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moony77wolfy's review
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
karinlib's review
4.0
By Night the Mountain Burns is written from the perspective of a child growing up on the Island Annobon, a province of Equitorial Guinea. The narrator doesn't reveal his name or any names of his family, but you know who they are by his descriptions.
The lives of the people on the island are hard, because they are dependent on the sea and the plantations for survival. If one thing goes wrong, the whole island suffers.
Through the eyes of the boy, the customs, traditions and religious practices of the people are explained. Although tragic in many ways, this story is a really good one.
The lives of the people on the island are hard, because they are dependent on the sea and the plantations for survival. If one thing goes wrong, the whole island suffers.
Through the eyes of the boy, the customs, traditions and religious practices of the people are explained. Although tragic in many ways, this story is a really good one.
embrecsd's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
siria's review
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
A beautiful, unsettling novel told through the eyes of a child growing up on a small island off the coast of West Africa. Juan Tomás Ávila Laurel's story curves back on itself, spirals around its events and themes in great ellipses; each time you (re)approach the series of tragic events which overtakes the island community, you understand a little better what's been going on. (Perhaps a very little. Ávila Laurel's unnamed narrator withholds information the whole way through the book, and tells us so, and in a way that tells me he wants the non-Equatoguinean reader to pick up on it.) Full of vivid imagery that will linger with me, even if the ending didn't quite satisfy.
hetauuu's review
3.0
By Night the Mountain Burns is a very intriguing narrative about life on a small Equatoguinean island. Told in a very word-of-mouth style, it weaves together so many different things that happen in life there, which can sometimes seem strange to the reader, but it is just another way of living life.
I enjoy Laurel's storytelling and I think this was a very eye-opening book, but at the end of the day I did struggle with the narrative style. It is revealed at the end, though clear throughout the book, that the book is actually an oral record and the narrator "has never written anything in his life." I do think that this style did work with the story Laurel set out to tell, but for me personally it left a bit of a disconnect. However, I enjoyed the tidbits and intriguing stories I got to learn and hear from in this book, as it transported me to a world I probably will not end up visiting in real life.
I enjoy Laurel's storytelling and I think this was a very eye-opening book, but at the end of the day I did struggle with the narrative style. It is revealed at the end, though clear throughout the book, that the book is actually an oral record and the narrator "has never written anything in his life." I do think that this style did work with the story Laurel set out to tell, but for me personally it left a bit of a disconnect. However, I enjoyed the tidbits and intriguing stories I got to learn and hear from in this book, as it transported me to a world I probably will not end up visiting in real life.
simoneclark's review
4.0
3.5 rounded up to 4. Interesting story. The writing didn't impress me, but the story made up for it.
fuzzyhebrew's review
challenging
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Despite being short, I would say this could be a difficult read. There are no chapters and no good stopping points. The narrative bounces back and forth and connects things in a long circle. It was truly like we were listening to someone tell their life story. I read it is meant to sound like the oral story telling of that island. I have no comparison to make but I did really like the rhythm of the sections. I think this would be an excellent audiobook. Very moving and charming. I highly recommend this.
elemmakil's review against another edition
3.0
Tavoitteeni lukea kirja joka maasta vei minut tällä kertaa päiväntasaajanguinealaisen kirjan pariin, joka ilmeisesti on suomennetukin nimellä Yössä vuori roihuaa. Löysin kenties Espanjan viimeisen painetun kopion eräästä barcelonalaisesta kirjakaupasta, jossa sitä pidettiin ystävällisesti minulle varattuna kuukauden verran, siihen asti kun pääsin maahan ja kaupunkiin.
Minä-muodossa kerrottu kirja oli todella raskas lukea siihen asti, kun tajusin sen jäljittelevän suullista kertomusta kirjallisessa muodossa. Sen jälkeen se oli enää melko raskas! Eestaas soutava, loputtomilta tuntuviin asioiden toistoihin ja sivutarinoihin kiertyvä ja eksyvä teos oli melkoinen lukuelämys, niin hyvässä kuin pahassa. Kirjan maailma oli uppo-outo sekin, siinä kurjissa oloissa elävät ihmiset asuvat syrjäisellä saarella, ja 1900-luvun (vai 2000-luvun?) läntinen maailma pilkahtelee ainoastaan joissain kalastusaluksilta ostetuissa tuotteissa, kuten kerosiinissa, nailonista tehdyissä kalaverkoissa, lääkkeissä ja tupakka-askeissa. Annobóniin ei kuulu kurjuutta kummempaa.
Minä-muodossa kerrottu kirja oli todella raskas lukea siihen asti, kun tajusin sen jäljittelevän suullista kertomusta kirjallisessa muodossa. Sen jälkeen se oli enää melko raskas! Eestaas soutava, loputtomilta tuntuviin asioiden toistoihin ja sivutarinoihin kiertyvä ja eksyvä teos oli melkoinen lukuelämys, niin hyvässä kuin pahassa. Kirjan maailma oli uppo-outo sekin, siinä kurjissa oloissa elävät ihmiset asuvat syrjäisellä saarella, ja 1900-luvun (vai 2000-luvun?) läntinen maailma pilkahtelee ainoastaan joissain kalastusaluksilta ostetuissa tuotteissa, kuten kerosiinissa, nailonista tehdyissä kalaverkoissa, lääkkeissä ja tupakka-askeissa. Annobóniin ei kuulu kurjuutta kummempaa.