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4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
Sentí bastante pesado al principio; mucho contexto sobre el pueblo de Linares, sus habitantes, la reforma agraria, la influenza y todo el ambiente para aterrizar con la familia Morales.
Pero después de la mitad libro te vas llenando de miel, de aventuras, de abejas y de amor sobre todo de Simonopio (el súper protagonista de esta linda historia). La segunda parte es maravillosa y mágica (con alguna que otra tragedia y lágrimas).
La muerte y los momentos previos a llegar a ella fue lo que más me conmovió; algo muy intenso, doloroso y profundo.
Pero después de la mitad libro te vas llenando de miel, de aventuras, de abejas y de amor sobre todo de Simonopio (el súper protagonista de esta linda historia). La segunda parte es maravillosa y mágica (con alguna que otra tragedia y lágrimas).
La muerte y los momentos previos a llegar a ella fue lo que más me conmovió; algo muy intenso, doloroso y profundo.
This book started out slowly, but enjoyably. I wasn't sure where it was going to go, but I wonder if the reader is supposed to feel like they are quietly plodding through the little events of small-town life just like our main characters, only to be quite suddenly confronted with events that can't be entirely understood...just like our main characters.
There's a tiny bit of fantasy in the book, but it is done so low-key that I, the reader, simply accepted it as a believable quirk of life. It's like...say you dreamed that one day, in a meadow, you ate the most delicious chocolate ever. And years later, one day, you're hiking through a meadow mountain and a fellow hiker stops and gives you the most delicious chocolate bar ever. Did your dreams magically fortell the events that happened or was it just a baffling coincidence?
Knowing little of rural Mexican life I enjoyed how well the author immersed us in the environment. While the character points-of-view change from chapter to chapter, which is not normally my favorite way to read a novel, it works very well here as we get a very complete picture of how people of all genders and social classes in this little town and neighboring city reacted in their daily lives to political upheaval happening elsewhere in their country. No one is a great big world-saving hero, but no one is a great big world-destroying villain, either. I was surprised to see that this book was under 500 pages long as I felt like I spent a much longer time than usual reading it, but that's a compliment. Rarely do I feel as immersed in the environment of a novel as I did this time. It was enjoyable, and I'm very happy to have picked it up during Amazon's international book celebration.
There's a tiny bit of fantasy in the book, but it is done so low-key that I, the reader, simply accepted it as a believable quirk of life. It's like...say you dreamed that one day, in a meadow, you ate the most delicious chocolate ever. And years later, one day, you're hiking through a meadow mountain and a fellow hiker stops and gives you the most delicious chocolate bar ever. Did your dreams magically fortell the events that happened or was it just a baffling coincidence?
Knowing little of rural Mexican life I enjoyed how well the author immersed us in the environment. While the character points-of-view change from chapter to chapter, which is not normally my favorite way to read a novel, it works very well here as we get a very complete picture of how people of all genders and social classes in this little town and neighboring city reacted in their daily lives to political upheaval happening elsewhere in their country. No one is a great big world-saving hero, but no one is a great big world-destroying villain, either. I was surprised to see that this book was under 500 pages long as I felt like I spent a much longer time than usual reading it, but that's a compliment. Rarely do I feel as immersed in the environment of a novel as I did this time. It was enjoyable, and I'm very happy to have picked it up during Amazon's international book celebration.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
"Still, in January 1919, in Linares, these details were of little interest, because absences were not measured in numbers or statistics: they were measured in grief.
"As a young woman, Beatriz had always reflected on how it would feel to grow old. She observed her mother—old fashioned, elderly, diminished, prudish—and wondered if a person woke up one day saying, This is the moment my old age begins. Starting today, my brain will stop tolerating new ideas, my taste in clothing will stop evolving, my hairstyle will remain the same forevermore, I will read and reread the novels that brought me pleasure in my youth with nostalgia, and I will let the next generation—whom I no longer understand because I only speak “Old”—make my decisions for me, because I have nothing to teach them anymore. I'll be comfort for everyone, but little more than that for anyone."
"Sometimes when we do not have someone in front of us—in plain sight, in constant contact—while we know it does not mean that they no longer exist, it’s as if it were impossible that they should carry on without us, that they could continue to exist without our physical influence. Perhaps this stems from the depths of our early childhood, when we are reluctant to lose sight of our mother for fear of her disappearing."
"Their need for meat, groceries, worship, and sharpened knives was greater than their pain and sorrow. Such is life."
"Because the perfect course of action can only be seen in hindsight, which is why we fill life with so many should haves."
