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kakrucke's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
flormai's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Es raro, la historia y la realidad que retrata es muy interesante, pero se me hizo muy pesada la lectura y difícil de seguir. No me gustó la forma en que se encara la historia, me enganche muy sobre el final. El uso de la jerga villera es excesivo y muy forzado y el spanglish a mi parecer no suma nada
charliemandar's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
thechemicaldetective's review against another edition
5.0
I love getting recommendations in bookshops: hand-written notes in Waterstones' branches, personal suggestions from Mel at Drake’s in Stockton and whenever I’m in Edinburgh I make a beeline for The Golden Hare in Stockbridge.
The lovely staff there directed me to the elegant and rewarding collection from brand new Charco Press.
Through the “grimy gates of poverty”, a journalist and a photographer, enter the intoxicating world of El Poso, a Buenos Aires slum: noisy, colourful, smelly, depraved, and brutal—“the kingdom of eternal youth: no one dies of old age, they die of curable illnesses or unnecessary bullets.”
Catalina (Quito), haunted by the mercy killing of Evelyn, a trafficked child set alight and thrown from a window, is looking for a story to make her name. Daniel photographs souls. Both are irrevocably changed by their meeting with Cleopatra (Carlos), the transvestite prostitute turned mystic medium (or ventriloquist?) to a crude concrete sculpture of the Virgin Mary.
The story, narrated alternately by despairing Quito and exuberant Cleo, flashes both forward to fame in Miami and backwards to an experiment in a Buenos Aires slum.
The slum inhabitants, led by Cleo take control back from their pimps, handlers and oppressors: the Condors, a ruthless private security firm; the police; the government. They briefly create their own free society, until they suffer the consequences of their impertinence.
Beautifully written in the inner voices of the characters, a special mention must go to the translator Frances Riddle who remains completely invisible, the perfect job.
This is a raw, rambunctious, bawdy, love story – fascinating, disturbing and quite unique.
The lovely staff there directed me to the elegant and rewarding collection from brand new Charco Press.
Through the “grimy gates of poverty”, a journalist and a photographer, enter the intoxicating world of El Poso, a Buenos Aires slum: noisy, colourful, smelly, depraved, and brutal—“the kingdom of eternal youth: no one dies of old age, they die of curable illnesses or unnecessary bullets.”
Catalina (Quito), haunted by the mercy killing of Evelyn, a trafficked child set alight and thrown from a window, is looking for a story to make her name. Daniel photographs souls. Both are irrevocably changed by their meeting with Cleopatra (Carlos), the transvestite prostitute turned mystic medium (or ventriloquist?) to a crude concrete sculpture of the Virgin Mary.
The story, narrated alternately by despairing Quito and exuberant Cleo, flashes both forward to fame in Miami and backwards to an experiment in a Buenos Aires slum.
The slum inhabitants, led by Cleo take control back from their pimps, handlers and oppressors: the Condors, a ruthless private security firm; the police; the government. They briefly create their own free society, until they suffer the consequences of their impertinence.
Beautifully written in the inner voices of the characters, a special mention must go to the translator Frances Riddle who remains completely invisible, the perfect job.
This is a raw, rambunctious, bawdy, love story – fascinating, disturbing and quite unique.
emmadnl's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
21hvf's review against another edition
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
soy_sputnik's review against another edition
3.0
Tengo sentimientos encontrados con este libro, empezando mi año super confundida sobre cómo acercar a otrxs a esta lectura. Tardé varias páginas en agarrar el hilo, el lenguaje no era el problema sino desde dónde comienza a contar la historia, una vez pasado eso no pude parar. ¿Es raro eso? Quizás sí, pero sentí que la autora logra representar muy bien el lenguaje villero ¿? en la historia. Me pesó por muchos momentos, pero esto como siempre por la manera en retratar la podredumbre, la miseria, la marginalidad y la violencia. El final me sacó de onda, no puedo decir si me gustó, sólo que fue raro en muchos aspectos, mi primera impresión es que lo sentí muy desproporcionado de lo que s venía contando. PERO, lo que me mantuvo atrapada fueron las dos voces que cuentan la historia, lo sentí como una historia que me contaban en voz alta en medio de una borrachera. Con todos sus dolores pero también con sus alegrías. Entonces, aunque me fue complicado arrancar, siento que es un libro que aporta mucho a lo que literariamente se está haciendo en Latinoamérica, mucho juego literario, mucha oralidad. No sé si de repente parece que romantiza a las personadas que salen de la norma o que son "disidentes" pero también creo que el texto es parte de su tiempo, quizás la autora hoy le cambiaría cosas, no sé. En conclusión: me gustó a secas y creo que lo volvería a leer para analizarlo a consciencia.
adam613's review against another edition
4.0
"If the people don't understand the power they'd have if they only joined together, what the hell do a bunch of rats know?"
Gabriela Cabezón Cámara's writing is vivid and powerful. Slum Virgin is not for the faint of heart, but then again neither is the resilience and faith of those who live in the slums of Buenos Aires. All walks of life of come to live with transvestite turned saint Cleopatra, after she has received a message from a statue of the Virgin Mary to create a utopia in El Poso. When a reporter named Quity visits to investigate, she finds a world beyond what she could have imagined.
This book packs many punches with its dark and tragic moments mixed with sharp wit and twisted humour. For those who love stories with grit and love about the human condition, this is a must read. This is a perfectly dense read and one of my favourite books of the year so far.
Gabriela Cabezón Cámara's writing is vivid and powerful. Slum Virgin is not for the faint of heart, but then again neither is the resilience and faith of those who live in the slums of Buenos Aires. All walks of life of come to live with transvestite turned saint Cleopatra, after she has received a message from a statue of the Virgin Mary to create a utopia in El Poso. When a reporter named Quity visits to investigate, she finds a world beyond what she could have imagined.
This book packs many punches with its dark and tragic moments mixed with sharp wit and twisted humour. For those who love stories with grit and love about the human condition, this is a must read. This is a perfectly dense read and one of my favourite books of the year so far.
shaunamcgarry's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0