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happylilkt's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars
This is a coarse, irreverent, old cuss of a novel, but it is also a pilgrim and a saint. Urrea's prosa vívida, written with a brutal and eloquent mezcla of English and Spanish is masterful, but it is not for the tender, sensitive, or very young reader. Or maybe it is for the tender and sensitive reader, but only if one is willing to hold the gold in one's hands dripping in muck. While there are not what I would call titillating scenes (this is absolutely a literary novel), the grotesque, the profane, and banal are ever-present. Of course I would not choose to write in this style myself and cannot say it is entirely to my taste, but I cannot fault Urrea for his style choices. Nor can I vouch for this novel.
And yet, in spite of its lack of refinement, I truly enjoyed reading this book. I will be reading more by Urrea.
Reading both [b:Death Comes for the Archbishop|545951|Death Comes for the Archbishop|Willa Cather|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1436632846l/545951._SY75_.jpg|1457974] and this book within the last 6 months of quarantine have made me especially sentimental and tender toward the desert I cannot visit.
“¡Viva la Santa de Cabora!”
This is a coarse, irreverent, old cuss of a novel, but it is also a pilgrim and a saint. Urrea's prosa vívida, written with a brutal and eloquent mezcla of English and Spanish is masterful, but it is not for the tender, sensitive, or very young reader. Or maybe it is for the tender and sensitive reader, but only if one is willing to hold the gold in one's hands dripping in muck. While there are not what I would call titillating scenes (this is absolutely a literary novel), the grotesque, the profane, and banal are ever-present. Of course I would not choose to write in this style myself and cannot say it is entirely to my taste, but I cannot fault Urrea for his style choices. Nor can I vouch for this novel.
And yet, in spite of its lack of refinement, I truly enjoyed reading this book. I will be reading more by Urrea.
Reading both [b:Death Comes for the Archbishop|545951|Death Comes for the Archbishop|Willa Cather|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1436632846l/545951._SY75_.jpg|1457974] and this book within the last 6 months of quarantine have made me especially sentimental and tender toward the desert I cannot visit.
“¡Viva la Santa de Cabora!”
jennjennsan's review against another edition
5.0
I read some of the reviews after finishing this book some stated that it was too 'preachy,' I didn't think so at all. It's about an Indian healer that others proclaim as a saint. This is in a place where old beliefs and healers and herbalist had high power and ranking in society, not our modern day pharmaceuticals. I love the way Urrea writes and the book reminded me of a dream.
littlesprite21's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
r0b3rta's review against another edition
5.0
After reading the Hummingbird's Daughter I do want to read more of Urrea's books. This book is fiction but based on a relative of Urrea's. I would label it Magical Realism and lately I've found myself drawn to a few books in that genre. Teresita is a very interesting character along with every character even the minor ones and nameless ones. Even though she is a Saint you don't need to believe in god to read the book..it stands on its own.
gcpisani's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
4.5
book_concierge's review against another edition
4.0
Urrea spent two decades researching the “history” of his distant relative – Teresa Urrea, the Saint of Cabora and “Joan of Arc” de Mexico.
This fictionalized biography of Teresa has many fantastical elements. She was a curandera and known to have prophetic dreams, as well as the healer’s gift. Even as a young girl she was in demand as a midwife because she could ease the mothers’ pains.
Urrea clearly loves the subject and writes poetically. There is a large cast of characters, though, and the reader should pay attention. But, then again, these stories have been told around campfires and kitchen tables for more than a century and who knows where the truth ends and the legend begins? The result, however, is that some characters appear without reason and disappear rather suddenly. Whatever happened to Millan? What happened to Gaby? What about Loreto? And, really, what happened to Teresa for the rest of her life?
Urrea uses a lot of Spanish in the text, as well as some indigenous Indian words. He tends to translate the latter, but not the former, so the non-Spanish speaking reader will be at a distinct disadvantage.
Like most folk tales, the book has more than its share of humor, as well as tragedy, suffering, and larger-than-life magic. It is a quintessentially Mexican story.
This fictionalized biography of Teresa has many fantastical elements. She was a curandera and known to have prophetic dreams, as well as the healer’s gift. Even as a young girl she was in demand as a midwife because she could ease the mothers’ pains.
Urrea clearly loves the subject and writes poetically. There is a large cast of characters, though, and the reader should pay attention. But, then again, these stories have been told around campfires and kitchen tables for more than a century and who knows where the truth ends and the legend begins? The result, however, is that some characters appear without reason and disappear rather suddenly. Whatever happened to Millan? What happened to Gaby? What about Loreto? And, really, what happened to Teresa for the rest of her life?
Urrea uses a lot of Spanish in the text, as well as some indigenous Indian words. He tends to translate the latter, but not the former, so the non-Spanish speaking reader will be at a distinct disadvantage.
Like most folk tales, the book has more than its share of humor, as well as tragedy, suffering, and larger-than-life magic. It is a quintessentially Mexican story.
maysa_christmas's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
abaugher's review against another edition
5.0
I audio-read this book, and had to start it over again immediately. The wording is so rich and beautiful, the story so touching, I had to go back and re-discover what I was afraid I might have missed the first time. It's even better the second time. Extraordinary!