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martine_01's review
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
johndiconsiglio's review against another edition
3.0
Saramago never topped Blindness. Coetzee never bested Disgrace. So it’s probably unfair to expect every Vásquez book to be as brilliant as The Sound of Things Falling. But even minor works by the great Colombian novelist are a treat. A political cartoonist besotted with his own power discovers he may have made a terrible mistake & ruined lives with his pen & ink. A slim book that’s heavy on ideas—fact & fiction, memory & truth, who gets to say what really happened. Lotta questions. Don’t expect answers.
boltonmi's review against another edition
4.0
A story of unintended consequences, pride and regret. A quick read still rich with meaning.
ruthnessly's review against another edition
2.0
Several of these passages were really lovely. Some of this was really great writing. I've wanted to read some Vasquez for a while and I found this scrolling through my kindle. I'm glad I finally did something I've vaguely thought about for a while!
That said, I really didn't take to this book that well -- like I said, some of the writing is lovely. I feel like it's a very rich setting. This isn't very long, but it is a good set up and it feels almost luxurious. There's a depth to the writing and a certainty which can summon years of work, of a life, pretty easily. The actual topic of this book I HAD NO IDEA ABOUT and wasn't aware of until after halfway through. It is, btw, sexual assault. It's also told from a male's POV, which was a little on the nose for me considering recent news items but hey. I guess I unwittingly picked something that could be a little timely.
I liked some of this much more than others. I liked the build up. I liked the setting. Some of the less focused paragraphs were gorgeous, when the words spread out from this particular setting and these particular characters to a more macro sense of the world. That was great! There were a number of odd scenes I didn't like or didn't care for. I don't really want to read much about. I feel a bit strange about this book. There's a persistent sense of concern with memory, as well as reputation -- I think the importance of it and the elusive nature of it is central to this book. But...I just felt cold. The disconnect was too broad for me. I wish I could figure out why, but I'm struggling with it! Nonetheless, I think this was fine, but not that enjoyable.
That said, I really didn't take to this book that well -- like I said, some of the writing is lovely. I feel like it's a very rich setting. This isn't very long, but it is a good set up and it feels almost luxurious. There's a depth to the writing and a certainty which can summon years of work, of a life, pretty easily. The actual topic of this book I HAD NO IDEA ABOUT and wasn't aware of until after halfway through. It is, btw, sexual assault. It's also told from a male's POV, which was a little on the nose for me considering recent news items but hey. I guess I unwittingly picked something that could be a little timely.
I liked some of this much more than others. I liked the build up. I liked the setting. Some of the less focused paragraphs were gorgeous, when the words spread out from this particular setting and these particular characters to a more macro sense of the world. That was great! There were a number of odd scenes I didn't like or didn't care for. I don't really want to read much about. I feel a bit strange about this book. There's a persistent sense of concern with memory, as well as reputation -- I think the importance of it and the elusive nature of it is central to this book. But...I just felt cold. The disconnect was too broad for me. I wish I could figure out why, but I'm struggling with it! Nonetheless, I think this was fine, but not that enjoyable.
kybrz's review against another edition
3.0
Would certainly be interesting to live in a world where political cartoons had the damaging effect they clearly could have in past eras. Loved this short novel about how reputations are built and torn down, and how time can warp memories.
manaledi's review against another edition
4.0
This book brought me back to Bogota and walking up and down Septima. I found it a very Colombian book all the way through - lyric, political, and a tinge of loss throughout.
hellovivi_'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-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
4.5
rafelath's review against another edition
5.0
Μια νουβέλα γεμάτη αγωνία και συγκίνηση που πραγματεύεται τη ρευστότητα της μνήμης και το ποσό αυτή μπορεί να καθορίσει το παρόν, αλλά και το μέλλον.
Αξίζει άραγε να αναμοχλεύουμε το παρελθόν και αν τελικά το κάνουμε, τι αντίκτυπο θα έχει αυτό στην μετέπειτα ζωή μας;
Τελικά μήπως «είναι πολύ φτωχή η μνήμη που δουλεύει μόνο προς τα πίσω»;
Αξίζει άραγε να αναμοχλεύουμε το παρελθόν και αν τελικά το κάνουμε, τι αντίκτυπο θα έχει αυτό στην μετέπειτα ζωή μας;
Τελικά μήπως «είναι πολύ φτωχή η μνήμη που δουλεύει μόνο προς τα πίσω»;
cdhotwing's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
ruthlessly's review against another edition
2.0
Several of these passages were really lovely. Some of this was really great writing. I've wanted to read some Vasquez for a while and I found this scrolling through my kindle. I'm glad I finally did something I've vaguely thought about for a while!
That said, I really didn't take to this book that well -- like I said, some of the writing is lovely. I feel like it's a very rich setting. This isn't very long, but it is a good set up and it feels almost luxurious. There's a depth to the writing and a certainty which can summon years of work, of a life, pretty easily. The actual topic of this book I HAD NO IDEA ABOUT and wasn't aware of until after halfway through. It is, btw, sexual assault. It's also told from a male's POV, which was a little on the nose for me considering recent news items but hey. I guess I unwittingly picked something that could be a little timely.
I liked some of this much more than others. I liked the build up. I liked the setting. Some of the less focused paragraphs were gorgeous, when the words spread out from this particular setting and these particular characters to a more macro sense of the world. That was great! There were a number of odd scenes I didn't like or didn't care for. I don't really want to read much about. I feel a bit strange about this book. There's a persistent sense of concern with memory, as well as reputation -- I think the importance of it and the elusive nature of it is central to this book. But...I just felt cold. The disconnect was too broad for me. I wish I could figure out why, but I'm struggling with it! Nonetheless, I think this was fine, but not that enjoyable.
That said, I really didn't take to this book that well -- like I said, some of the writing is lovely. I feel like it's a very rich setting. This isn't very long, but it is a good set up and it feels almost luxurious. There's a depth to the writing and a certainty which can summon years of work, of a life, pretty easily. The actual topic of this book I HAD NO IDEA ABOUT and wasn't aware of until after halfway through. It is, btw, sexual assault. It's also told from a male's POV, which was a little on the nose for me considering recent news items but hey. I guess I unwittingly picked something that could be a little timely.
I liked some of this much more than others. I liked the build up. I liked the setting. Some of the less focused paragraphs were gorgeous, when the words spread out from this particular setting and these particular characters to a more macro sense of the world. That was great! There were a number of odd scenes I didn't like or didn't care for. I don't really want to read much about. I feel a bit strange about this book. There's a persistent sense of concern with memory, as well as reputation -- I think the importance of it and the elusive nature of it is central to this book. But...I just felt cold. The disconnect was too broad for me. I wish I could figure out why, but I'm struggling with it! Nonetheless, I think this was fine, but not that enjoyable.