Reviews

O Velho Que Lia Romances de Amor by Luis Sepúlveda

drifter_mrx's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

ilianreads's review against another edition

reflective

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

andreeavis's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This small novella packs a punch! While lightheartedly telling an old man’s story, it brings subtle and humorous criticism of colonialism and the environmental disaster it brings. One can get fooled by the simplicity of the plot and the characters, yet this book is so much more than it seems.

Antonio José Bolívar Proaño is a widower who lives in a remote Ecuadorean Amazonian village, El Idilio. Originally from the Andes, he moved to the jungle with his wife, searching for a new life. After her death (a fever rampaged the settlers), he lived for a while among the indigenous Shuar people, learning their ways and surviving the harsh environment. In his old age, he finds comfort in reading romance novels, which he acquires from the local dentist, his only link to the outside world.

However, a series of events disrupt his quiet life. A gringo (white outsider) is killed by an ocelot (a wild cat), leading to a hunt for the animal. It becomes clear, though, that the true cause of the animal’s aggression is the intrusion and disrespect of the settlers who disrupted the natural balance of the jungle. As the only one with the knowledge and respect for the jungle’s way, Antonio is forced to track down the ocelot. Through this journey, he reflects on his life, his relationship with Shuar, and the destruction of their environment. The hunt is a metaphor for the broader themes of colonial exploitation and the clash between modernity and indigenous wisdom. Antonio’s respect for the animal and its pain (its cubs had been killed by the gringo) and his deep connection with the jungle ultimately lead to a poignant conclusion, emphasising the need for harmony between humans and nature.

Sepúlveda’s lighthearted and humorous storytelling is sprinkled with serious themes. Antonio’s love for romantic fiction is a counterpoint to the harsh realities of the encroaching oil industry and the exploitation of the Amazon. The author doesn’t blast environmental destruction, he subtly shows it through the actions of the greedy gold prospectors and the enraged ocelot, a symbol of the disrupted natural order.

Also, the shadow of colonialism looms over the story and its people. The portrayal of the arrogant mayor of the village, who represents the destructive aspects of Western civilisation (such as the colonisers owning the land that belonged to nobody before) contrasts Antonio’s respect for the Shuar indigenous people and their ways. Antonio’s past living among them, as one of them, adds a layer of complexity and shows a different way man can live in harmony with nature, without destroying it. Antonio is not a white savior, but a survivor who recognises the wisdom and intelligence of the Indigenous culture, a perspective often missed in such stories, in contrast with the “civilised” West that brings death and destruction in their wake.

The book addresses multiple themes of the negative impact of colonialism, such as the overt racism that the townsfolk show the Shuar, which reflects real-world prejudice. However, Anotion’s genuine connection with them, particularly the young boy Nushino, offers a glimmer of hope for understanding and coexistence. The part I loved the most, the funniest part, was the conversation Antonio had with the Shuar people about their differences. In the eyes of the Shuar, our ways are illogical and incompatible with the ways of nature.

This small book, about which I could continue writing pages and pages, is more than an adventure tale and delivers on its promise. It’s a subtle yet powerful indictment of human greed and a celebration of resilience - both of the natural world and the human spirit. Sepúlveda reminds us that love, in its various forms, can be a potent force for change, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges. Antonio’s journey is a metaphor for the power of hope, respect for nature, and the transformative potential of human connection. A little over a hundred pages give you so much! I hope you get to read this book.

chiara_dose's review against another edition

adventurous dark sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

sklus's review against another edition

4.0

I didn't read like six pages of this book because my edition is missing several for some reasons but it was still enjoyable. It was short and there was a great emotional twist at the end.

ka_schulze's review against another edition

challenging reflective sad tense fast-paced

4.5

rawmarti's review against another edition

adventurous relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

_nijinska's review against another edition

4.0

Literatura como salvação. Natureza beleza. Literatura sobrevivência bondade equilíbrio.

soinap's review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.75

khrenek's review against another edition

5.0

Qualcuno ha definito questa novella una sorta di Moby Dick amazzonica, e in un certo qual modo la cosa potrebbe avere senso, ma la grande differenza è che qui il vero mostro, quello che saccheggia e distrugge tutto e che è l’origine di tutto il male di cui si legge nel libro è sempre e solo l’uomo, nella fattispecie l’uomo bianco “civilizzato” che sa solo uccidere senza senso, solo per il piacere di farlo.
Anche gli indios uccidono, ma per cibarsi o, al massimo, per autodifesa, ma come impara presto il protagonista, mai in modo indiscriminato e seguendo le regole della natura.
Il vecchio, così si trova incastrato a dover risolvere un problema enorme (la femmina di tigrillo impazzita per il dolore di essersi vista sterminare i cuccioli e che ora uccide chiunque le venga a tiro) proprio grazie al comportamento criminale di un cacciatore forestiero, peraltro ucciso proprio dal suddetto animale.
Sepulveda costruisce una narrazione asciutta, senza inutili fronzoli, che però, anche grazie alla costruzione dei personaggi principali (il vecchio, il sindaco stupido e borioso e, in parte il dentista che vediamo all’inizio) e grazie a flashback sulla vita del vecchio, riesce a trasmettere la meraviglia della foresta e dei suoi legittimi abitanti (i Shuer) e la miseria morale di chi invece quella foresta l’ha invasa e stuprata.
Un libro breve ma con una forza narrativa che lo rende un piccolo (per dimensione) capolavoro.