estefaniaesba's review against another edition
5.0
Demasiado bueno, no sabes los giros que da, la historia es simplemente maravillosa y tiene ese tinte de realidad en los sucesos que son los que realmente atrapan!
adelthings's review against another edition
3.0
Creo que la trama que desarrolla es muy interesante que se mezcla muy bien con la ambientación en la que se desarrolla, quizá para mi gusto en algunas ocasiones, le sobraba tanta descripción de los paisajes y las escenas, aunque quizás sea porque no estoy acostumbrada a este tipo de novela.
attytheresa's review against another edition
5.0
I found this a really interesting and beautiful novel, one I highly recommend. It's the story of a white Spanish family from the Spanish Pyrenees who worked on the cocoa plantations during the Spanish colonization of the Equatorial Guinea island of Fernando Po (n/k/a Bioko) from the 1930s to about 1971 when the whites were forced to leave an independent Equatorial Guinea by the psychopathic dictator. Descendants of the family revisit Bioko in 2003/2004 looking to unravel some family secrets involving potential half-siblings and past events, and the title refers to the stories heard during the long winters in the Pyrenees about life under the palms on the cocoa plantation. At its heart, this is a love story - of a man for a woman and a man for a place.
The author does a superb job of weaving the actual history of Bioko into the fictional story; it even drives portions of it. As I reached the halfway point of the book, I realized how little I knew about Spanish colonies in Africa or even about Equatorial Guinea today. So I did some research and it did inform my reading going forward. But such research is really unnecessary because the author has interwoven her own research, including the rich oral histories of family and neighbors who were among the Spaniards who traveled to work on Fernando Po. The novel sings with this truth. I was just impatient.
But one wonder my research did provide that is not in the book ... actual photographs of the astonishing corridor of tall palms leading to the cocoa plantation on Fernando Po, Sampaka. Just google images of Sampaka Equatorial New Guinea.
I read this as my book written by someone from a country I have not visited - Spain - for the Pop Sugar 2017 Reading Challenge. It would also fit a book set in two different time periods.
The author does a superb job of weaving the actual history of Bioko into the fictional story; it even drives portions of it. As I reached the halfway point of the book, I realized how little I knew about Spanish colonies in Africa or even about Equatorial Guinea today. So I did some research and it did inform my reading going forward. But such research is really unnecessary because the author has interwoven her own research, including the rich oral histories of family and neighbors who were among the Spaniards who traveled to work on Fernando Po. The novel sings with this truth. I was just impatient.
But one wonder my research did provide that is not in the book ... actual photographs of the astonishing corridor of tall palms leading to the cocoa plantation on Fernando Po, Sampaka. Just google images of Sampaka Equatorial New Guinea.
I read this as my book written by someone from a country I have not visited - Spain - for the Pop Sugar 2017 Reading Challenge. It would also fit a book set in two different time periods.
luchacc's review against another edition
5.0
"No puedo decirte ni cómo ni cuándo, pero llegará un día en que esta pequeña isla se apoderará de ti y desearás no abandonarla... No conozco a nadie que se haya marchado sin derramar lágrimas de desconsuelo."
Una historia contada a dos tiempos, entre Guinea Ecuatorial y España, gente de mar y de montaña, un pasaje de la historia poco conocido, con descripciones magistrales que te transportan, casi puedes sentir el aroma a cacao, a mar, escuchar los tambores y ver la entrada con las palmeras, un libro que tenia pendiente desde hace mucho tiempo porque sabia que me dolería, pero es hermoso, lo bueno es que fue el último del año y tengo un par de días para recuperarme de la resaca literaria
Una historia contada a dos tiempos, entre Guinea Ecuatorial y España, gente de mar y de montaña, un pasaje de la historia poco conocido, con descripciones magistrales que te transportan, casi puedes sentir el aroma a cacao, a mar, escuchar los tambores y ver la entrada con las palmeras, un libro que tenia pendiente desde hace mucho tiempo porque sabia que me dolería, pero es hermoso, lo bueno es que fue el último del año y tengo un par de días para recuperarme de la resaca literaria
mgatta's review against another edition
4.0
Como no iba a gustarme un libro que explora las complejidades coloniales de Guinea Ecuatorial. Estoy entre las 4 y las 5 estrellas eso si, porque aunque el libro es bueno y me ha gustado mucho, a veces la historia de los personajes principales no me acababa de convencer.
