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bepisaun's review against another edition
5.0
This book was so good! Set in real life, I was astonished to learn about the creation of Robert Capa as well as what went into creating the persona. Learned a lot too, which is always a plus.
makeshiftplant's review against another edition
3.0
I can admit that I'm a Robert Capa fangirl. After watching a documentary about his life in a high school photo class, and crying my eyes out, I became obsessed with Capa's fearless work as a war photographer. That being said, I think if you don't know the real-life story, certain aspects (referencing Capa's death, covering one more war) can be a bit of a head-scratcher.
I loves the story and hope that it made people look further into Gerda and Robert's lives.
I loves the story and hope that it made people look further into Gerda and Robert's lives.
rachelchloe's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
4.0
unabridgedchick's review against another edition
4.0
Shamefully, I had no idea who Robert Capa and Gerda Taro were when I started this book, but I now feel possessive and proud and affectionate toward Gerda Taro and I dare anyone to read this and not feel the same. In 1935, Jewish refugees Gerda Pohorylle and André Friedmann meet in Paris; André is a photographer who books Gerda's friend as a model for advertising images. Gerda becomes interested in the art of photography; her friend predicts a romance.
The novel is told through Gerda Pohorylle (mostly; the POV does shift to André/Capa at times, usually during sex) -- who later renames herself Gerda Taro -- but the story is really about the creation of Robert Capa and André's genius, temper, and passion. Robert Capa is an assumed name, created by Gerda as a way for she and André to make more money from his (and occasionally her) photographs.
I was pretty apprehensive about this one since a number of bloggers I trust didn't like this book, but once I started, I was surprised. I was immediately sucked in by the story -- Gerda is an amazing figure, and while I don't understand the appeal of André/Capa, I liked the way Fortes unfolded their romance and Gerda's education in photography. I was quite taken with the language and turn-of-phrase (like this, from page 3: "She preferred English poetry a million times over. One poem by Eliot can free you from evil, she thought. God didn't even help me escape that Wachterstrasse prison." Or this one, from page 6: "If sound waves travel through the ether, then somewhere in the galaxy there must also be the Psalms, litanies, and prayers of men floating within the stars.") and so I was surprised by the critiques that the writing/translation was problematic.
And then, I started to notice the weird grammar/punctuation issues. I'm not spectacular with grammar, yet I found now and then some really atrocious sentences and punctuation gaffes. Perhaps the result of my reading an uncorrected proof; perhaps this is a bad translation. Maybe something else entirely. But it didn't bother me enough to leave this book unfinished, and I think there is some really gorgeous language here and a heartbreaking, moving story. This is one that will stick with me (I'm still sighing over it to friends and colleagues) and I have no doubt this will be a frequent reread for me.
The novel is told through Gerda Pohorylle (mostly; the POV does shift to André/Capa at times, usually during sex) -- who later renames herself Gerda Taro -- but the story is really about the creation of Robert Capa and André's genius, temper, and passion. Robert Capa is an assumed name, created by Gerda as a way for she and André to make more money from his (and occasionally her) photographs.
I was pretty apprehensive about this one since a number of bloggers I trust didn't like this book, but once I started, I was surprised. I was immediately sucked in by the story -- Gerda is an amazing figure, and while I don't understand the appeal of André/Capa, I liked the way Fortes unfolded their romance and Gerda's education in photography. I was quite taken with the language and turn-of-phrase (like this, from page 3: "She preferred English poetry a million times over. One poem by Eliot can free you from evil, she thought. God didn't even help me escape that Wachterstrasse prison." Or this one, from page 6: "If sound waves travel through the ether, then somewhere in the galaxy there must also be the Psalms, litanies, and prayers of men floating within the stars.") and so I was surprised by the critiques that the writing/translation was problematic.
