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3.5 AVERAGE
3.5 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
La colmena es una novela que tenía ganas de leer desde hace mucho tiempo. Se suele decir de este libro que hay tantos personajes que al final uno termina perdiendo la cuenta, y es cierto, pero también da un gusto especial cuando recuerdas quién era, y le coges un cariño individual a cada uno de los personajes. Lo he sentido como una ventana al Madrid del pasado, de los primeros años de posguerra, todas las nuevas situaciones y problemas que había, y lo que tenían que hacer para sobrellevarlo. Me ha parecido muy bonito, muy bien escrito, a veces duro, pero al final entrañable. Me gusta como se entrelazan las historias de los personajes, como todos "se conocen" de alguna manera, aunque sea por otras personas o tan solo de vista. Un gran libro, lo volvería a leer.
Camilo Jose Cela was a Spanish author who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1989. Cela wrote some of his best known work during the Franco era. He was a Franco supporter and even though the Franco government had a complete ban on his work, Cela continued to work as an informer for Franco's secret police. Cela was famously outspoken later in life, saying all sorts of outrageous things, including some homophobic nonsense. Overall he was a jerk of a person. Luckily for us, he was an amazing writer. The Hive is Cela's masterpiece. Set in Madrid in December 1943, the Spanish civil war has ended & WWII rages across Europe. The people of Madrid are poor and hungry. Cela represents post-civil war Madrid by taking the daring, innovative approach of rendering 300-odd named characters in this slim, 250-page volume. Madrid seethes with life, no character in the hive being hugely significant in isolation, instead making part of a powerful whole.
Re-read five years later, didn't enjoy it as much the second time.
Re-read five years later, didn't enjoy it as much the second time.
dark
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Quizás de haberme leído el libro sabiendo un poco más sobre él lo hubiera disfrutado más, pero se me ha hecho bastante pesado. Y los finales abiertos no son de mi elección, así que el final me ha dejado un poco fría.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicide, Murder, Pregnancy
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
dark
informative
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
sad
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:
No