Me ha gustado eso si que se reflejen los distintos periodos que Guinea paso con su relación a España, y el hecho de que muestre que no solo había españoles, sino muchas otras nacionalidades, incluidas otras nacionalidades africanas, que sufrieron igualmente del despotismo de Macías. A veces me hubiera gustado que la autora hubiese explorado mas a fondo el tema político, y que no lo dejara a parte para concentrarse solo en la historia de amor entre Kilian y Bisila en los momentos más interesantes de la historia (políticamente hablando).
Saber de las desgracias que sufrieron los guineanos de todos los bandos y etnias también me ha resultado muy interesante, puesto que en España nunca tuvo mucha repercusión, y ni siquiera hoy en día lo enseñan en las clases de historia de España, lo cual me parece una vergüenza.
Tras leer este libro, me han entrado las ganas de leer los libros que la autora menciona al final de la novela, relacionados con Guinea.
Me ha gustado eso si que se reflejen los distintos periodos que Guinea paso con su relación a España, y el hecho de que muestre que no solo había españoles, sino muchas otras nacionalidades, incluidas otras nacionalidades africanas, que sufrieron igualmente del despotismo de Macías. A veces me hubiera gustado que la autora hubiese explorado mas a fondo el tema político, y que no lo dejara a parte para concentrarse solo en la historia de amor entre Kilian y Bisila en los momentos más interesantes de la historia (políticamente hablando).
Saber de las desgracias que sufrieron los guineanos de todos los bandos y etnias también me ha resultado muy interesante, puesto que en España nunca tuvo mucha repercusión, y ni siquiera hoy en día lo enseñan en las clases de historia de España, lo cual me parece una vergüenza.
Tras leer este libro, me han entrado las ganas de leer los libros que la autora menciona al final de la novela, relacionados con Guinea.
rebekel89's review against another edition
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
elizabethberger's review against another edition
3.0
3.5. I knew absolutely nothing about Guinea and I have certainly learnt something. The story itself and the characters are fairly generic and predictable, it is the backdrop that is the scene stealer here.
sssnoo's review against another edition
4.0
I waivered between 3 and 4 stars for this book. I have to say it took me forever to read it - literally months, and that is very unusual for me. It was slow and some of the colonial perspective made my skin crawl. That said there are few books that so vividly portray Equatorial Guinea and the cocoa plantations that give us our chocolate. Learning that history in the context os a well written novel is pleasurable. Some of the language in the book is memorable in its beauty. I read it in English so in Spanish I expect it is remarkable. The romance aspects were not very compelling to me except for Basila's. She was the one woman that stode out far ahead of the others in personal integrety and strength.
I appreciated the author's end notes. The book is thoroughly researched. I believe some of the aspects that I didn't like very much were because, well, they were times in history portrayed fairly acurately and they are depressing times I wish history could do over. The characters flaws, while irritating are also probably pretty representative of how relationships are seen across the spectrum. I recommend the read.
I appreciated the author's end notes. The book is thoroughly researched. I believe some of the aspects that I didn't like very much were because, well, they were times in history portrayed fairly acurately and they are depressing times I wish history could do over. The characters flaws, while irritating are also probably pretty representative of how relationships are seen across the spectrum. I recommend the read.
diskin40's review against another edition
4.0
I have to admit that it was the title that first drew me in. I love a good historical novel and this book delivered. There are so many books out there for specific time frames so I was very intrigued to find this book on a part of history of which I knew very little. Both the history and characters were well developed. This is the kind of book that stays with you.
I am thankful to have received this book through a Goodreads give away.
I am thankful to have received this book through a Goodreads give away.