Scan barcode
becca_clifford's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
marianacholico's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
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? It's complicated
2.75
book_concierge's review against another edition
4.0
Book on CD performed by Maria Conchita Alonso
Malinalli was a Native woman from Tabasco, who was given as a slave to the conquering Spaniards. Her ability to speak Spanish as well as two native languages – Mayan and Nahuatl – brought her to the attention of Hernán Cortés, and eventually she became his mistress and bore him a son. For centuries, she has been reviled as a traitor for her role in helping the Spaniards conquer the Aztec empire, but more recent research has pointed to a more complex reality.
In this lyrical, poetic novel, Esquivel gives us a strong woman with deeply held beliefs who wanted to free her people. Believing that Cortés was a reincarnation of the God Quetzalcoatl, she agreed to help him speak with Montezuma. She could not possibly have known the consequences, and she realized her mistake far too late.
I love Esquivel’s writing. Her imagery is vivid and tangible. She gives equal attention to scenes of a happy childhood or vibrant festivities, as well as to scenes of destruction or death. I felt the heat and humidity, heard the cacophony of a busy marketplace, smelled the stench of a battlefield, tasted the tropical fruits and delicacies of a royal feast.
This is a decidedly Mexican novel. Esquivel infuses the story with magical realism, mysticism, and spirituality. It reminds me of the oral story traditions of my grandparents. And yet, her Malinalli is a real woman, with conflicting desires; a woman who loves or hates, feels pain and joy, and does her best to survive with her dignity and integrity intact.
Maria Conchita Alonso deserves five stars for her performance of the audiobook. She made me think of summer evenings spent sitting in the dark on my grandmother’s porch hearing stories of the old days and legends of conquest or victory.
Malinalli was a Native woman from Tabasco, who was given as a slave to the conquering Spaniards. Her ability to speak Spanish as well as two native languages – Mayan and Nahuatl – brought her to the attention of Hernán Cortés, and eventually she became his mistress and bore him a son. For centuries, she has been reviled as a traitor for her role in helping the Spaniards conquer the Aztec empire, but more recent research has pointed to a more complex reality.
In this lyrical, poetic novel, Esquivel gives us a strong woman with deeply held beliefs who wanted to free her people. Believing that Cortés was a reincarnation of the God Quetzalcoatl, she agreed to help him speak with Montezuma. She could not possibly have known the consequences, and she realized her mistake far too late.
I love Esquivel’s writing. Her imagery is vivid and tangible. She gives equal attention to scenes of a happy childhood or vibrant festivities, as well as to scenes of destruction or death. I felt the heat and humidity, heard the cacophony of a busy marketplace, smelled the stench of a battlefield, tasted the tropical fruits and delicacies of a royal feast.
This is a decidedly Mexican novel. Esquivel infuses the story with magical realism, mysticism, and spirituality. It reminds me of the oral story traditions of my grandparents. And yet, her Malinalli is a real woman, with conflicting desires; a woman who loves or hates, feels pain and joy, and does her best to survive with her dignity and integrity intact.
Maria Conchita Alonso deserves five stars for her performance of the audiobook. She made me think of summer evenings spent sitting in the dark on my grandmother’s porch hearing stories of the old days and legends of conquest or victory.
yabibliobard's review against another edition
It was an optional reading for spanish class — I tried, and it didn’t work.
jordynkw's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
peripetia's review against another edition
3.0
This books tells an interesting story but not in an interesting way. We are fully in the head of the main character, but don't really get a look into her inner life. Malinche or Malintzin was at one point probably the most powerful woman in what is now Mexico, but instead of showing her intelligence and power, she drifts around from situation to situation passively.
Instead of showing us the development of Malinche's character, the author tells us constantly what she is feeling, but Malinche herself remains an empty vessel.
Still, the story was very interesting, so I don't regret reading it.
I did not enjoy the audiobook, though. The narrator hired for this project is, for whatever reason, a Cuban who can't pronounce important words, like Quetzalcoatl or Nahuatl. Her melodramatic reading also started to feel jarring. Lastly, I don't know if it was the recording or what, but her wet mouth sounds... I got used to it, but it was not great.
Instead of showing us the development of Malinche's character, the author tells us constantly what she is feeling, but Malinche herself remains an empty vessel.
Still, the story was very interesting, so I don't regret reading it.
I did not enjoy the audiobook, though. The narrator hired for this project is, for whatever reason, a Cuban who can't pronounce important words, like Quetzalcoatl or Nahuatl. Her melodramatic reading also started to feel jarring. Lastly, I don't know if it was the recording or what, but her wet mouth sounds... I got used to it, but it was not great.
radikaliseradgroda's review against another edition
1.0
Where to begin with this mess of a book. It's super flippant about rape, has massive tone problems, and stilted language. It's like a 9-year-old's history book, containing things no 9-year-old should know about and a mixed up chronology that kept irritating me. I don't know if the author or translator is to blame, but the whole thing reads like terrible poetry. 0/5, would have stopped 10 pages in if I could have.
queernopalita's review against another edition
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
midnightbluejo28's review against another edition
1.0
" Sorry I just didn't get this book. Too many god of blah..blah..I was totally lost.. "
dimples0508's review against another edition
3.0
As a mestizo youth, I was really excited when I found this book. I'm highly interested in tradition and ceremony that was introduced in my life through Navajo tradition. Reading this book gave me a serious sick feeling in my belly. The romantic angle it was trying to take with Malinche and Cortes was just wrong. One of my favorite professors from university told me that the mestizo race, and the conquering of Spain was the great tragedy, the great rape of Mexico. Mexico is such a beautifully complex place and I feel Laura Esquivel lacked that complexity. her language was beautiful- but at times it became confabulated in my head and didn't make much sense. Points for subject.