THAT interesting. Sleeps with that guys daughter - who needs to get out more. Wife leaves him and takes daughter. His take away was that she would come back so he could take care of her.
I kept waiting for the climax. I'm wondering if my book was missing pages.
I kept waiting for the climax. I'm wondering if my book was missing pages.
kararoge's review against another edition
5.0
I didn't realize there is also the story line of a Peace Corps Volunteer! Really interesting, relatable and a great read!
jowiththetbrshelves's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
margaretefg's review against another edition
3.0
I read this because it was recommended with At Night We Walk in Circles. And it has some similarities...the potential for violence, maybe. But I didn't like it as much. It's a series of nested, overlapping stories, told by a first person narrator I could not like. I's set in Colombia in the 80s and 90s, and 70s, depending on whose story is being told. The violence of the drug wars is a backdrop for some of it, but there are also two different family stories, the narrator, Antonio, who has a child with a former student of his, and the family of Ricardo Laverde, whose story Antonio discovers gradually, after he is shot while standing near when Laverde is murdered.
hreed7's review against another edition
4.0
Starts a bit slow but ends up being really successful, with reflections on memory and trauma, insight into Colombian society and history that was new to me, and a compelling set of parallelized relationships.
cotoperi_reads's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0