"He could not imagine how the country would survive if it allowed the rural areas to die, for in spite of all the changes—the emergence of iron cities like Monterrey, all the technological advances, all the marvels of the modern world—if there was one thing that never changed, it was that people, whether of a city or a village, needed to eat every day."
"As ever, whether fast or slow, time always passes, and grain of sand by grain of sand, every date arrives."
"Francisco Senior wondered how long ago he had stopped doing the same thing: jumping higher than necessary without knowing how he would land or what consequences there would be."
"Because sometimes it was as if everything were a repetition: the same mistakes, the same warning signs, and the same governments, even if the faces changed."
"How arrogant she had been to have felt that, just by existing, she deserved the best in life, that she was worthy of being at the top."
"she feigned strength, as she would do for a long time, and by feigning it she would end up believing it, and by believing it, she would make it reality."
"... my life: the many good things and the not-so-many bad things—old age included, because it wouldn’t have happened had youth not also existed. I am what life has made me."
"As a young woman, Beatriz had always reflected on how it would feel to grow old. She observed her mother—old fashioned, elderly, diminished, prudish—and wondered if a person woke up one day saying, This is the moment my old age begins. Starting today, my brain will stop tolerating new ideas, my taste in clothing will stop evolving, my hairstyle will remain the same forevermore, I will read and reread the novels that brought me pleasure in my youth with nostalgia, and I will let the next generation—whom I no longer understand because I only speak “Old”—make my decisions for me, because I have nothing to teach them anymore. I'll be comfort for everyone, but little more than that for anyone."
"Sometimes when we do not have someone in front of us—in plain sight, in constant contact—while we know it does not mean that they no longer exist, it’s as if it were impossible that they should carry on without us, that they could continue to exist without our physical influence. Perhaps this stems from the depths of our early childhood, when we are reluctant to lose sight of our mother for fear of her disappearing."
"Their need for meat, groceries, worship, and sharpened knives was greater than their pain and sorrow. Such is life."
"Because the perfect course of action can only be seen in hindsight, which is why we fill life with so many should haves."
"He could not imagine how the country would survive if it allowed the rural areas to die, for in spite of all the changes—the emergence of iron cities like Monterrey, all the technological advances, all the marvels of the modern world—if there was one thing that never changed, it was that people, whether of a city or a village, needed to eat every day."
"As ever, whether fast or slow, time always passes, and grain of sand by grain of sand, every date arrives."
"Francisco Senior wondered how long ago he had stopped doing the same thing: jumping higher than necessary without knowing how he would land or what consequences there would be."
"Because sometimes it was as if everything were a repetition: the same mistakes, the same warning signs, and the same governments, even if the faces changed."
"How arrogant she had been to have felt that, just by existing, she deserved the best in life, that she was worthy of being at the top."
"she feigned strength, as she would do for a long time, and by feigning it she would end up believing it, and by believing it, she would make it reality."
"... my life: the many good things and the not-so-many bad things—old age included, because it wouldn’t have happened had youth not also existed. I am what life has made me."
"Still, in January 1919, in Linares, these details were of little interest, because absences were not measured in numbers or statistics: they were measured in grief.
"As a young woman, Beatriz had always reflected on how it would feel to grow old. She observed her mother—old fashioned, elderly, diminished, prudish—and wondered if a person woke up one day saying, This is the moment my old age begins. Starting today, my brain will stop tolerating new ideas, my taste in clothing will stop evolving, my hairstyle will remain the same forevermore, I will read and reread the novels that brought me pleasure in my youth with nostalgia, and I will let the next generation—whom I no longer understand because I only speak “Old”—make my decisions for me, because I have nothing to teach them anymore. I'll be comfort for everyone, but little more than that for anyone."
"Sometimes when we do not have someone in front of us—in plain sight, in constant contact—while we know it does not mean that they no longer exist, it’s as if it were impossible that they should carry on without us, that they could continue to exist without our physical influence. Perhaps this stems from the depths of our early childhood, when we are reluctant to lose sight of our mother for fear of her disappearing."
"Their need for meat, groceries, worship, and sharpened knives was greater than their pain and sorrow. Such is life."
"Because the perfect course of action can only be seen in hindsight, which is why we fill life with so many should haves."
"He could not imagine how the country would survive if it allowed the rural areas to die, for in spite of all the changes—the emergence of iron cities like Monterrey, all the technological advances, all the marvels of the modern world—if there was one thing that never changed, it was that people, whether of a city or a village, needed to eat every day."
