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lets_b_libros 's review for:
The Spear Cuts Through Water
by Simon Jimenez
dark
reflective
sad
medium-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
What a gruesome, beautiful story. (Though maybe a bit too gruesome for gruesome’s sake?)
It faces head-on how thoughtlessly cruel humanity can be, but also tells a story of community, love, and hope despite that.
And incredible unique storytelling! A story weaving between ancestral folk tales of bloody capricious gods and the crushing isolating reality of the present.
And for all that the story says it’s a love story (and it is!) it is a slow burn, realistic, and bittersweet story.
——Rambling below——
Cultural diaspora: The relationship of a person and their family’s cultural identity was such a strong theme in this. I think the discussion of this theme is so important in today’s world — where so many people have moved thousands of miles from their home and started a new life in a new country. The majority of the time their new home encourages/forces cultural integration.
America is a huge proponent of this, with our “melting pot” ideology— it’s so often seen as a positive, disregarding that a person would have to cut away or dilute the distinguishable parts of your culture to be one “cohesive” American culture. (Even “white Americans” have lost their identities. Rarely do we celebrate any cultural holidays that would be common in our home countries or if we do they are only the ones that could be commercialized (St. Patrick’s, Oktoberfest))
The fact that the MC had a complicated relationship with his heritage (never having set foot on his people’s land, not one living relative having done so, and hiding or mocking his heritage) but still was able to experience the Inverted Theater… it was beautiful. I’m torn that he won’t remember any of it. Hopefully, in his subconscious, something will spark a change so he could find happiness/purpose in his life.
It faces head-on how thoughtlessly cruel humanity can be, but also tells a story of community, love, and hope despite that.
And incredible unique storytelling! A story weaving between ancestral folk tales of bloody capricious gods and the crushing isolating reality of the present.
——Rambling below——
Cultural diaspora: The relationship of a person and their family’s cultural identity was such a strong theme in this. I think the discussion of this theme is so important in today’s world — where so many people have moved thousands of miles from their home and started a new life in a new country. The majority of the time their new home encourages/forces cultural integration.
America is a huge proponent of this, with our “melting pot” ideology— it’s so often seen as a positive, disregarding that a person would have to cut away or dilute the distinguishable parts of your culture to be one “cohesive” American culture. (Even “white Americans” have lost their identities. Rarely do we celebrate any cultural holidays that would be common in our home countries or if we do they are only the ones that could be commercialized (St. Patrick’s, Oktoberfest))
The fact that the MC had a complicated relationship with his heritage (never having set foot on his people’s land, not one living relative having done so, and hiding or mocking his heritage) but still was able to experience the Inverted Theater… it was beautiful. I’m torn that he won’t remember any of it. Hopefully, in his subconscious, something will spark a change so he could find happiness/purpose in his life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Death of parent, Murder
Moderate: Cannibalism