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banhodecaju's review against another edition
5.0
A imagética da escrita de Astúrias é extremamente cativante e instiga profundas associações do mundano vivido na América Latina com a perturbadora trama que apresenta aqui. A ressalva um pouco negativa que posso fazer sobre a minha experiência de leitura é que me encontrei em dúvida algumas vezes com relação as intenções dos personagens, pois as vezes suas falas não expressão claramente o que sentem e seus planos. Talvez isso seja motivo para futuras releituras.
A história se desenvolve com um narrador onisciente que a cada capítulo troca de personagem-central, criando um dinamismo eletrizante e angustiante sobre essas vidas afetadas e as que afetam assumidamente. Algozes tão facilmente reconhecidos por nós do terceiro mundo, que sofremos em mãos de ditadores e almas corrompidas pela ideologia dominante fascista que tortura, manipula e pisoteia qualquer ser vivo e morto em favor de qualquer mínimo benefício político.
O Senhor Presidente deve ser lido e relido, estudado e apresentado.
Nota: 4,5/5
A história se desenvolve com um narrador onisciente que a cada capítulo troca de personagem-central, criando um dinamismo eletrizante e angustiante sobre essas vidas afetadas e as que afetam assumidamente. Algozes tão facilmente reconhecidos por nós do terceiro mundo, que sofremos em mãos de ditadores e almas corrompidas pela ideologia dominante fascista que tortura, manipula e pisoteia qualquer ser vivo e morto em favor de qualquer mínimo benefício político.
O Senhor Presidente deve ser lido e relido, estudado e apresentado.
Nota: 4,5/5
chez_abaa's review against another edition
dark
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? N/A
4.0
dreaming_ace's review against another edition
3.0
A story of dictators, and dictatorship, and the human costs of it all.
savaging's review against another edition
4.0
"No hay que dar esperanzas. ¿Cuándo entenderás que no hay que dar esperanzas? En mi casa, lo primero, lo que todos debemos saber, hasta el gato, es que no se dan esperanzas de ninguna especie a nadie. En estos puestos se mantiene uno porque hace lo que le ordenan y la regla de conducta del Señor Presidente es no dar esperanza; y pisotearlos y zurrarse en todos porque sí."
Extraordinary book, sunk deep in the dismal world in a Latin American dictatorship (based on Guatemala under Cabrera). Not just awful but eerie, which is a trick Asturias does through music. Some of this music is serious, the poetry of defeat and the soundtrack to the heart's big battles ("Cada martillito del piano, caja de imanes, reunía las arenas finísimas del sonido, soltándolas, luego de tenerlas juntas, en los dedos de los arpegios que des . . . do . . . bla . . . ban las falangas para llamar a la puerta del amor cerrada para siempre; siempre los mismos dedos; siempra la misma mano."). But the most important music is maybe the profane little ditties and the rhythmic repetition of the insane flotsam on the street. The book carries the tone of that ditty whistled through a horror show and Grand Tragedy -- the mass-murderers, these "hipersuperhombres," are ridiculous little men with petty desires and temper tantrums. They are funny. Or they would be if they weren't all-powerful. The members of society that jump to conform with every whim of the dictator are laughable, but if you laugh they will inform on you and land you in a torture chamber.
I wasn't sold on the main love story, too much a tired damsel-in-distress tale to carry so much weight. The most interesting characters were on the beggars and lunatics always at the fringe of any action.
Very challenging read for someone with my Spanish level -- I had to go very slowly. Also challenging emotionally: friends asked why I was puttering around like the Lost for days and I had to explain I was just reading Asturias.
Extraordinary book, sunk deep in the dismal world in a Latin American dictatorship (based on Guatemala under Cabrera). Not just awful but eerie, which is a trick Asturias does through music. Some of this music is serious, the poetry of defeat and the soundtrack to the heart's big battles ("Cada martillito del piano, caja de imanes, reunía las arenas finísimas del sonido, soltándolas, luego de tenerlas juntas, en los dedos de los arpegios que des . . . do . . . bla . . . ban las falangas para llamar a la puerta del amor cerrada para siempre; siempre los mismos dedos; siempra la misma mano."). But the most important music is maybe the profane little ditties and the rhythmic repetition of the insane flotsam on the street. The book carries the tone of that ditty whistled through a horror show and Grand Tragedy -- the mass-murderers, these "hipersuperhombres," are ridiculous little men with petty desires and temper tantrums. They are funny. Or they would be if they weren't all-powerful. The members of society that jump to conform with every whim of the dictator are laughable, but if you laugh they will inform on you and land you in a torture chamber.
I wasn't sold on the main love story, too much a tired damsel-in-distress tale to carry so much weight. The most interesting characters were on the beggars and lunatics always at the fringe of any action.
Very challenging read for someone with my Spanish level -- I had to go very slowly. Also challenging emotionally: friends asked why I was puttering around like the Lost for days and I had to explain I was just reading Asturias.
mrmakepiece's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
elvatikan's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
ahmed92kira's review against another edition
3.0
الرواية تبدي ببطئ وحسب ترجمة جمال الجلاصي جانت تحتاج تركيز حتى تعرف طريقة الحوار، بعدها ترتفع وتيرة الاحداث
الرواية من نوع متعدد الشخصيات وكل جابتر يتكلم عن شخصية معينة ... الامها ومعاناتها عدا جابترات الرئيس طبعا
نكدر نكول الرواية من النوع اللي ضد الحكم الدكتاتوري بس بيها شي اكثر من هذا، الرواية تراويك شكد الانسان ممكن يصير ظالم وشكد راح يكلف هذا الشي الناس الضعفاء، الخداع والكذب والتدمير النفسي والخيانة ... كلها تنتشر بهيج مجتمعات
اعتقد مجتمعنا مو استثناء من احداث الرواية
انطيتها ٣ نجوم لان جان السرد متعب رغم ان احداث الرواية تستحق اكثر
الرواية من نوع متعدد الشخصيات وكل جابتر يتكلم عن شخصية معينة ... الامها ومعاناتها عدا جابترات الرئيس طبعا
نكدر نكول الرواية من النوع اللي ضد الحكم الدكتاتوري بس بيها شي اكثر من هذا، الرواية تراويك شكد الانسان ممكن يصير ظالم وشكد راح يكلف هذا الشي الناس الضعفاء، الخداع والكذب والتدمير النفسي والخيانة ... كلها تنتشر بهيج مجتمعات
اعتقد مجتمعنا مو استثناء من احداث الرواية
انطيتها ٣ نجوم لان جان السرد متعب رغم ان احداث الرواية تستحق اكثر
ennsez's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
Content Warnings
Minor: Torture and Suicide
m_a_j's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, and Animal cruelty
paocampo_21's review
2.0
“El Señor Presidente” presenta una narrativa formidable, aunque su naturaleza imponente tiende hacia lo tedioso, sin alcanzar la emoción. Aunque comprendo la aclamación y el amor por sus profundos temas y exploración socio-política, no logró cautivarme como lo ha hecho con otros. La escritura es innegablemente grandiosa, pero el encanto que a menudo acompaña a las obras celebradas parecía de alguna manera esquivo. Se reconoce su significado literario, pero la conexión personal con su narrativa no logró dejar una impresión duradera.