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lelainav's review against another edition
4.0
As someone deeply interested in human sexuality and gender practices, as well as a liberal female undergraduate at Harvard, conceptions of gender have always intrigued me. In particular, I am fascinated by the trends in gender norms and structures. Alicia Gaspar de Alba picks apart these norms using the story of 17th century nun Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz. And it is beautiful.
Rarely does one encounter a novel that borders on so many literary genres. Sor Juana's Second Dream is a historicized fiction (making it distinct from historical fiction), but it is also a memoir that was never written, and a collection of letters and poems long since burnt. Gaspar de Alba's language ranges from the soft description of a kiss, to the blunt relation of historical facts, and around again to poetry that aches in content and in form.
The roots of this novel no doubt lie in the real life of Sor Juana, but the directions it takes from that point are truly remarkable. To call this work creative would be inadequate. It is masterfully designed, interwoven, and even choreographed. Sor Juana's invented words dance on the page with furor and passion. They are the music and the movement.
Yet Sor Juana as a character is frustrating. Her sharpened mind and passions subvert gender norms of her era, and this subversion is enhanced by many moments invented by Gaspar de Alba. The other characters surrounding Juana are interpreted through her eyes, as well. Although this has a fantastic effect of showing us the scratches on the lens of Juana's world-view, it often leaves me wondering how someone so fantastically intelligent can behave so stupidly toward others. Prudence is not a word in Juana's vocabulary. This obstinance makes her difficult to like. Reading from my historical perspective, her often uncontrolled anger and tongue seems overdone and even historically inaccurate.
No matter how wild Juana may be, I highly recommend this book. It raises important questions about sexuality, faith, and even about historical writings. I would not find it hard to imagine Sor Juana reading this herself, nodding approvingly, and then setting it aside to write a review. If only I could hear her voice recite the final poem...
Rarely does one encounter a novel that borders on so many literary genres. Sor Juana's Second Dream is a historicized fiction (making it distinct from historical fiction), but it is also a memoir that was never written, and a collection of letters and poems long since burnt. Gaspar de Alba's language ranges from the soft description of a kiss, to the blunt relation of historical facts, and around again to poetry that aches in content and in form.
The roots of this novel no doubt lie in the real life of Sor Juana, but the directions it takes from that point are truly remarkable. To call this work creative would be inadequate. It is masterfully designed, interwoven, and even choreographed. Sor Juana's invented words dance on the page with furor and passion. They are the music and the movement.
Yet Sor Juana as a character is frustrating. Her sharpened mind and passions subvert gender norms of her era, and this subversion is enhanced by many moments invented by Gaspar de Alba. The other characters surrounding Juana are interpreted through her eyes, as well. Although this has a fantastic effect of showing us the scratches on the lens of Juana's world-view, it often leaves me wondering how someone so fantastically intelligent can behave so stupidly toward others. Prudence is not a word in Juana's vocabulary. This obstinance makes her difficult to like. Reading from my historical perspective, her often uncontrolled anger and tongue seems overdone and even historically inaccurate.
No matter how wild Juana may be, I highly recommend this book. It raises important questions about sexuality, faith, and even about historical writings. I would not find it hard to imagine Sor Juana reading this herself, nodding approvingly, and then setting it aside to write a review. If only I could hear her voice recite the final poem...
nikbeat's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
dori_mondon's review against another edition
5.0
I do wish this book was offered for Kindle as it's a sizeable paperback with small print - but it's so good I've carted it around everywhere anyway. It's written by an academic who has researched this to the bone, but it's not stuffy or dry: it's a beautiful and tragic, historically accurate but fictionalized feminist account of the life of Sor Juana, scholar and nun in Mexico City during the time of the Inquisition - and is now one of my favorite books. I'm moving across the country and it's one of the few that I'm bringing with me so I can share it with someone else looking for a deep, engaging and profound thing to read (or maybe I'll read it again someday, something I RARELY do but there's so much in here). Yes, I realized I fit a LOT of adjectives into this review, but I have nothing but good to say about this work.
patti_cake08's review against another edition
4.0
It was a tough read. I didn't love the book but it's still a very well done book. The issues for me was the long, winding passages of descriptions and thoughts Juana would have that, rather than feeling necessary, they just felt a but excessive. But it's the story about what her life could have been, so to a point I understand. Even if it is daunting to read it when the last 3rd of the book there's such a constant, f*cking terrible premonition thanks to the backstabbings withing the church to her. And the depiction of the times, how life was inside the convent, the hypocrisy of the Spanish church, and the questioning of who you are and where you come from was amazing. It's worth reading at least once and then leave forever in a corner of your room.
loafer's review
dark
emotional
sad
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
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual violence, and Pedophilia
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Racism, Misogyny, and Slavery
mcsquared's review against another edition
4.0
Wow. Pretty powerful book. Does not shy away from speculation about Juana's sexuality. Mixes history and fiction to bring this figure to life.
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