Reviews

Balun Canan by Rosario Castellanos

andromedace's review against another edition

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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

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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.

asge9722's review against another edition

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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

damne's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

doramac's review against another edition

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adventurous medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No

3.0

bluengreyg's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

stephanieroc's review against another edition

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challenging reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Las primeras dos partes me encantaron y me parecía un excelente libro que hablaba sobre la diferencias de clase y raza en México, sin embargo la tercera parte me hizo perder un poco el hilo y hizo que no pudiera darle 5 estrellas. Pero en fin un muy buen libro. 

angel_hzoz's review against another edition

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5.0

Presenciamos el derrumbe de la familia Argüello, una muy vieja familia propietaria de Yucatan. Creo que hay énfasis en las relaciones, fuertemente estratificadas, de la sociedad yucateca de los 30s; no hay rincon que no esté marcado la desigualdad y tal vez es por ésta que el último varón y heredero de la familia Argüello muere siendo apenas un niño, dándole fin al apellido.

alexampersand's review against another edition

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4.0

Fairly interesting. I like how it presented political subjects, but from the point of view of a child in order to make it more familiar. I also appreciated the slightly mystical element of prophecy and foretold death.

I enjoyed it a lot more on a second reading, possibly because I had more understanding of the culture and characters and context. But there are a lot of interesting subjects raised, about race, class, and gender. And I still love the fact that it is told through a child.

desiree0910's review against another edition

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3.0

Read for Eng 388: Overall, I liked it.