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alissanelson's review
slow-paced
2.75
Maybe consider this a series of essays linked by subject matter and some individuals? Sometimes interesting, but needed some major editing help -- you cannot use the word "quixotic" that many times. Author also has a weird habit of referring to women as "lovely" and "beautiful" but not actually giving them any voice in his narrative. Chapter on Medellin is fascinating, as is the description of la cienega.
the_history_shelf's review against another edition
5.0
Magnificent! Read my full review posted at BookBrowse: https://www.bookbrowse.com/mag/reviews/index.cfm/ref/pr264256
anabravo3's review
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
Loved it!
Davis speaks highly of Colombia :)
A wide range of stories about the countryside and the river, I didn't connect with all of them as expected since it's not my usual genre, but overall I loved the boo
Davis speaks highly of Colombia :)
A wide range of stories about the countryside and the river, I didn't connect with all of them as expected since it's not my usual genre, but overall I loved the boo
tlm2338's review against another edition
4.0
I listened to the audiobook edition, which was read by the author whose passion for Colombia radiates throughout the production. His portrait of Colombia was told through the alto, medio, and bajo regions of the Rio Magdalena, and each section centered on stories from Colombians he met along his journey down the river. I had little understanding of the country outside of the all-too-common media representation focused on Pablo Escobar. This book opened my eyes to the cultures, histories, flora & fauna, politics, trauma, and resilience of the many peoples who make up Colombia. And it did so by weaving in the storied river that has been and continues to be their constant observer and companion.
A long but enjoyable read for my around-the-world book challenge from the country of Colombia!
A long but enjoyable read for my around-the-world book challenge from the country of Colombia!
swaggie's review
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
5.0
An exploration of the story of the Magdalena river, contextualizing it with Colombia’s history and politics. More specifically, Davis discusses how the Magdalena River’s geography shaped Colombia’s historical, scientific, and cultural forms. Throughout the book, Wade introduces us to the inhabitants and scholars of the Magdalena, as well as to the myths, music, and literature that explain this river. The research presented in this book is extensive and it presents the reader with an atmospheric and patriotic feeling for this nation.
The writing is accessible, browsable, comprehensive, and thoughtful. I would recommend this book for people interested in learning about Latin American history and geography, and specifically interested in the Colombian context. This exploration of the river as a locus for an understanding of the country deeply describes the importance of rivers for various communities.
mikecross's review against another edition
3.0
The book is a collection of stories primarily regarding the history and culture of Columbia, most of which have some tie (albeit at times very loose) to Magdalena River, told in travelogue style. The author is an excellent story teller and very, very knowledgeable of the subject. The book is well written that could use some editing if it wants to be anything other than a reminiscence of travel; however, there is really no recurring theme, nor pace to the book and the chapters do not build upon each other. Because I am completely unfamiliar with the history and culture of Columbia, I do not know how complete and accurate the stories are to overall Columbia, but have heard he has taken some poetic license with such. Many of the short side-stories add nothing to the overall history or cultural study, but are merely travelogue encounters and could have easily been left out without taking anything away from the book. If you are not interested in the history and culture of Columbia told as a travelogue, this book is not for you.