Reviews

Adam in Eden by Carlos Fuentes

jayco's review against another edition

funny reflective

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

I got Catch-22 vibes from this book. I can only imagine someone with greater knowledge of Mexican culture and literature than me would appreciate it even more. A funny and incisive book.

gilmoreguide's review against another edition

3.0

Adam Gorozpe is a very put upon man. Like the first Adam he stepped into a Garden of Eden by marrying his wife Priscila, daughter of the wealthiest and most powerful man in Mexico City, and a festival queen in her own right. In doing so, he creates his own success and takes over his father-in-law’s place, while still placating the man by living in his home. Now his paradise is plagued with employees who refuse to remove their sunglasses in meetings and a vile man who also goes by the name Adam but whose sole purpose as Director of Security, seems to be Gorozpe’s downfall.

Read the rest of this review at The Gilmore Guide to Books: http://gilmoreguidetobooks.com/2013/02/adam-in-eden/

idonthavebroadband's review against another edition

funny lighthearted reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

kathleenitpdx's review against another edition

4.0

This is a wonderfully different novel. I listened to an audio version read by Robert Fass, which is a great way to experience this book which is written in first person. Adam comes across, at first, as a macho Mexican. He is in charge. He has arranged his life the way he wants it. But he is honest. He is where he is partly because he has married the daughter of a nouveau riche man, the king of bakeries. But we find that Adam can be compassionate. The story is set among many of the travails of modern Mexico.
Adam's world starts to come apart on many levels and he carefully examines the problems and his own responses to these challenges.
His solution is surprising.

I think this would make a wonderful movie. I am not sure how, but the plot, the characters, the action and the humor seem that they could be made visual.