Reviews

Comandante: Myth and Reality in Hugo Chavez's Venezuela by Rory Carroll

geneluigi's review against another edition

5.0

I think this is, as someone said here: well-researched and fairly unbiased. I was very pleased to read a piece on venezuelan politics that didn't fall into the binary: Chávez dictator, opposition salvation. Venezuela's history is very nuanced and complex, and that's what this book gives you. Chávez was human and fallible, but also ruthless in the ways he wanted to achieve a so-called revolution. Very far away from the god-like image the naive leftists wants to picture. Similarly, the opposition, IMO is very disjointed (also decades of repression makes it very hard to organize) and lacks what Chávez had to a fault, a constructive vision of a future.

_karinaiello_'s review against another edition

2.0

This was not a biography of Chavez, which it took me 190-ish pages to figure out. This was a very jumbled up set of short vignettes centered around different personalities and different sequences of time that occured because of Chavez. If the reader knows nothing of Bolivar, they should read a biography/history of him first. And if you want the story of Chavez's rise you should read something else. The non-linear storytelling in this is confusing. I finished the book with more questions than I had before starting.

tefcortesch's review against another edition

informative slow-paced

4.5

springernichole3's review against another edition

4.0

I enjoyed this book

This book was very informative. Both sides are presented surrounding Chavez. Very interesting to hear voices from different backgrounds. It really helps put into perspective why Venezuela is going through what it is today. It approaches topics instead of listing a lengthy timeline.

sekerez's review against another edition

4.0

"Comandante" is a riveting, multi-vocal tale of Hugo Chavez's 13-year rule in Venezuela. The book reads like a mix of thrilling fiction and political analysis, almost carving out a genre of its own. Most reviews have focused on Carroll's beautiful writing and evocative vignettes, but for me personally, the book will most be remembered as capturing a time and a place, even if ultimately filtered through the eyes of a foreign reporter. I think that, despite his (justifiably) scathing criticism, Carroll does an excellent job of humanizing Hugo Chávez, and doesn't hide the fun of his bombastic personality, so much so that I was surprised by how moved I felt toward the end. Lastly, the book offers excellent reflections on the power of the media and polarization, which have evoked new thoughts on leaders as different as Berlusconi and Trump.

shawngray's review against another edition

4.0

Good read that introduces the reader to what it was like living in Venezuela during Chavez's reign. Some interesting topics are covered though lacks real depth (bibliography hardly covers a page). The book sticks to its tight topic, grazing over Chavez's early life and Venezuela's political history before Chavez. If the publication date where held off a few more months, Carroll would have had a more complete story of Chavez. We know his fate now, but because the book was finished shortly before his death, it feels like the narrative is forced to stop short. Enjoyable overall, but if you aren't into reading the book just do what I did: marry a Venezuelan.