marplatense's review against another edition
4.0
Una lectura distinta a la que acostumbro. Tengo los cuentos completos de Saer que compré en vida del autor (así que posiblemente no sean muy completos) pero nunca leí más de 2 o 3 así que podría decir que esta novela es mi primera incursión victoriosa en el escritor santafecino. El argumento sirve el próposito de destacar lo subjetivo de la memoria, los recuerdos y el lenguaje, ya sea por la validez que el narrador da a sus propias vivencias o lo que percibe en su convivencia con la tribú Colastiné, sus costumbres y lenguajes y la razón por la cual lo mantienen vivo.
La acción que se da en los dos primeros tercios del libro se transforma en un discurrir de analisis y conclusiones en el último tramo para sorprendernos con unas últimas imagenes increiblemente poeticas hacia el final (el indio que el narrador ve morir y que se ha comportado distinto con él que el resto de la tribu y la descripción de un eclipse lunar).
La acción que se da en los dos primeros tercios del libro se transforma en un discurrir de analisis y conclusiones en el último tramo para sorprendernos con unas últimas imagenes increiblemente poeticas hacia el final (el indio que el narrador ve morir y que se ha comportado distinto con él que el resto de la tribu y la descripción de un eclipse lunar).
mansirpetrie's review against another edition
4.0
For a self ascribed continual learner in Spanish, I found this book both really engaging and way over my head all at the same time. He writes very sensually, with lovely details and expounds upon ideas and observations. Sometimes these ideas and observations are beautiful and other times I don't know what side is up. The writing is truly wonderful and there's beautiful human element. I would have liked to hear more details about the tribe he encountered but the details he does add are rich.
lucasporra's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
toroyaguila's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Brutal. El entenado se vale de su memoria para narrar los eventos que más lo marcaron y en esa rememoración da cuenta de la fragilidad de la memoria como de cualquier cosa humana. La naturaleza y el paisaje se dejan ver y sentir en su presencia apabullante, pero siempre sutil. Además, el protagonista y narrador hace unas digresiones tan profundas sobre el lenguaje, el pensamiento, el goce y no lo disvincula de los otros. Su mirada de eterno extranjero le da un matiz hermoso, algo melancólico y casi casi de un cronista.
anushree's review
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
1.75
There's a lot to say about this book, but I said it all in class already so I'm going to leave it well enough alone. All I'll say is that I can maybe take either gruesome depictions of cannibalism & orgies or racist stereotyping or depressive nihilism. But I sure can't take all three.
lauren_endnotes's review
4.0
"No human life is longer than those last seconds of lucidity that precede death. Twenty, thirty, sixty, or even ten thousand years of past life are of the same duration, the same reality...But there is in every life one decisive moment, which is, no doubt, also pure illusion, but which nonetheless gives us out definitive shape."
To seem. To be.
Ontological meditations as an old man remembers when he was captured and held by an indigeous tribe for ten years in an unknown (unnamed) land. You jump right in to the depths, following along with the vivid and violent descriptions - is this truly happening? - and all the ruminations decades later as he continues to unpack all the actions and emotions. There were some passages in this book that made me pause and re-read, so much to ponder.
The second half of the book, the musings on the language and customs of the indigenous people was particularly beautiful.
I am holding on to this one, as it begs a re-read. Just like the narrator, it may be one to revisit when I am older. Parsing out meaning, experiencing, and receiving wisdom.
To seem. To be.
Ontological meditations as an old man remembers when he was captured and held by an indigeous tribe for ten years in an unknown (unnamed) land. You jump right in to the depths, following along with the vivid and violent descriptions - is this truly happening? - and all the ruminations decades later as he continues to unpack all the actions and emotions. There were some passages in this book that made me pause and re-read, so much to ponder.
The second half of the book, the musings on the language and customs of the indigenous people was particularly beautiful.
I am holding on to this one, as it begs a re-read. Just like the narrator, it may be one to revisit when I am older. Parsing out meaning, experiencing, and receiving wisdom.
flawedrain's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
slow-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism, Sexual content, Vomit, Violence, Suicide attempt, and Pedophilia
kingkong's review
4.0
Very vivid imagery in the first half but he really screwed it up in the second
quidamtyro's review
3.0
I might have done myself a disservice while reading this while I was ill because this didn't quite come together for me. On the one hand, this is some beautiful prose--just lush and thought provoking and amazing and he had amazing turns of phrases and interesting ideas. On the other, there's more contemplation than there is narrative and I almost gave up the book with the initial description of the Indian orgy--I don't mind the graphicness, but the dehumanizing choices were harder to go with. Overall, this had promise but didn't go all the way for me.