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hall_cj's review against another edition
3.0
Complex and thought provoking novel. Down two stars due to the struggle to find an English interpretation and yet PBS found it to be a suitable contender for the Great American Read… the 1930’s copy was lacking context in many places and the telenovella frankly saved the experience… definitely read, if you can find it…
eriniese's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.0
the de-girlbossification of doña bárbara who was by far the most interesting character and who should’ve been at the fore-front of the book was so tragic. ugh
jinmichae's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
shel_beh's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
lynnly's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
aa5us's review against another edition
3.0
esto podría haber estado más copado if yk DOÑA BÁRBARA TUVIERA PROTAGONISMO
joreasonable's review against another edition
2.0
The novel by the venezuelan writer Romulo Gallegos describes life in the plains of venezuela, in the arauca region, huge expanses of land, very few towns or people, lots of cattle and anarchy.
Originally published in 1929 this book is divided into 3 parts, each of which has short chapters which I enjoy, but there were a lot of very long sentences.
The first part is an introduction of the characters, it is very confusing as I wasn’t always able to tell the secondary characters apart. as I moved onto the second part it was much more interesting.
The second part had some wonderful descriptions of the rodeos and the vaquerias, also of the plains. But unfortunately, I didn’t really enjoy this book. The parts I didn’t like were that it was just like a mexican soap opera, very dramatic indeed. The main character in the book is Dona Barbara, but Santos Luzardo also has a huge part. I didn’t like any of the main characters. The author describes the anarchy of the land, the law of the land and life on the land.
The third part was slightly better, with murder, but still most of the same, soap opera drama.
The ending was rather abrupt, and I found that it was probably the only ending as it was very soap opera style and soap opera style can be never ending. I am not sure I would recommend this book to anyone.
The idea of the story is great, but it could be so much better if you take away all the soap opera drama but then there probably wouldn’t be much left.
I give this book 2 stars. Good news is that I finished the book!!!!
video review in Spanish
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iM0O4tvth30&list=PLniFXSpJj5RWIDC0udo2vtJsUn0Vd2HrS&index=12
Originally published in 1929 this book is divided into 3 parts, each of which has short chapters which I enjoy, but there were a lot of very long sentences.
The first part is an introduction of the characters, it is very confusing as I wasn’t always able to tell the secondary characters apart. as I moved onto the second part it was much more interesting.
The second part had some wonderful descriptions of the rodeos and the vaquerias, also of the plains. But unfortunately, I didn’t really enjoy this book. The parts I didn’t like were that it was just like a mexican soap opera, very dramatic indeed. The main character in the book is Dona Barbara, but Santos Luzardo also has a huge part. I didn’t like any of the main characters. The author describes the anarchy of the land, the law of the land and life on the land.
The third part was slightly better, with murder, but still most of the same, soap opera drama.
The ending was rather abrupt, and I found that it was probably the only ending as it was very soap opera style and soap opera style can be never ending. I am not sure I would recommend this book to anyone.
The idea of the story is great, but it could be so much better if you take away all the soap opera drama but then there probably wouldn’t be much left.
I give this book 2 stars. Good news is that I finished the book!!!!
video review in Spanish
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iM0O4tvth30&list=PLniFXSpJj5RWIDC0udo2vtJsUn0Vd2HrS&index=12
lecterclarice's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.25
leslie115's review against another edition
3.0
I wonder how this novel was adapted for television because the book seems to be more about Santo Luzardo than Dona Barbara. Indeed, Barbara barely appears in the first third of the book. The prose is okay and the characters are pretty flat (the Plains show more personality), but the ending wins the book an extra star.
tatianasb's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0