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jess_mango's review against another edition
3.0
An old man on his deathbed flashes back on various times in his eventful life including his days as a soldier in the Mexican Revolution.
The narration in this book switched from 1st, to 2nd, to 3rd person, then back to 1st, then 2nd, then 3rd. etc. etc.. While I could appreciate the writing, this book didn’t quite click for me.
This book counts towards the Book Riot Read Harder Challenge Task #7: an #ownvoices book set in Mexico or Central America
The narration in this book switched from 1st, to 2nd, to 3rd person, then back to 1st, then 2nd, then 3rd. etc. etc.. While I could appreciate the writing, this book didn’t quite click for me.
This book counts towards the Book Riot Read Harder Challenge Task #7: an #ownvoices book set in Mexico or Central America
anyajulchen's review against another edition
4.0
Aunque me tardé meses en terminar este libro, puedo decir que es excelente. Las razones de mi lentitud no tienen nada que ver con los magníficos personajes, el relato experimental que utiliza los tres tipos de narradores y, por supuesto, el arte en el que Carlos Fuentes envuelve este libro de, lamentablemente, aún importantes mensajes para la realidad latinoamericana.
franka17's review against another edition
3.0
The Death of Artemio Cruz was befall one of the most difficult pieces of literature that I've ever read. Naturally, that being the case, I felt rather conflicted about this work. On one hand, the stream of consciousness style provided for an incredibly fascinating and intimate (and occasionally disturbing) look at death through the eyes of the man passing away. As a piece of art, I found this incredibly intriguing and effective at the same time.
On the other hand, I didn't especially enjoy this novel as a story. I felt that the thoughts, ideas, and stories became lost in the overly-poetic tone of the book. Additionally, when point of view, subject, and time period are all changing at any given second with no announcement of the fact that its happening, it can lead to a confusing and occasionally frustrating reading experience.
I believe that this book is far more valuable as a work of art and as a philosophical analysis than it is as a story or a look at Latin American culture. Few other novels that I've read have been able to so perfectly take me along on a mental journey inside of the mind of a single person, but because of this and its inherent chaos, the story was frequently disjointed and became incredibly frustrating to read.
On the other hand, I didn't especially enjoy this novel as a story. I felt that the thoughts, ideas, and stories became lost in the overly-poetic tone of the book. Additionally, when point of view, subject, and time period are all changing at any given second with no announcement of the fact that its happening, it can lead to a confusing and occasionally frustrating reading experience.
I believe that this book is far more valuable as a work of art and as a philosophical analysis than it is as a story or a look at Latin American culture. Few other novels that I've read have been able to so perfectly take me along on a mental journey inside of the mind of a single person, but because of this and its inherent chaos, the story was frequently disjointed and became incredibly frustrating to read.
_sal_'s review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Esta obra fue algo muy difícil de entender. En recopilación se puede explicar como más bien La Vida de Artemio Cruz. Artemio recuerda su vida vía un instante de su muerte inevitable. No entendí mucho del libro especialmente las partes en las que la narrativa se quiebra y se convierte en primera, y tercera perspectiva. Las partes que envuelven y hacen esta obra para mi son las partes en las que de disuelves en la causas y consecuencias de la vida que Artemio Cruz decidió vivir.
three_martini_lunch's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
h_martin's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
hhcharlesb's review against another edition
5.0
Artemio Cruz se hace y rehace a la par que el México revolucionario, el revolucionario nada idealista, el cacique de provincia y el magnate capitalino, jugándose la vida en cada momento sin pensar en como será juzgado por su familia o amigos.
birokurgunlugu's review against another edition
4.0
Artemio Cruz'un devrim uğruna savaşırken nasıl yozlaştığını amacından nasıl saptığını anlatıyor. Kurgusu şimdiye kadar okuduğum kitaplardan oldukça farklı ve zorlayıcı.
Üçüncü şahıs tarafından anlatılan Artemio'nun geçmişi çok gerçekçi bir anlatıma sahip.
Ölüm döşeğindeki Artemio'nun etrafında olup bitenleri, yakınlarının kendisi ölmeden miras derdine düşmesi mizahi olarak anlatılmış ki bence kitabın en eğlenceli bölümleriydi bunlar.
Son olarak da Artemio'nun, kendi iç hesaplaşması var. Bu bölümler de sık sık kitabı bırakmayı düşünmeme neden oldu.
Bu bölümler arasındaki geçişler çok keskin değil. O yüzden takibi biraz zor.
Meksika tarihi ile ilgili çok yoğun bir anlatım yok ama yine de belli başlı olayları bilmek biraz daha rahat bir okuma sağlayabilir.
Üçüncü şahıs tarafından anlatılan Artemio'nun geçmişi çok gerçekçi bir anlatıma sahip.
Ölüm döşeğindeki Artemio'nun etrafında olup bitenleri, yakınlarının kendisi ölmeden miras derdine düşmesi mizahi olarak anlatılmış ki bence kitabın en eğlenceli bölümleriydi bunlar.
Son olarak da Artemio'nun, kendi iç hesaplaşması var. Bu bölümler de sık sık kitabı bırakmayı düşünmeme neden oldu.
Bu bölümler arasındaki geçişler çok keskin değil. O yüzden takibi biraz zor.
Meksika tarihi ile ilgili çok yoğun bir anlatım yok ama yine de belli başlı olayları bilmek biraz daha rahat bir okuma sağlayabilir.
lizwisniewski's review against another edition
3.0
This was like taking bad tasting medicine that you knew was good for you. It stretched me, I learned from it, the author of course is amazingly talented. If only I knew anything about Mexico's history. Could of done without the misogynist stuff. But still, glad I read it, won't read it again, may read his ghost story book.
hrh_victoria's review against another edition
2.0
This book was well-written, but nothing drew me into it. I could care less about Artemio's death, for example, which is partly the point, but it makes it difficult to appreciate this book. Perhaps I would like it more if I were more well-versed with Mexican history.