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reflectiverambling_nalana's review against another edition
4.0
Silver, Sword, and Stone" by Marie Arana which looks at how exploitation (silver) violence (Sword) and religion (stone) as a cultural memory/history/ tendency? shaped Latin America. Throughout reading this I realized that I am not of the right background to do this book justice. Now that could begin the debate of whether or not this means a non-fiction title has failed in its intent, and I can't claim that either. The information and history is clearly laid out and it has an engaging flow with each section's thesis address. But at the same time, a lack of previous education or cultural knowledge has left me exceptionally ill at ease, deterred this review, and I here acknowledge that I know my educational failings, bias, and privileges of a white millennial are factoring into both my reactions and comprehension.
Latin America is a hard history to read about. That I believe many would know to start with. But reading this book made me doubly ashamed of how little I know about all this to begin with. I believe what would be most beneficial is to seek out reviews from Latin American readers. I believe there is a cultural sensitivity that I am not connecting with. The result is that certain sections of this book not so much a 'wake up call' , educational experience, or even calling someone/thing to task but drip with disdain. It is exceptionally alarming and disorienting.
The author CLEARLY has a lot of love for Latin America and the country she was born in (Peru) but she also has lived in the US for a very very long time. I don't know if she's just not sugar coating things... but the violence section in particular comes off a lot of as "Oh they can't help it. They're naturally blood thirsty." There is a thread of “a lack of opportunity /backed into a corner has led to these actions.” There is some emphasis on inter-generational trauma but I continued to feel this huge disconnect in messaging in the author's voice.
That being said the topic IS fascinating. The thematic approach and angle it tackles history is refreshing. It may disheartening how much I'm learning but it was a valuable experience. We all start somewhere. At the same time I wish it wasn't set up so much on cultural ties-connections then country by country as I know I'm going to have to read SO many more histories before my poorly educated brain really sinks in/remembers what was happening where.
Overall a significant read with a conflicting narrative voice that served as a good reminder of how much more I need to learn.
Latin America is a hard history to read about. That I believe many would know to start with. But reading this book made me doubly ashamed of how little I know about all this to begin with. I believe what would be most beneficial is to seek out reviews from Latin American readers. I believe there is a cultural sensitivity that I am not connecting with. The result is that certain sections of this book not so much a 'wake up call' , educational experience, or even calling someone/thing to task but drip with disdain. It is exceptionally alarming and disorienting.
The author CLEARLY has a lot of love for Latin America and the country she was born in (Peru) but she also has lived in the US for a very very long time. I don't know if she's just not sugar coating things... but the violence section in particular comes off a lot of as "Oh they can't help it. They're naturally blood thirsty." There is a thread of “a lack of opportunity /backed into a corner has led to these actions.” There is some emphasis on inter-generational trauma but I continued to feel this huge disconnect in messaging in the author's voice.
That being said the topic IS fascinating. The thematic approach and angle it tackles history is refreshing. It may disheartening how much I'm learning but it was a valuable experience. We all start somewhere. At the same time I wish it wasn't set up so much on cultural ties-connections then country by country as I know I'm going to have to read SO many more histories before my poorly educated brain really sinks in/remembers what was happening where.
Overall a significant read with a conflicting narrative voice that served as a good reminder of how much more I need to learn.
fclancy93's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Silver, Sword, and Stone
A continent in turmoil
Blood on gold crosses
A continent in turmoil
Blood on gold crosses
eliiiiiiizabthh's review against another edition
2.0
This book is a historical account of how minerals, war, and religion have shaped contemporary Latin America. It was not what I was expecting when I started reading it. It wasnt _bad_ perse, but it was boring.
hmkuether's review against another edition
5.0
a fantastic mix of history and modern examples of how that history is still affecting people in Latin America, through the lens of environmental exploitation (silver), violence (sword), and religion (stone). clearly well-researched but written in a very accessible way.
caroreadssometimes's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
naum's review against another edition
5.0
Not a history, not journalism (from author's own description of this work), but it is a kind of "big history" of Latin/South America, divided up into 3 sections -- "Silver" for all the metal and mining that drove economics and global capitalism and also swallowed up native populations (& imported African slaves) to serve as fodder; "Sword" for the conquest both before Spain & Portugal conquistadors came and after where countless revolutions and an endless stream of dictators still flow; "Stone" for religious aspects, rooted in native spiritual beliefs about stone & rocks, and then the wave of Catholocism and later modern day Protestant waves that merged in a syncretic spiritual sauce. Within each of these parts, a human story is interwoven -- for "Silver" it is a poor Peruvian miner widow named Leonor, for "Sword" it is a Cuban migrant named Carlos who served in Cuban army and later escaped Cuba as part of the Mariel boatlift affair in 1980, for "Stone" it is Jesuit priest Xavier Albo whose long life story arc also melds with prominent historical figures Pope Francis, Evo Morales, and persecuted/murdered Liberation Theology priests.
soapyme's review against another edition
3.0
Marie Arana infuses her history of Latin America with individual stories that make this book interesting and informative without being dry. However, there are little errors here and there that, without detracting from her overall narrative, made me wonder how slipshod the editing process was. That is what prevents me from giving this a full four stars.