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juperez's review
3.0
Moya's novel moves at a frenetic pace as we follow a stumbling, bumbling frenzy of journalists and cops in pursuit of a madman with deadly snakes as accomplices to his reign of terror in the city of San Salvador. 'Dance with Snakes' plays with the crime novel to deliver this biting satire that made me gasp, bellow and guffaw!
sloatsj's review
3.0
This was funny and truly bizarre. The unemployed sociologist Eduardo Sosa becomes interested in a bum living in a yellow Chevrolet on the street where Eduardo lives with his sister. After a night of sleazing around with the bum and a midget pimp, Eduardo Sosa (and I can't help hear the echo in that name of Gregor Samsa) kills the bum and assumes his identity. He moves into the Chevy, where he finds four poisonous and ready-to-roll snakes. Mayham ensues! Murder! Chaos! Political instability! Sex with reptiles!
This takes place in El Salvador after the country's civil war and I suppose it could be a political allegory, written as it is in a straightforward style. It could also be plain old absurdism, or, what with the snakes and the way Deputy Commissioner Handel keeps sticking his finger in his ear, it could be a plea for phallic dignity. It was fun to read whatever it is - quick, action-packed and skanky. You get the feeling Moya made the plot up as he went along.
I would like to give it more stars (let's say this is 3 1/2) and I'd certainly recommend it, but it doesn't quite seem a 4-star book to me (which means "amazing," but not "mind-blowing and destined to read/deeply admired and slobbered over 300 years from now," which is 5-stars).
This takes place in El Salvador after the country's civil war and I suppose it could be a political allegory, written as it is in a straightforward style. It could also be plain old absurdism, or, what with the snakes and the way Deputy Commissioner Handel keeps sticking his finger in his ear, it could be a plea for phallic dignity. It was fun to read whatever it is - quick, action-packed and skanky. You get the feeling Moya made the plot up as he went along.
I would like to give it more stars (let's say this is 3 1/2) and I'd certainly recommend it, but it doesn't quite seem a 4-star book to me (which means "amazing," but not "mind-blowing and destined to read/deeply admired and slobbered over 300 years from now," which is 5-stars).
kilburnadam's review
4.0
Dance with Snakes is a novel by Horacio Castellanos Moya that tells the story of Eduardo Sosa, an unemployed young man who takes on the identity of a homeless man living in a beat-up yellow Chevrolet. Sosa discovers that the car is home to four venomous snakes, and with the snakes as his accomplices, he unleashes a reign of terror on the city. The novel explores themes of societal marginalization, blurred lines between good and evil and the consequences of power and identity. It is marked by its intense violence, dark humor, and macabre tone. The narrative structure, with its unexpected twists and shifting perspectives, makes for an engaging read. The story serves as a metaphor for the political and social climate of the time of its writing, and it is thought-provoking and disturbing.
piacostello's review
4.0
this book is so weird and bizarre and was sold to me by a bookkeeper who i still presume to be a wizard. also my mom stopped reading it because sexual violence but she’s a lame o anyways
loldesh's review against another edition
2.0
Büyülü Gerçekçilik ile işte bu yüzden anlaşamıyoruz. Gayet keyifli seyreden hikaye birden tepetaklak oluyor; neymiş otururken bacakları sandalyeye karışmış, halı dile gelmiş halaya kalkmış, mayonez Müge Anlı fanıymış falan filan. Bunda da son bölüm tadımı fena halde kaçırdı, dört puandan ikiye düşecek kadar üstelik.
Yazım tarzı, konusu, akıcılığı dört son bölüm aka final bir puan.
Yani bize gelişi iki oluyor mu? Benim matematikten yana biraz sıkıntım var. Matematik bir, büyülü gerçekçilik iki gibi düşünün djkdmfmsmfmzmmfmdmfmz özr dlrm.
Yazım tarzı, konusu, akıcılığı dört son bölüm aka final bir puan.
Yani bize gelişi iki oluyor mu? Benim matematikten yana biraz sıkıntım var. Matematik bir, büyülü gerçekçilik iki gibi düşünün djkdmfmsmfmzmmfmdmfmz özr dlrm.
cristinanovak's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
livvybeannn's review
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
theclassickid's review against another edition
3.0
No suelo leer en español, pero no puede dejar de saborear la jerga Salvadoreña con la que Castellanos Moya satura sus libros. Este libro en particular es un poco diferente a lo que había leído anteriormente (El Asco) de el. El "baile" con las serpientes es un eufemismo que nos muestra Castellanos Moya hasta el final del libro. Un final un poco anticlimático.
"Baile Con Serpientes" es la trayectoria de un carácter sin rumbo ni anhelos, igual cómo el personaje de "El Asco." Pero en este libro, para el personaje principal no hay consecuencias en lo mínimo. Es una historia ligera, en lo que cabe, pero también satírica. Si no conoces la historia del país que Castellanos Moya nunca nombra en el libro, es un poco difícil ver como acompaña la satírica esta trayectoria.
"Baile Con Serpientes" es la trayectoria de un carácter sin rumbo ni anhelos, igual cómo el personaje de "El Asco." Pero en este libro, para el personaje principal no hay consecuencias en lo mínimo. Es una historia ligera, en lo que cabe, pero también satírica. Si no conoces la historia del país que Castellanos Moya nunca nombra en el libro, es un poco difícil ver como acompaña la satírica esta trayectoria.
giovannigf's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence