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4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
I wanted to love this book more! It felt very uneven. At points it dragged, at others I was totally engaged. The first half, especially the beginning, was hard to follow, but then the second half was much clearer and more compelling. Had I not read it on Kindle I would have been flipping back and forth to figure out who was who.
I appreciated the historical backdrop, and I thought she did a nice job with the magical realism. I did love her characters, particularly Simonopio. There was also some beautiful writing.
I appreciated the historical backdrop, and I thought she did a nice job with the magical realism. I did love her characters, particularly Simonopio. There was also some beautiful writing.
challenging
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I was liking the magical realism and then this got so reactionary. Poor landowners is basically the message. I liked the beginning with Simonopio’s mysterious origins but Francisco Jr was boring and the second half dragged.
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Solid read, not gonna lie. I picked up this book for a challenge that required a historical fiction novel set outside the UK or USA, and I was genuinely surprised by how much I enjoyed it—especially since I had never seen it mentioned anywhere or come across any reviews. If it helps put things into perspective, I’d even recommend it to my mom.
If you hate multigenerational family epics and classic, gorgeous magical realism in the tradition of García Márquez and Allende, definitely don’t read this beautiful, beautiful book.
SPOILER IN LAST PARAGRAPH
Wow. I can only imagine the absolute masterpiece this book is in Spanish. I am really interested in possibly taking it in now.
This book was the perfect amount of classic Spanish realism, historical fiction, and Mexican culture narrative. It included piece of history I knew nothing about such as the Spanish Flu and Agrarian Reform, included cultural elements I was barely familiar with such as hacienda life and the roles of a traditional Catholic family. And included the touch of magical realism of a boy who sees and feels far more in this world than I can imagine to get me hooked and inspired to feel harder.
One of my favorite things in this book was the take on bees. Usually they’re used to represent resilience or good old fashioned building from nothing as a community. There are hints of this. But I’m this book, they’re protectors and family members. They’re the “becoming one with nature.” They’re sidekicks and friends. And Simonopio IS the bees, they are him. I thought this was a fresh idea and loved, having bees myself, thinking of what they could be saying or feeling or comforting me through. And what I can do for them and their nature cohorts.
Here’s the spoiler -
One of my favorite piece of writing from this book was when Francisco died and the chapter-long descriptions of his dying minutes. I never thought truly what it could be like to be hit in the back with a bullet. What would I feel? Would I get lucky and feel no pain either? What would I think? Would I also be confused and care so much I couldn’t sort out my thoughts? I appreciate that obviously the author had never been through such a thing but still captured the nuances of the last moments of life. It broke my heart and put into perspective some of the things I should probably be saying aloud now. Because nothing in life is guaranteed.
Wow. I can only imagine the absolute masterpiece this book is in Spanish. I am really interested in possibly taking it in now.
This book was the perfect amount of classic Spanish realism, historical fiction, and Mexican culture narrative. It included piece of history I knew nothing about such as the Spanish Flu and Agrarian Reform, included cultural elements I was barely familiar with such as hacienda life and the roles of a traditional Catholic family. And included the touch of magical realism of a boy who sees and feels far more in this world than I can imagine to get me hooked and inspired to feel harder.
One of my favorite things in this book was the take on bees. Usually they’re used to represent resilience or good old fashioned building from nothing as a community. There are hints of this. But I’m this book, they’re protectors and family members. They’re the “becoming one with nature.” They’re sidekicks and friends. And Simonopio IS the bees, they are him. I thought this was a fresh idea and loved, having bees myself, thinking of what they could be saying or feeling or comforting me through. And what I can do for them and their nature cohorts.
Here’s the spoiler -
One of my favorite piece of writing from this book was when Francisco died and the chapter-long descriptions of his dying minutes. I never thought truly what it could be like to be hit in the back with a bullet. What would I feel? Would I get lucky and feel no pain either? What would I think? Would I also be confused and care so much I couldn’t sort out my thoughts? I appreciate that obviously the author had never been through such a thing but still captured the nuances of the last moments of life. It broke my heart and put into perspective some of the things I should probably be saying aloud now. Because nothing in life is guaranteed.
Cultural work of art
This one kept me up well into the night when I should have been sleeping. What a gem. Takes a historical and political era and weaves a tale of relationships that last into eternity. I miss the characters already.
This one kept me up well into the night when I should have been sleeping. What a gem. Takes a historical and political era and weaves a tale of relationships that last into eternity. I miss the characters already.
