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rbharath's review against another edition
informative
3.0
I had watched Narcos on Netflix and picked this book up for a first-hand account of Pablo Escobar’s life from his wife. While there are many personal anecdotes & experiences, there is an undercurrent of self-exoneration which runs through the book.
In the initial sections of the book, Victoria poses the question which people (especially victims of Pablo Escobar) ask her – “How she could stay with a monster like him”. She says her simple answer is - she loved him. That is maybe part of the truth since as you go through the book, she clearly knew what kind of a man he was, including his infidelities and his drug trade (as head of the Medellin Cartel). She met him at the age of 12 (when he was 23) and they were married a few years hence. There are detailed descriptions of how she negotiated with the rival Cali Cartel to spare her and her children’s lives (especially her son Juan Pablo). This part is better than the rest of the book and I found myself empathizing with her condition at that time. The timeline is not linear, and the book delves into the immediate aftermath of Pablo’s death first before moving to their early life and then returning to the times near and after his death. She describes enduring a lot – affairs, possessiveness (Pablo briefly had people spy on her movements), lies and threats. They felt matters could get resolved when Pablo attempted to negotiate a surrender, but that was not to be There is also a strange fleeting reference to her astrological powers, and that she knew what was to come.
As far as incidents go, this book covers a lot. There are also many personal experiences she relates. There is, however, very obvious scrubbing of the narrative to make her appear completely faultless. I do think that more than love, she probably felt she had no choice and reconciled to her state, preferring to ignore what was going on. A lot of Pablo Escobar’s crimes are narrated in a dry tone, with little consideration of the human impact. The family has nevertheless been resilient in rebuilding their lives and that does come through strongly in the book.
Some interesting personal remembrances, but an average read overall.
jj_cheezit's review against another edition
5.0
An undertaking in empathy for the reader but well worth it. Seriously though, be forewarned that this book will be a gargantuan struggle in compassion. Maybe read the epilogue first if you're concerned about this.
Culturally and socially, we've learned an important lesson over the last five years or so--and that is to believe survivors. This book will give you an opportunity to practice that, and the feelings you experience while reading it will tell you a lot about yourself and your biases about women and survivors of abuse and sexual assault. Henao offers you this opportunity to grow as an ally. Will you take it?
This book is a page-turner and a real insight into memory and trauma. This book is also complicated. If you have experienced trauma approach this book with caution. In particular, you should be aware that there are chapters during which the author reflects on her husband in fond and loving language, and when she lives through national tragedies and fails to grasp her husband's role
and the magnitude of his crimes. Be cautious of her story during those passages because she transports herself into her mindset at the time and shows us her view in the moment--a view to which she says repeatedly that she no longer subscribes. Maria is boldly truthful in those chapters, bluntly revealing her inability to comprehend. Stilly, it is particularly difficult to read of her deep love for that works of art she purchased knowing that she obtained them with her husband's ill gotten gains. A truth she has to live with. All of the reflections on her life, the recreations of her admirations for her husband, mixed with her accounts of the reconciliatory and investigative conversations she had while researching this book, are painful to read.
It is also difficult not to be disgusted with her portrayal of loss over her financial and social statuses considering the horror that was responsible for elevating them. However, she was sucked into Escobar's orbit at 13, exploited at 14, married at 15, pregnant at 16 and widowed by 24. It's easy to overlook the age difference between them and the horrifyingly young age she was (which I think the author herself does because, well, she lived it) but seriously the man began pursuing her when he was 24 years old. 24. Hanging around a 13 year old.
This book is an opportunity to see, really see, a different kind of victim, but a victim nonetheless, of the world's first Narco-Terrorist, and to exercise compassion and ally-ship for survivors of grooming, abuse, and sexual assault.
Culturally and socially, we've learned an important lesson over the last five years or so--and that is to believe survivors. This book will give you an opportunity to practice that, and the feelings you experience while reading it will tell you a lot about yourself and your biases about women and survivors of abuse and sexual assault. Henao offers you this opportunity to grow as an ally. Will you take it?