"As ever, whether fast or slow, time always passes, and grain of sand by grain of sand, every date arrives."
"Francisco Senior wondered how long ago he had stopped doing the same thing: jumping higher than necessary without knowing how he would land or what consequences there would be."
"Because sometimes it was as if everything were a repetition: the same mistakes, the same warning signs, and the same governments, even if the faces changed."
"How arrogant she had been to have felt that, just by existing, she deserved the best in life, that she was worthy of being at the top."
"she feigned strength, as she would do for a long time, and by feigning it she would end up believing it, and by believing it, she would make it reality."
"... my life: the many good things and the not-so-many bad things—old age included, because it wouldn’t have happened had youth not also existed. I am what life has made me."
"As a young woman, Beatriz had always reflected on how it would feel to grow old. She observed her mother—old fashioned, elderly, diminished, prudish—and wondered if a person woke up one day saying, This is the moment my old age begins. Starting today, my brain will stop tolerating new ideas, my taste in clothing will stop evolving, my hairstyle will remain the same forevermore, I will read and reread the novels that brought me pleasure in my youth with nostalgia, and I will let the next generation—whom I no longer understand because I only speak “Old”—make my decisions for me, because I have nothing to teach them anymore. I'll be comfort for everyone, but little more than that for anyone."
"Sometimes when we do not have someone in front of us—in plain sight, in constant contact—while we know it does not mean that they no longer exist, it’s as if it were impossible that they should carry on without us, that they could continue to exist without our physical influence. Perhaps this stems from the depths of our early childhood, when we are reluctant to lose sight of our mother for fear of her disappearing."
"Their need for meat, groceries, worship, and sharpened knives was greater than their pain and sorrow. Such is life."
"Because the perfect course of action can only be seen in hindsight, which is why we fill life with so many should haves."
"He could not imagine how the country would survive if it allowed the rural areas to die, for in spite of all the changes—the emergence of iron cities like Monterrey, all the technological advances, all the marvels of the modern world—if there was one thing that never changed, it was that people, whether of a city or a village, needed to eat every day."
"As ever, whether fast or slow, time always passes, and grain of sand by grain of sand, every date arrives."
"Francisco Senior wondered how long ago he had stopped doing the same thing: jumping higher than necessary without knowing how he would land or what consequences there would be."
"Because sometimes it was as if everything were a repetition: the same mistakes, the same warning signs, and the same governments, even if the faces changed."
"How arrogant she had been to have felt that, just by existing, she deserved the best in life, that she was worthy of being at the top."
"she feigned strength, as she would do for a long time, and by feigning it she would end up believing it, and by believing it, she would make it reality."
"... my life: the many good things and the not-so-many bad things—old age included, because it wouldn’t have happened had youth not also existed. I am what life has made me."
dnf @60%, i tried so hard to finish this book because of the amazing reviews but all in all found it too slow for my liking. the beginning was great and kept me interested but i feel like this book is 200 pgs too long, so many unnecessary details + slow descriptors that didn't add anything but length. it was often hard to follow along with who was narrating the chapter too, i listened as an audio book so maybe it's better when read.
overall, coming back to this book felt like too much of a chore
overall, coming back to this book felt like too much of a chore
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
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
Tender and fierce story
I wish I could understand Spanish so I could have read in the original Spanish. Simonopio is a mysterious child who arrived covered in bees. He changes one family, and this novel follows that family. I chose this book because of the unusual premise, as well as the description of a village decimated by Spanish Influenza and War in Mexico . I was entranced by the tender relationships in the Morales family - Simonopio, Beatriz, Reja, Francisco, and Francisco Jr. There are heartbreaking moments but ultimately this is a story of hope, faith, and love. The change in narrator confused me at the beginning but then flowed well as it progressed. Kudos to the translator.
I wish I could understand Spanish so I could have read in the original Spanish. Simonopio is a mysterious child who arrived covered in bees. He changes one family, and this novel follows that family. I chose this book because of the unusual premise, as well as the description of a village decimated by Spanish Influenza and War in Mexico . I was entranced by the tender relationships in the Morales family - Simonopio, Beatriz, Reja, Francisco, and Francisco Jr. There are heartbreaking moments but ultimately this is a story of hope, faith, and love. The change in narrator confused me at the beginning but then flowed well as it progressed. Kudos to the translator.
Beautiful storytelling with likeable characters. Be transported to early 1900s Mexico. The identity of the narrator is kept a secret until halfway through the book and hints as what will happen as a way of driving the story and keeping you turning the pages to find out what will happen next.