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thebobsphere's review
5.0
I'm not sure if it is the same for most readers out there but I need a good ten pages or so before I can settle down with a book and then if I can't for about 50 pages then it's a DNF. With Of Saints and Miracles though, I was drawn in from the first sentence and I had a gut feeling that I would enjoy the novel.
I was right
The plot is simple. Marcelino kills his brother and escapes into the forests of northern Spain. This premise allows Astur to play around with the plot and he does. In fact the book starts to splinter like a kaleidoscope and different plotlines lines start to weave into the narrative. There are glimpses of Marcelino's youth and relationship with his brother and father, some of the experiences he went through when young. There are passages about the villagers who grew up among Marcelino, nursery rhymes, plagues of biblical proportions and sections devoted to the natural world.
Of Saints and Miracles is, at times, many things. The passages on nature are beautiful, the ones about Marcellino's life are disturbing and make uncomfortable reading, and yet there is a lot of quotes and one liners that just strike the reader, this is a highly quotable novel with philosophical undertones. Kudos to the translator for managing this seamless, organic translation and bringing out the thought processes of the characters.
Although this is a word I have used a lot, Of Saints and Miracles is a unique book; the structure crams a lot but it's a readable novel and a full picture of Marcelino's character does emerge by the novel's conclusion and it makes one think that there isn't really a sharp distinction between the natural world and human nature - both an act savagely in their own right. I will say that there is nothing like this novel and I doubt anyone can match it. Do read it.
I was right
The plot is simple. Marcelino kills his brother and escapes into the forests of northern Spain. This premise allows Astur to play around with the plot and he does. In fact the book starts to splinter like a kaleidoscope and different plotlines lines start to weave into the narrative. There are glimpses of Marcelino's youth and relationship with his brother and father, some of the experiences he went through when young. There are passages about the villagers who grew up among Marcelino, nursery rhymes, plagues of biblical proportions and sections devoted to the natural world.
Of Saints and Miracles is, at times, many things. The passages on nature are beautiful, the ones about Marcellino's life are disturbing and make uncomfortable reading, and yet there is a lot of quotes and one liners that just strike the reader, this is a highly quotable novel with philosophical undertones. Kudos to the translator for managing this seamless, organic translation and bringing out the thought processes of the characters.
Although this is a word I have used a lot, Of Saints and Miracles is a unique book; the structure crams a lot but it's a readable novel and a full picture of Marcelino's character does emerge by the novel's conclusion and it makes one think that there isn't really a sharp distinction between the natural world and human nature - both an act savagely in their own right. I will say that there is nothing like this novel and I doubt anyone can match it. Do read it.
niconicoletter's review
4.0
beautiful, grotesque, the stars, the moon - the whole time I was reading I was thinking “this should be considered a modern classic”.
ellies_shelf's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty
hannahwillmehr's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Pedophilia, Rape, Child abuse, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Ableism and Suicide
niamhgrace25's review
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Animal death, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Sexual assault
waveszz's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
aniazminda's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
briesef's review
adventurous
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
vgk's review against another edition
2.0
WARNING: This book includes a number of scenes of terrible animal cruelty.
The prose is beautiful but the story I found a bit too meandering. The cruelty troubled me deeply. By the end I was eager to be done with it.
The prose is beautiful but the story I found a bit too meandering. The cruelty troubled me deeply. By the end I was eager to be done with it.