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taj58's review against another edition
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
dontpanic42's review against another edition
I got through about 50 pages before putting this one down. I'm sure Fuentes has some fascinating lights to shine on the area of Mexican politics (which is certainly ripe for literary analysis), but I found the medium in this instance to frustrate more than entice. The book takes as its setting a Mexico in 2020 that has lost all electronic means of communication because its Miami-based satellite has encountered a mechanical failure (brought on by Mexico's political demands on the US). On that premise, Fuentes writes the book as a series of letters between political operatives and public figures.
My problem is primarily this: the letters sound nothing like actual letters. They are unduly descriptive in odd spots because Fuentes is trying to get out descriptions of people and circumstances that the actual letters, were they real, would never contain. Even beyond that, I found the writing to be overly loquacious and awkwardly formal. The discomfort from reading the series of poorly-designed correspondence left me unable to get into the subject matter of the book at all. Once I hit 50 pages, I just couldn't motivate myself to read on.
My problem is primarily this: the letters sound nothing like actual letters. They are unduly descriptive in odd spots because Fuentes is trying to get out descriptions of people and circumstances that the actual letters, were they real, would never contain. Even beyond that, I found the writing to be overly loquacious and awkwardly formal. The discomfort from reading the series of poorly-designed correspondence left me unable to get into the subject matter of the book at all. Once I hit 50 pages, I just couldn't motivate myself to read on.
flaauros's review against another edition
3.0
Me gustaron mucho los giros en la trama, el último fue el que más me sorprendió. Fuentes tiene una muy buena prosa, realmente es muy poético a ratos y además me gustó esta premisa sobre la que basa su novela que es que “la política es la actuación pública de pasiones privadas”, me gusta esta idea sobre la que parte porque deja ver el como un asunto que debería ser totalmente objetivo como lo es la política que encierra asuntos tan importantes como la seguridad del país, la elección de gobernantes y etc., se ve entorpecido por intereses personales que son egoístas y deshonestos. Todos los personajes son pésimas personas y es desalentador ver sus partes más malvadas y convenencieras actuar NINGUNO TIENE LEALTAD HACIA NADA, tal vez Bernal Herrera hacia María del Rosario pero quien sabe, no me sorprendería si después la traiciona, es lo más normal en ese mundo. El final es muy triste, pero fue la parte que más me gustó porque hace un contraste muy interesante: mientras toda la novela esta escrita con este aire crudo y adulto, con mil referencias intelectuales a eventos políticos, términos y dichos en otros idiomas, de pronto el último capítulo o carta esta narrada en un tono completamente inocente e inofensivo. Bello.
yazan_algarawneh's review against another edition
4.0
70 فصل من الذ مايمكن
بالرغم ان قرأتي الاولى كانت فاشلة لكن مع قليل من الصبر اتضح انه من اجمل ماقرأت
رواية فيها اسقاطات على سياسيات اميركا اللاتينية ليس فقط الميكسيك التي تدور فيها هذه الرواية
بالرغم ان قرأتي الاولى كانت فاشلة لكن مع قليل من الصبر اتضح انه من اجمل ماقرأت
رواية فيها اسقاطات على سياسيات اميركا اللاتينية ليس فقط الميكسيك التي تدور فيها هذه الرواية
alva7604's review against another edition
4.0
I have not finished this book yet, but I want to start over again this summer. It is quite interesting, and poses some interesting theories and scenarios. Basically, Mexico pisses off an oil-rich country and they cut off their communications satellite, leaving them without any electron communications. If it is controlled by a satellite, it is gone. Can you imagine? I haven't finsihed it so I can't offer the best review, but I would recommend it based on what I have read.
abookishaffair's review
1.0
I can't say that I really enjoyed this book. The premise is that in a fit of anger, the U.S. turns off the satellite communications to Mexico forcing Mexico to resort to conducting all business through letters. The book follows a series of letters written between various residents of Mexico.
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