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3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
For my "Read Around the World" challenge, I needed a book set in Venezuela and written by a Venezuelan author. That's how I discovered "It Would Be Night in Caracas," and I'm so glad I did.
This gripping novel follows Adelaide's desperate fight for survival amid the chaos of modern Venezuela. It opens with her burying her mother in a country in turmoil, thrusting the reader into a harrowing world where death feels ever-present. Despite the intense subject matter, I found it so engaging that I read it in one sitting.
. Adelaide's life takes a darker turn when her apartment is taken over by government-supporting women who cannot be evicted. She then moves into the apartment of her deceased neighbors and ultimately assumes the identity of a dead neighbor who has dual citizenship and a passport to Spain to escape.
The story's emotional intensity kept me hooked, but the narrative structure, which included flashbacks, was sometimes choppy and hard to follow. I also wished for more perspectives to deepen my understanding of Venezuela's struggles.
"It Would Be Night in Caracas" is gripping and harsh. It's not for the faint of heart, but it's a powerful and thought-provoking story that lingers long after you finish.
This gripping novel follows Adelaide's desperate fight for survival amid the chaos of modern Venezuela. It opens with her burying her mother in a country in turmoil, thrusting the reader into a harrowing world where death feels ever-present. Despite the intense subject matter, I found it so engaging that I read it in one sitting.
The story's emotional intensity kept me hooked, but the narrative structure, which included flashbacks, was sometimes choppy and hard to follow. I also wished for more perspectives to deepen my understanding of Venezuela's struggles.
"It Would Be Night in Caracas" is gripping and harsh. It's not for the faint of heart, but it's a powerful and thought-provoking story that lingers long after you finish.
Review: It Would be Night in Caracas
November 12, 2019 Leave a Comment
~My Thoughts~
If I had to quantify my review of this book into stars, I would say it was a 3. For me, that means the book was good, but not quite great or exceptional. I came to this number by combining my thoughts on the story with my thoughts on the writing.
The writing was truly great. I loved the tones and pace, but the style was really remarkable. The images Karina Sainz Borgo was able to evoke with simple phrases was stunning while remaining stark and realistic. This is an absolutely talented writer who is simply finding her feet in fiction.
The story, however, was a but of a struggle for me. If felt at times like this wasn’t so much a novel about anything other than what it’s like living in Venezuela right now, but told through the eyes of a fictional character. I almost longed for this to be a memoir. In that context, the lack of a cohesive story wouldn’t have been a detriment but a purpose.
I didn’t find myself very emotionally attached to the characters, beyond what I would feel about any human having to live through this type of violence and danger. It was a gripping reminder of the advantages I live with as an American and how different life can be in other countries.
I found the book itself to be remarkably timely. With the release of the second season of Jack Ryan, I think the American audience will find Venezuela much more understandable and accessible. I know I did.
*Special thanks to Karina Sainz Borgo, TLC Book Tours, and HarperVia for providing a copy of It Would Be Night in Caracas in exchange for an honest review.
November 12, 2019 Leave a Comment
~My Thoughts~
If I had to quantify my review of this book into stars, I would say it was a 3. For me, that means the book was good, but not quite great or exceptional. I came to this number by combining my thoughts on the story with my thoughts on the writing.
The writing was truly great. I loved the tones and pace, but the style was really remarkable. The images Karina Sainz Borgo was able to evoke with simple phrases was stunning while remaining stark and realistic. This is an absolutely talented writer who is simply finding her feet in fiction.
The story, however, was a but of a struggle for me. If felt at times like this wasn’t so much a novel about anything other than what it’s like living in Venezuela right now, but told through the eyes of a fictional character. I almost longed for this to be a memoir. In that context, the lack of a cohesive story wouldn’t have been a detriment but a purpose.
I didn’t find myself very emotionally attached to the characters, beyond what I would feel about any human having to live through this type of violence and danger. It was a gripping reminder of the advantages I live with as an American and how different life can be in other countries.
I found the book itself to be remarkably timely. With the release of the second season of Jack Ryan, I think the American audience will find Venezuela much more understandable and accessible. I know I did.
*Special thanks to Karina Sainz Borgo, TLC Book Tours, and HarperVia for providing a copy of It Would Be Night in Caracas in exchange for an honest review.
challenging
dark
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
“Writing out the inscription for her headstone, I understood that death takes place in language first, in that act of wrenching subjects from the present and planting them in the past. Completed actions. Things that had a beginning and an end, in a time that’s gone forever. What was but would never be again.”
With a quote like that near the beginning, I dove into this book expecting depth and an intimate and searing look at Venezuela. Unfortunately, I found this hard to follow which took me out of the story as I attempted to figure out if we were in the present or past. But even with this, I still thought the prose were lyrical and the overall tone melancholic which definitely heightened the writing and my enjoyment.
With a quote like that near the beginning, I dove into this book expecting depth and an intimate and searing look at Venezuela. Unfortunately, I found this hard to follow which took me out of the story as I attempted to figure out if we were in the present or past. But even with this, I still thought the prose were lyrical and the overall tone melancholic which definitely heightened the writing and my enjoyment.
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
beautiful writing.....but nothing really happened? it would've worked better as a short story imo.
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Adelaida Falcon is a young widow in the midst of a political revolution. After her mother passes Adelaida is listless and desperate to leave Venezuela but can't find a way out. Reminiscing over how Caracas used to be in her youth contrasted with the current state of affairs, Adelaida tries to come to grips with her reality. This book is twisty and depressing but also some slow? The way the book is written is boring and makes it hard to appreciate.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism