Reviews

The Good Conscience by Carlos Fuentes, Sam Hileman

deegee24's review against another edition

2.0

This early coming of age novel by Fuentes has some good writing in it (though the English translation is occasionally awkward) but it strikes me as the work of an author who has some raw talent but doesn't yet know what to do with it. Fuentes is at his best when describing landscapes, buildings and rooms, strongly evoking post-Revolutionary Mexico. But whenever he deals with characters and plot, the writing becomes alternately dull and predictable or wildly melodramatic. Perhaps the melodrama is intentional, as in Tennessee Williams and Pedro Almodóvar, but it just doesn't work as well.

lectriza's review against another edition

2.0

2.5 stars.

There were a few impactful moments but overall,,, too much squick.

Also, I don't buy Jaime's turn-to-the-dark-side^TM. Needed more foreshadowing or buildup.