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branwynnemay's review against another edition
3.75
This is cool. I bet it was amazing in the 60s. It has a great atmosphere, like The Witch, but way trippier. I love that it’s a bilingual book if I want to practice reading in Spanish.
christopherc's review against another edition
3.0
Carlos Fuentes’ 1962 novella AURA is something of a ghost story and a play on identity. Felipe Montero is a Mexican academic who is attracted one day by a classified ad promising an unusually high salary to whomever can speak French and fulfill secretarial duties. He goes to the address specified in the advertisement and discovers that he'll be working for the ancient widow Consuelo Llorente, editing the memoires of her late husband who fought on the wrong side in the 19th century and suffered exile in France. But soon Felipe is less interested in the yellowed papers he is tasked with than with Aura, his employer's beautiful young niece. I shall say no more of the plot lest I spoil the surprise.
The novella is written in the second person, in such a way that it feels like you, the reader, are stepping through the story moment-by-moment, e.g. the very beginning of the story: “Lees ese anuncio: una oferta de esa naturaleza no se hace todos los días. Lees y relees el aviso. Parece dirigido a ti, a nadie más.” Fuentes then succeeds in creating a feeling of claustrophobia and vague dread as Felipe -- and you -- step through the badly lit and decaying colonial mansion in which the story is set.
I was somewhat less happy with the pacing of the story towards the end, which leads to what I feel is an overhasty conclusion. As much as I wanted to proclaim the story a classic while reading, once I finished it I couldn't help but feel some measure of dissatisfaction. Still, it's a quick read and it might appeal to others. At the very least it’s worth reading as one of the most prominent Mexican stories of the 20th century.
The novella is written in the second person, in such a way that it feels like you, the reader, are stepping through the story moment-by-moment, e.g. the very beginning of the story: “Lees ese anuncio: una oferta de esa naturaleza no se hace todos los días. Lees y relees el aviso. Parece dirigido a ti, a nadie más.” Fuentes then succeeds in creating a feeling of claustrophobia and vague dread as Felipe -- and you -- step through the badly lit and decaying colonial mansion in which the story is set.
I was somewhat less happy with the pacing of the story towards the end, which leads to what I feel is an overhasty conclusion. As much as I wanted to proclaim the story a classic while reading, once I finished it I couldn't help but feel some measure of dissatisfaction. Still, it's a quick read and it might appeal to others. At the very least it’s worth reading as one of the most prominent Mexican stories of the 20th century.
losthighway's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
2.75
julieshuff's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Been trying to get back into reading Spanish to not lose the language.
The second person narration makes it read like (very gothic) fanfiction 🤣
I didn’t love the voice of the female narrator-very soft and weak, though that might have been a strategic choice.
The second person narration makes it read like (very gothic) fanfiction 🤣
I didn’t love the voice of the female narrator-very soft and weak, though that might have been a strategic choice.
maurilior's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
julietaricci's review against another edition
No entendí absolutamente nada, genial
mariannediaz's review against another edition
5.0
Esta novela corta, cortísima, que se lee de una sola sentada porque no te suelta nunca, es un relato que mezcla el horror y la belleza, el tema de la identidad, del paso del tiempo, de la muerte; un relato poblado por lo fantástico que, sin embargo, no deja de ser una historia de amor. Lo amé.
hopehamilton's review against another edition
4.0
esta es mi primera novela en español que leo! estoy súper orgulloso de mí mismo
sketchugo's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0