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dude_watchin_with_the_brontes's review against another edition
5.0
Leí partes del libro hace unos 5 años para una clase sobre las dictaduras del Cono Sur. Es una experiencia diferente leerlo ahora, en el EEUU de Trump.
gswain's review against another edition
5.0
I was doing research for a Spanish paper. This book looked so interesting and good that I sat down and read it at the library. It took me around an hour. It was a quick read and very informative. I recommend people go to the library and learn a little about Argentina's history.
zhelana's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
slow-paced
4.5
This book reads in a really weird way. I think it basically shows a mental breakdown as the author is kept in solitary confinement (but not really - occasionally she has friends) with a blindfold on 24 hours a day. It shows her mental state through her incarceration. What it doesn't do is tell you anything about what happened before or after her ordeal. Why was she arrested? How did she get out? Neither of these questions is answered. Basically she goes through at first presenting us with cold facts about torture or whatever, then getting into the feeling of a mental breakdown, culminating in the chapter about the little frog. It was viscerally real and painful to read, though that is somewhat mitigated by most chapters being only two pages long. Definitely worth reading.
hthacher's review against another edition
5.0
I keep seeing people saying things like "There wasn't enough character development" and "We didn't find out what got her detained," so I'd like to preface this with a reminder that THIS IS NONFICTION. If you don't like nonfiction, if you don't like loose ends and permanent unknowns, then this book is not for you. The subjects of this book are real people going through a real tragedy, and real life is messy.
That said, if you're okay with that, I 100% reccommend this book. Some people have trouble with the way it switches subjects and narrative perspectives (sometimes its in first person, sometimes third). I think this just heightens the sense of confusion the reader has in a good way. Additionally, it's pretty easy to figure out who's talking based on context clues. Overall, I think this is a book just about everyone should read, but I know that not everyone would enjoy it. C'est la vie.
That said, if you're okay with that, I 100% reccommend this book. Some people have trouble with the way it switches subjects and narrative perspectives (sometimes its in first person, sometimes third). I think this just heightens the sense of confusion the reader has in a good way. Additionally, it's pretty easy to figure out who's talking based on context clues. Overall, I think this is a book just about everyone should read, but I know that not everyone would enjoy it. C'est la vie.
audc's review against another edition
dark
funny
informative
tense
medium-paced
4.75
The author is a poet and presents her story in a such lyrical way. Having poems and images painted by her mothers, as well as structuring different -very short- chapters to convey certain emotions… like while being tortured etc.
I almost read it one go.
There’s also a change in point of view whenever she interacts with the guards in a negative manner. Whether it’s to better narrate the scene or a reflection of her hardened heart -to alienate the reader, it was perfect.
Even the way the guards are addressed changing according to how long she’d been captured.
The disorienting nature of how the chapters are not in chronological order, perhaps to mark endless days.
I’d though these literary devices that she pens her survival.
I can scarcely remember a time it fell flat.
However, I did not feel immersed in the story but it went by fast.
I almost read it one go.
There’s also a change in point of view whenever she interacts with the guards in a negative manner. Whether it’s to better narrate the scene or a reflection of her hardened heart -to alienate the reader, it was perfect.
Even the way the guards are addressed changing according to how long she’d been captured.
The disorienting nature of how the chapters are not in chronological order, perhaps to mark endless days.
I’d though these literary devices that she pens her survival.
I can scarcely remember a time it fell flat.
However, I did not feel immersed in the story but it went by fast.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Torture, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Violence, Blood, Confinement, and Death
Moderate: Sexual harassment and Pregnancy
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Abortion, Alcoholism, and Fire/Fire injury
maplessence's review against another edition
5.0
They cut off my voice
so I grew two voices
into different tongues
my songs I pour
They cut off my voice
so I grew two voices
in two different tongues
my songs I pour
They took away my sun
two brand new suns
like resplendent drums I am playing-
Today I am playing
Bernice Johnson Reagon quotes this poem by Partnoy at the start of her hard-hitting introduction.
Partnoy was one of the Disappeared. Over 30k political dissidents disappeared in Argentina between 1976-79 - & most were never heard from again. I guess you could call Alicia Partnoy one of the lucky ones as she survived & was forced to move to The States where she was reunited with her husband & young daughter.
The writing was somewhat fragmented, which normally I hate but with Partnoy's experiences, how could it be anything else? Partnoy & the other captives were kept blindfolded & were beaten if the blindfold became loose. They were also tortured- horrible, horrible torture - & sexually molested. Often this seemed to be because the guards were bored.
The b/w line drawings by Partnoy's mother Raquel are so moving & thoughtful;
The appendices at the back are very helpful in figuring out what happened & for keeping the characters straight. I wish the map of the prison (The Little School name is just some weird attempt at humour by the captors) had been at the front of the book.
Moving, an important part of recent history & very strongly recommended.
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paulataua's review against another edition
I was really looking forward to ‘The Little School House’, the story of the secret detention center in Argentina in the late seventies. As it was about people telling their stories, I decided on listening the audiobook version, which unfortunately was a big mistake. I found the audiobook, narrated by Yazmin Venegas, quite unbearable. I suggest anyone considering buying this to at least listen to the sample available on the audible website before purchasing. I have not given the book a rating, and intend to get around to the text version sometime soon.
Please note this is about my dissatisfaction with this particular recording and not a complaint about Ms. Venegas.
Please note this is about my dissatisfaction with this particular recording and not a complaint about Ms. Venegas.