This book is a page-turner and a real insight into memory and trauma. This book is also complicated. If you have experienced trauma approach this book with caution. In particular, you should be aware that there are chapters during which the author reflects on her husband in fond and loving language, and when she lives through national tragedies and fails to grasp her husband's role
and the magnitude of his crimes. Be cautious of her story during those passages because she transports herself into her mindset at the time and shows us her view in the moment--a view to which she says repeatedly that she no longer subscribes. Maria is boldly truthful in those chapters, bluntly revealing her inability to comprehend. Stilly, it is particularly difficult to read of her deep love for that works of art she purchased knowing that she obtained them with her husband's ill gotten gains. A truth she has to live with. All of the reflections on her life, the recreations of her admirations for her husband, mixed with her accounts of the reconciliatory and investigative conversations she had while researching this book, are painful to read.
It is also difficult not to be disgusted with her portrayal of loss over her financial and social statuses considering the horror that was responsible for elevating them. However, she was sucked into Escobar's orbit at 13, exploited at 14, married at 15, pregnant at 16 and widowed by 24. It's easy to overlook the age difference between them and the horrifyingly young age she was (which I think the author herself does because, well, she lived it) but seriously the man began pursuing her when he was 24 years old. 24. Hanging around a 13 year old.
This book is an opportunity to see, really see, a different kind of victim, but a victim nonetheless, of the world's first Narco-Terrorist, and to exercise compassion and ally-ship for survivors of grooming, abuse, and sexual assault.
oliviajean's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed reading this overall, but it was a bit of a slog at times. Not sure if that's due to the content (which can be pretty grim) or the length of the book overall.
I think Henao did a good job of presenting the facts of her life with Escobar. I had a mix of feelings towards her as I read through her experiences. If you're into all the fictional narcos stuff, then this is an interesting read if only to understand a little more of the harsh reality of this kind of lifestyle and the repercussions it may have for those swept up in it.
I think Henao did a good job of presenting the facts of her life with Escobar. I had a mix of feelings towards her as I read through her experiences. If you're into all the fictional narcos stuff, then this is an interesting read if only to understand a little more of the harsh reality of this kind of lifestyle and the repercussions it may have for those swept up in it.
bexj30's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed reading her story. I do believe she was also a victim of Pablo Escobar, having been groomed by him from an early age.
However, something doesn’t seem sincere. She is clearly a very interesting and intelligent woman that loves her family, but, you married the richest, most notorious drug trafficker in the world! At least be honest about knowing what he did. Her life was clearly very difficult and I would not want to have lived through what she has.
But one line about her dodgy accountant in the book struck me as immensely hypocritical: “Can a person really be so unmitigatedly greedy that they’re willing to destroy a family for money?”
Err...
However, something doesn’t seem sincere. She is clearly a very interesting and intelligent woman that loves her family, but, you married the richest, most notorious drug trafficker in the world! At least be honest about knowing what he did. Her life was clearly very difficult and I would not want to have lived through what she has.
But one line about her dodgy accountant in the book struck me as immensely hypocritical: “Can a person really be so unmitigatedly greedy that they’re willing to destroy a family for money?”
Err...
simpleemi's review against another edition
4.0
*i read this book in lithuanian* oh damn the epilogue was shocking to read. This whole book was just an eye-opener on the Escobar family and how badly affected they were even after Pablo Escobar's death.
justynawarsaw's review against another edition
3.0
Too detailed, not really catchy. More like a police report than a novel. She mentions a lot of connections, people we don't know, doesn't show the wider picture which would make it interesting. Too bad because she could shed a lot of light on the person of Pablo.
kulwanotes's review against another edition
5.0
I had to put down the book i was currently reading after getting this book. The story of Pablo always gets me. Who else to listen the side of the story other than one's spouse. The story of Mrs Escobar was only one left to complete the story of one notorious criminal the world has ever witnessed. A lot of has been said about Mrs Escobar which made her own book important. I personally wanted to know her take on Pablo's dids and how they were affected. She has tried to explain her story. I was surprised to learn that she spend less time with pablo and he kept her in dark in all his plan. She also researched other side of the story which she wasn't aware so as to complete the story. Generally she is also a victim of Pablo's acts despite much love Pablo had for his family.
javisurezr's review against another edition
3.0
3.5/5*
Estuvo interesante pero se me hizo innecesariamente largo.
Ella y sus hijos pasaron por muchas cosas gracias a Pablo Escobar y era muy confidente de él.
Estuvo interesante pero se me hizo innecesariamente largo.
Ella y sus hijos pasaron por muchas cosas gracias a Pablo Escobar y era muy confidente de él.
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