Scan barcode
iris_lu's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
lowercaseletter's review against another edition
dark
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
hhcharlesb's review against another edition
5.0
Es su primera novela Rosario Castellanos nos permite entrar a una hacienda chiapaneca en pleno desarrollo de la reforma agraria, la destrucción de un mundo de más de dos siglos con el miedo que tiene una familia, la idealización de los indios y la inocencia de un par de hermanos. Me encanto como fue cambiando la posición de quien nos narra los eventos así como las ideas que tiene en cada momento así como sus preocupaciones para lograr ser o no ser parte de la familia.
floralfox's review against another edition
4.0
A more in depth review to come (my space bar on keyboard is broken, making it difficult)
A fascinating and compelling novel; but I didn't understand the ending and am having trouble finding analyses online.
A fascinating and compelling novel; but I didn't understand the ending and am having trouble finding analyses online.
glorious_talk's review against another edition
4.0
Balún Canán - Rosario Castellanos
8.1/10
This book follows the life of a young girl from a land-owning family amidst the social and economic changes of 1930s Mexico under President Lázaro Cárdenas. As her parents fight bitterly to resist the agrarian reforms that threaten the social standing and wealth of the Argüello family, the nameless girl narrator seeks refuge in the company of her indigenous nana, who is the only character in the novel who pays her any attention at all. In many ways, Castellanos’ work is a commentary on certain socio-political tensions of the era—such as the marginalization of women or the reactionary refusals of landowners to comply with federal mandates seeking to encourage and protect the rights of indigenous people—but in many other ways, this novel can be read as a commentary on itself and the literary genre from which it came: indigenismo, a subset of Latin American literature written by non-indigenous authors about the culture, lives, and struggles of indigenous people. The work is semi-autobiographical, based on Rosario Castellanos’ own upbringing and her own relationship with her indigenous nanny (which reportedly was not quite as rosy as the relationship portrayed in the book). Perhaps as a result of her own personal attachment, the book has ample examples of the author’s blindspots and prejudices. Indeed, in the end of the book when the narrator remarks that “todos los indios tienen la misma cara” [all indians have the same face], readers are left to wonder if this is simply a manifestation of Castellanos’ own racial prejudices or an ironic commentary on the nearsightedness of society’s biases, realized through the limited worldview of a child. At the end of the day, this novel is an interesting source to understand the socio-political tensions and literary and philosophical trends of 1930s Mexico.
8.1/10
This book follows the life of a young girl from a land-owning family amidst the social and economic changes of 1930s Mexico under President Lázaro Cárdenas. As her parents fight bitterly to resist the agrarian reforms that threaten the social standing and wealth of the Argüello family, the nameless girl narrator seeks refuge in the company of her indigenous nana, who is the only character in the novel who pays her any attention at all. In many ways, Castellanos’ work is a commentary on certain socio-political tensions of the era—such as the marginalization of women or the reactionary refusals of landowners to comply with federal mandates seeking to encourage and protect the rights of indigenous people—but in many other ways, this novel can be read as a commentary on itself and the literary genre from which it came: indigenismo, a subset of Latin American literature written by non-indigenous authors about the culture, lives, and struggles of indigenous people. The work is semi-autobiographical, based on Rosario Castellanos’ own upbringing and her own relationship with her indigenous nanny (which reportedly was not quite as rosy as the relationship portrayed in the book). Perhaps as a result of her own personal attachment, the book has ample examples of the author’s blindspots and prejudices. Indeed, in the end of the book when the narrator remarks that “todos los indios tienen la misma cara” [all indians have the same face], readers are left to wonder if this is simply a manifestation of Castellanos’ own racial prejudices or an ironic commentary on the nearsightedness of society’s biases, realized through the limited worldview of a child. At the end of the day, this novel is an interesting source to understand the socio-political tensions and literary and philosophical trends of 1930s Mexico.
irispj's review against another edition
4.0
La primera y la tercera parte me encantaron pero la segunda por momentos se me hizo pesada y sentía que no avanzaba por más que leía.
manaledi's review against another edition
4.0
I read this for a class on Culture and Power in Latin America as a way to 1) read a woman, and 2) get an alternative narrative that is not Vasconcelos. The variety of narrative perspectives makes for an interesting read and a way to understand the point of view of landowners faced with Cardenas's reforms. It is interesting in its historical context, but not as broadly interesting today, despite obvious similarities regarding education and the rights of indigenous peoples.
andromedace's review against another edition
dark
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
3.75
alternbruno's review against another edition
5.0
El don de la palabra exacta que tiene Rosario Castellanos es magistral. Va más allá del pulcro estilo, la técnica inmaculada o la habilidad para diseñar personajes, espacios y narrar con maestría los aconteceres de Comitán y Chactajal; tiene en su haber el fuerte olor de lo familiar y lejano, del dolor y la alegría. Es un texto cautivador de una pluma formidable como pocas.
Situada históricamente en una época convulsa de México y en las tensiones entre indios y ladinos es admirable cómo se hilvana la raza, el género y la clase en una suerte de argamasa atemporal. La niña sin nombre, la nana, Zoraida, César, Ernesto, un desfile de rostros y cuerpos que se mueven con aplomo o diáfanos según Castellanos dispone. Una novela imperdible, una obra memorable.
Situada históricamente en una época convulsa de México y en las tensiones entre indios y ladinos es admirable cómo se hilvana la raza, el género y la clase en una suerte de argamasa atemporal. La niña sin nombre, la nana, Zoraida, César, Ernesto, un desfile de rostros y cuerpos que se mueven con aplomo o diáfanos según Castellanos dispone. Una novela imperdible, una obra memorable.
asge9722's review against another edition
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5