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kari_f's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
4.0
“The world must be much larger than I’d imagined for so many people to have disappeared in it.”
A relatively short novel divided into three parts, Eartheater is a modern magical realism novel taking place in Argentina. The protagonist, whose name we never learn, has compulsions to consume earth; when she eats earth that has been touched by victims, she can see visions of them and the crimes committed against them. Though her body craves the earth, the visions are deeply troubling and violent… so while she often helps people discover the truth about what happened to their loved ones, it’s a deeply unsettling and repulsive feeling for her and for the reader.
There were so many important themes throughout this dark and atmospheric coming of age novel. I found it really interesting that the protagonist is essentially shunned by her community and peers for using her gift, even as others seek her out specifically for it. She lives in a slum, and the use of her power does not bring her immense wealth or respect.
It is no coincidence that most of the missing people she searches for are women, to the point where she decided she doesn’t want kids because girls go missing too often. I love that the author makes it clear that the violence against women has a huge impact on the world, seeping into the very soil we walk upon. The social commentary is dark and direct and unflinching, especially knowing that femicide rates in Argentina have continued to increase in the years since the book was written.
This is not a fun book by any means, but it’s an important one, a bizarrely interesting one, and a poignantly relevant one!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Sexual content, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault
kerishma's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Rape, Sexual violence, Vomit, Kidnapping, and Death of parent
alexisgarcia's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
this was such an interesting book, i really enjoyed it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Sexual content, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Murder, and Alcohol
booksillremember's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Read this for a book club, otherwise I wouldn't have picked it up. Eartheater addresses some important topics - femicide, inequality, and police injustice in Buenos Aires. I feel there's also a metaphor in there about how we treat the Earth. The characters, the writing and the plot were okay, but nothing special. Might have worked better as a short story.
Eartheater reminded me of Teresa Margolles’ art and I think it works as a metaphor in a similar way.
Eartheater reminded me of Teresa Margolles’ art and I think it works as a metaphor in a similar way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Murder
sorrel29's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Murder
balamaqab's review against another edition
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Child death, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, and Murder
mxajlikesbooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, and Murder
not_another_ana's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Al principio la tierra es fría, pero en la mano y después en la boca entra en calor. Separé un poco y lo levanté. Me lo llevé a la boca. Tragué.
Tal como lo dice el título esta novela gira entorno a una chica que come tierra, y es que al ingerir la tierra tomada de un sitio donde alguien pasaba mucho tiempo puede ver dónde se encuentran y qué les pasó. Este talento sobrenatural la convierten tanto en paria como en objeto de fascinación y la persona a la que acuden los familiares desesperados de desaparecidos, en general mujeres. A causa de esto, la protagonista es una persona solitaria, que vive alejada de la sociedad y que experimenta la violencia que sufrieron estos individuos, además de vivir ella en un contexto de pobreza y violencia.
La idea general estuvo muy interesante, la mitología de la cometierra me gustó mucho y me pareció un concepto novedoso a desarrollar pero hasta ahí porque la autora no hace mucho más con eso. Este no es un libro con una trama interesante o emocionante, es más como una serie de historias cortas que le pasan a la protagonista. Traga tierra, ve algún crimen, le dice a alguien, se resuelve el asunto y ya. Tampoco creo que con este libro la autora haya conseguido decir algo interesante o innovador sobre la pobreza, el feminicidio, etc. La trama se quedó en lo superficial. Me hubiera gustado más esto dentro de una antología, me parece que el estilo de la autora se presta para historias cortas.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Murder, and Alcohol
locuraxloslibros's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual violence, Violence, and Murder
doomluz's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A heartbreaking and raw story. It addresses the femicides happening in Latin America, specifically Argentina.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Violence, Murder, and Alcohol
Moderate: Child death, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Death of parent
Minor: Bullying, Domestic abuse, and Rape