Reviews

The Campaign by Carlos Fuentes

blueranger9's review

4.0

"Don't let yourself be dazzled and divided by a single idea." Baltasar Bustos' narrow, singularly-minded focus on liberty through equality takes him from Argentina to Venezuela, Chile, Peru and Mexico during a time of extreme political upheaval. The first half of the book hardly engaged me, but I'm glad I'm a glutton for punishment since I didn't really reap the rewards of the book till the second half. Even then I will admit most of the philosophical ideology went over my head, but what I really got out of the book was Bustos' personal journey and coming-of-age. Here is the story of a young man driven by political ideals and romantic notions of equality, justice and freedom...who over the course of a decade, and through fierce violence and intense reflection, comes to know himself even better. He faces man's eternal enemy: himself. So with that ending, I'm glad I pushed myself to finish it so I can finally stop nursing it.

PS: The ending alone is worth the read.

lauraellis's review

3.0

A mind-stretching book, a challenge. Good reading, both good for me and enjoyable, once I got used to Fuentes’ writing style. The hero travels all through out S. America, fighting in the rebellion against Spain which comes as a result of Napoleon’s conquering Spain, and also chasing a woman whose baby he stole. By the end he has learned a great deal—but much of the truth still evades him (but not the reader).