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moscar31's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
Si bien Muñoz busca destripar la escencia de facciones concretas (el villismo, el orozquismo), Azuela, con los de abajo, parece haberse propuesto una tarea más grande: encontrar el gran mito revolucionario, con todo lo que conlleva. Así, si Demetrio Macías nos recuerda a Villa y a Zapata, si el Güero margarito nos recuerda a Fierro, si Luis Cervantes es cualquiera de los licenciados metidos en la cabeza de los grandes jefes, no es casual ni accidental. Azuela nos muestra, por medio de pequeñas escenas, la historia de la Revolución, reducida a un microcosmos de personajes arquetípicos.
amyappy's review against another edition
2.0
Perhaps knowing more about the political/social context would have interested me in this more. As it was, I was confused for most of it, and not particularly engaged in it for the rest. The translation had some fine literary moments, especially with descriptive passages at the start and finish of scenes, but I found it hard to appreciate such unlikeable characters as Demetrio and Luis Cervantes. The portrayal and treatment of women in the novel were particularly heinous, but perhaps that may have been the point. Not likely to be pulling this off the shelf to read with my kids any time soon, nor will I be reading this yearly... but that, again, may be a measure of personal taste rather than a reflection on its literary merit.
alex_renee_is_reading_away's review against another edition
2.0
I could not get into the book. It read more like a script and the one consistent character I couldn't get interested in. my version had notations in the back that helped explain things or give context, but that still didn't help. For a war book, very blah.
juan_jc's review
adventurous
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The book is set during the Mexican Revolution. The main plot centers around Demetrio Macías, a rebel who is now leading a small team of revolutionaries across Mexico fighting the Federals (government army), the ragtag teams adventures and escapades in various towns.
Through it you also see how Demetrio thinks about the war and about the reasons for fighting. He is shown to my lot really care about the moral or economical reasons for the war, but is rather fighting simply because there is a fight. You see him mention that he is uneducated and doesn’t care about the politics, and is just there to fight. By the end of the book, the revolution is over and different factions arise with differing ideas for the changes that should be made. When asked his opinion and vote, Demetrio refuses stating the he again couldn’t care, and simply states that if they tell him who’s side to be on, he’ll go and fight again. An interesting concept on the ideas of soldiers and war leaders.
Through it you also see how Demetrio thinks about the war and about the reasons for fighting. He is shown to my lot really care about the moral or economical reasons for the war, but is rather fighting simply because there is a fight. You see him mention that he is uneducated and doesn’t care about the politics, and is just there to fight. By the end of the book, the revolution is over and different factions arise with differing ideas for the changes that should be made. When asked his opinion and vote, Demetrio refuses stating the he again couldn’t care, and simply states that if they tell him who’s side to be on, he’ll go and fight again. An interesting concept on the ideas of soldiers and war leaders.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual content, War, Violence, Gun violence, and Alcohol
erinma478's review against another edition
3.0
Realized early on that I needed some base level knowledge of the mexican revolution to really follow the story and references. Did a lot of googling and looking at maps while I read and now I have some!
zazen's review against another edition
2.0
Didn't enjoy this one, possibly due to the translation, or possibly because I was expecting too much. The writing feels awkward and disjointed. Characters just seem to ramble to themselves, and their motivations just seem non-existent. Nothing is really explained very well.
Disappointed because the setting is extremely interesting, but this was a chore to read for me.
Disappointed because the setting is extremely interesting, but this was a chore to read for me.
silentchewy's review against another edition
I think I'd file this book under the category of books that are important but not good. Azuela's experience in the Mexican Revolution definitely informed his views on violent revolution and he makes a lot of good points, but it's kinda lost in all the flippant reference to rape. I think a number of political theorists have said the same thing better and I'd probably stick with that.
milareadsnovels's review
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.0