And then, I started to notice the weird grammar/punctuation issues. I'm not spectacular with grammar, yet I found now and then some really atrocious sentences and punctuation gaffes. Perhaps the result of my reading an uncorrected proof; perhaps this is a bad translation. Maybe something else entirely. But it didn't bother me enough to leave this book unfinished, and I think there is some really gorgeous language here and a heartbreaking, moving story. This is one that will stick with me (I'm still sighing over it to friends and colleagues) and I have no doubt this will be a frequent reread for me.
rincondejoss's review against another edition
3.0
Este creo que en un punto había estado gratis en Kindle y me pareció algo interesante, leo poco este tipo de libros, pero este me pareció una lectura entretenida acerca de los conflictos que hubo en España en su momento.
Me gusto que la historia de como esta gente veía de otra forma las guerras y el como se arriesgaban para que los demás pudieran conocer la historia, eran muy arriesgados estos fotógrafos.
La recomendaria para gente que le gusta ese tipo así como de ficción histórica que conlleva esta narración.
Me gusto que la historia de como esta gente veía de otra forma las guerras y el como se arriesgaban para que los demás pudieran conocer la historia, eran muy arriesgados estos fotógrafos.
La recomendaria para gente que le gusta ese tipo así como de ficción histórica que conlleva esta narración.
elizarapsodia's review against another edition
5.0
Mi historia con este libro es curiosa. Lo descubrí a principios de este año cuando brujeaba en la ronda habitual a mi biblioteca universitaria. Pero por mi gran gana de prestar más libros de los que tengo tiempo de leer, tuve que devolverlo. Tiempo después volví a llevármelo para ahora si leerlo si o si. Me he sentido identificada. He llorado. He reído. Me ha encantado.
Esta es la historia de una reportera. Gerta Pohorylle, una de los miles de refugiados que llegaron a París de años años 30. Una polaca con pasaporte alemán. Dura y recia desde la juventud que huyó para salvar la vida. En París no todo es bonito ni fácil para ella. Porque ella es judía. Y es comunista. Y mientras sobrevivía en una ciudad que nunca considero suya conoció al hombre que le daría una razón para vivir: Endre (Andre) Friedmann, un 'jodido húngaro' que amaba la fotografía. Junto a él se convertiría en una de las reporteras de guerra más grandes de todos los tiempos, a pesar de que ella estuvo en la sombra. Ellos eran los admirados y reputados Robert Capa y Gerda Taro.
Reseña completa: http://rapsodia-literaria.blogspot.com/2013/07/esperando-robert-capa-de-susana-fortes.html
Esta es la historia de una reportera. Gerta Pohorylle, una de los miles de refugiados que llegaron a París de años años 30. Una polaca con pasaporte alemán. Dura y recia desde la juventud que huyó para salvar la vida. En París no todo es bonito ni fácil para ella. Porque ella es judía. Y es comunista. Y mientras sobrevivía en una ciudad que nunca considero suya conoció al hombre que le daría una razón para vivir: Endre (Andre) Friedmann, un 'jodido húngaro' que amaba la fotografía. Junto a él se convertiría en una de las reporteras de guerra más grandes de todos los tiempos, a pesar de que ella estuvo en la sombra. Ellos eran los admirados y reputados Robert Capa y Gerda Taro.
Reseña completa: http://rapsodia-literaria.blogspot.com/2013/07/esperando-robert-capa-de-susana-fortes.html
ticianeaneane's review
adventurous
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
vkemp's review
4.0
This was a beautiful book, wonderfully written and very sad. It was the story of a great love between two talented people: Gerda Taro and Robert Capa (born Endre Friedmann). They meet in Paris in 1935 and become the first couple to photograph the Spanish Civil War. Gerda was killed after the Battle of Brunete in Julyl 1937. For a few brief years, they were a golden couple. Capa went on to become a celebrated war photographer and captured the horrors of battlefields across Europe. The writing is quite unusual, not completely a novel, not a memoir, the poetic language creates something new altogether.
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