3.61 AVERAGE


Tai mano trečioji autoriaus knyga ir aš jau žinau, kur jis pasiėmęs mane už rankos nuves. Pradžioje priešiniesi, nes einama labai lėtai žmonių pilnomis Bogotos gatvėmis, bet galiausiai viskas aplinkui išnyksta ir girdi tik autoriaus balsą. O jis pasakoja dar vieną istoriją apie asmenybę, kuri iki šiol tau buvo negirdėta, o pabaigus knygą atrodo, kad kartu nugyvenai su ja visą gyvenimą.
Šį kartą knygos centre dar viena Kolumbijos žymi figūra, itin gerbiamas, politinių karikatūrų autorius - Javier Mallarino. Jis vienu pieštuko brūkšniu, viena skambia eilute, gali sugriauti kitų žmonių reputaciją, bet kaip jis užsitarnavo savąją? Vienas iš praeities pažįstamas veidas staiga pasirodo jo gyvenime ir jam tenka atsistoti į akistatą su savimi, pasinerti į prisiminimus ir sau pripažinti, kieno sąskaita pastatyta jo paites karjera.
Minimalus siužetas, tačiau puikiai perteikta žodžio galia ir reputacijos trapumo idėja. Knyga nerealiai tinka ir šiems laikams, nes tas pats galioja ir šiuolaikinėse medijose. Žmonės neįvertina, kaip piktas komentaras, pašaipa, gali paveikti tiek gavėją tiek atsisukti atgal su kaupu. Ar karikatūra Bogotos laikraštyje ar instagram įrašas, visi mūsų žodžiai ir veiksmai turi pasekmes, bet ne apie visas sužinome, arba sužinome per vėlai.
Tikrai galima pradėti pažintį su autoriumi nuo šios knygos. O jei ieškot kažko lietuvių kalba - Taip skamba krintantys, taip pat puikiai susumuoja Vásquez stilių. Aš ketinu ir toliau skaityti jo katalogą.

elestanteliterario's review

4.0

Mira el video y reseña completa en:
http://elestanteliterario.com/2018/01/25/las-reputaciones-juan-gabriel-vasquez-el-estate-literario/

A pesar de su brevedad, el libro trata temas muy profundos y en su corta extensión se interna por la mente de los personajes de una manera asombrosa. Leer a Juan Gabriel Vásquez es fácil, en el sentido en que su prosa es desenvuelta y natural, extremadamente parecida a su hablar, donde muletillas como “una suerte de” se encuentran detrás de cada página.
No puedo decir más aparte de que corran a prestar o comprar este libro corto y certero, una historia envolvente que te invita a devorarla en uno o dos días como mucho.
Con todo, a este libro le daría un sólido 4.5 de 5, porque la última parte, a pesar de que cumple bien su función de cierre, está llena de datos huérfanos que parecieran forzar la trama y hasta sobrar en un libro que de por sí, por su extensión, tiene lo justo.

I ended up sprinting through this, mainly because it’s pretty thin, but at the same time it’s very powerful. The frame for the story is that of a Colombian political caricaturist being honored for his work in a public celebration. But what it’s actually about is a party in the past, how the idea of reputations and how men react to them being harmed fuel their actions, and how pivotal one afternoon can be in a life. I will give a warning for implied sexual assault, and a bit of weirdness later in the book with a young woman and a bit of exhibitionism. But overall, it’s a well written, tight novel. I definitely am going to be finding more of Gabriel Vásquez.

What a well written piece of garbage.

Smoothly, fluidly written. Exquisitely modulated humour and emotion. The kind of Good Writing that is seductive and soothing. The kind of writing that might lead one to think, "This is so profound". But it's basically rehashing some trite bourgeois concepts of art and politics, the personal vs political, without looking deeper at how memories and truth are collectively understood by the people, and how it is manipulated by the media. Will have to write a review of this, so I hope to flesh out some of these thoughts further.

(Review is available here.)
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Beautiful and elegant. This reminds me of Patrick Modiano.

Sleepy book about a longtime political cartoonist in Columbia getting an award. In flashbacks we learn how he got his jobs, issues he had with them, and the central event that changed his career and left him with regrets. It's well written and the characters are believable, but the story itself is underwhelming. It feels more like a short story surrounded by a shorter novel's worth of context and introspection.

This was a decent book. I enjoyed the first section where we meet Mallarino and see him receive his award, thought the middle section was interesting when we learn about a significant incident in his past, and thought the book lost steam in the final section where nothing really happens.
SpoilerWell, there is the incident when Samanta pulls her tights off in the car, but that's about it.
The book does make good points about irresponsibility and the court of public opinion, but in general, I felt the book ended on a bit of a letdown.

This is my second book by Vasquez and it is refreshing to read a current story about Columbia that is not dripping in blood and violence. Vasquez strikes me a a writer more influenced by Europe and America than by Columbia. In Reputation, political cartoonist - Javier Mallarino is being awarded a national honor and we aware that he is indeed a national treasure for Columbia, loved and admired by those who have no power; despised by those that do. In the story, a story from his past come back to haunt him, casting doubt to himself about his integrity. A short and very enjoyable read.