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4.21 AVERAGE
4.21 AVERAGE
I normally adore magical-realism. Jorge Luis Borges? A god. The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende? Not so worthy of my praise.
The book was well-written, I'll give it that. The elements of good writing - the storytelling, the vocabulary, everything - were all there. Were it not for the fact that this book was well-written (and something that feels like it's of literary merit; I thought that I must get through because it will probably get better, it feels like it will get better), I probably wouldn't have been able to finish this book.
On that note, it's long. Ok, so 300-something pages isn't that long, you say? Well, when a story's plot sucks, and you have absolutely not care for the characters, 300-something pages feels like an eternity. Mentally, the asides and narrative felt unnecessary and dense as the story went on (I think this was mostly me being annoyed though). It just felt long because the plot was mediocre.
Plot, storyline: aside from minor annoyances above, I didn't like the plot. I felt completely detached, uncaring. I understood every allusion, every censored mention to the Poet (Pablo Neruda), every historical reference, and every symbol; usually when this happens, which is rare, I like the book if not sheerly because I feel accomplished. I just really didn't like the plot of this book.
That is all.
The book was well-written, I'll give it that. The elements of good writing - the storytelling, the vocabulary, everything - were all there. Were it not for the fact that this book was well-written (and something that feels like it's of literary merit; I thought that I must get through because it will probably get better, it feels like it will get better), I probably wouldn't have been able to finish this book.
On that note, it's long. Ok, so 300-something pages isn't that long, you say? Well, when a story's plot sucks, and you have absolutely not care for the characters, 300-something pages feels like an eternity. Mentally, the asides and narrative felt unnecessary and dense as the story went on (I think this was mostly me being annoyed though). It just felt long because the plot was mediocre.
Plot, storyline: aside from minor annoyances above, I didn't like the plot. I felt completely detached, uncaring. I understood every allusion, every censored mention to the Poet (Pablo Neruda), every historical reference, and every symbol; usually when this happens, which is rare, I like the book if not sheerly because I feel accomplished. I just really didn't like the plot of this book.
That is all.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Wanted more
I always hesitate to critique a work in translation as I can never be certain that the shortcomings I see exist in the original language. There is no doubt that this is a significant work, with a haunting style that recalls, but doesn't quite reach, the best of magical realism. This multi-generational family drama is certainly interesting, but it isn't moving, and I think it wanted to be.
The characters don't invade you, they merely exist on the page as interesting diversions, and the quite long book suffers on that account. Without an emotional attachment to anyone, it's difficult to maintain interest, despit the interesting things that go on. I felt very removed from the story, thus its middling grade.
I always hesitate to critique a work in translation as I can never be certain that the shortcomings I see exist in the original language. There is no doubt that this is a significant work, with a haunting style that recalls, but doesn't quite reach, the best of magical realism. This multi-generational family drama is certainly interesting, but it isn't moving, and I think it wanted to be.
The characters don't invade you, they merely exist on the page as interesting diversions, and the quite long book suffers on that account. Without an emotional attachment to anyone, it's difficult to maintain interest, despit the interesting things that go on. I felt very removed from the story, thus its middling grade.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Death, Rape, Sexism, Violence, Police brutality, War
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Ένα καλό βιβλίο που χρειαζότανε ίσως καλύτερη επιμέλεια κειμένου. Η αρχή θυμίζει έντονα τα Εκατό Χρόνια Μοναξιάς του Μαρκέζ, ωστόσο στην πορεία το μυθιστόρημα αποκτά δικό του χαρακτήρα, δυνητικά καλύτερο απ' αυτόν του προκατόχου του (αν μη τι άλλο λόγω της ανακουφιστικής έλλειψης σεξισμού). Τα τελευταία κεφάλαια εγκαταλείπουν το μαγικό ρεαλισμό και εστιάζουν ανταυτού στην σκληρή πραγματικότητα της Χιλιανής (υποθέτουμε) χούντας. Η κίνηση αυτή ενδυναμώνει μια ιστορία στην οποία άλλωστε τα μαγικά στοιχεία εξ αρχής έμοιαζαν παρείσαχτα λογοτεχνικά τρικ μιας συγγραφέα που ήξερε ποια ήθελε να είναι η φωνή της και όχι ποια ήταν. Το μόνο κρίμα είναι ότι η πλοκή τελικά δεν δένει όπως θα έπρεπε. Αλλά για αυτό μάλλον θα χρειαζόνται πολύ δουλειά, σοβαρή επανεπεξεργασία του 90% του συγγράμματος και διαγραφή μεγάλων περιττών παραγράφων και περιγραφών (ιδιαίτερα όσων αφορούν την πολύ βαρετή Κλάρα).
It was just okay. I struggle with family epics because I get attached to characters that are not the protagonists for their "era" in the book and then I get disappointed when they're relegated to a single paragraph that sums up their demise in the middle of a chapter.
-The narration changes were too abrupt
-I know it's an older book and certain allowances have to be made, but certain descriptions were just too graphic and unnecessary IMO.
-Way too much foreshadowing. Let me at least decide if I want to care about a character before annihilating any hope for them in the next sentence.
I realize I am only listing things I disliked so I will say that I did end up caring about this family a lot. Despite all warnings, I hoped for their happy endings, and there were moments I audibly gasped at either joy or terror that I felt for one of them. I think their time at Tres Marías was my favorite part of the entire book.
-The narration changes were too abrupt
-I know it's an older book and certain allowances have to be made, but certain descriptions were just too graphic and unnecessary IMO.
-Way too much foreshadowing. Let me at least decide if I want to care about a character before annihilating any hope for them in the next sentence.
I realize I am only listing things I disliked so I will say that I did end up caring about this family a lot. Despite all warnings, I hoped for their happy endings, and there were moments I audibly gasped at either joy or terror that I felt for one of them. I think their time at Tres Marías was my favorite part of the entire book.
Scrittura meravigliosa ti trasporta in un mondo altro, così reale e così fantastico allo stesso tempo...
emotional
funny
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix