Customer Reviews

Antigua and My Life Before

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Violeta, one of the main characters, has commited murder in order to save her daughter, and her best friend, a famous singer who knows her since they were both children, is entrusted with Violeta's journals. From that point on, Josefa tells the stories of their childhood, the beginning and growth of their friendship, and the circumstances of their marriages and families, in a seamless collection of stories that glide smoothly from Violeta's imprisonment to the two friends' reunion in the small city of Antigua. This is a very, very good book, although some characters can be terribly unnerving with their neuroses and meddling, but overall, this is a perfect book to curl up with during a quiet afternoon.

I really loved and enjoyed this book. I thought it was a beautiful tribute to Antigua (a city I have very good memories of) and to female friendships in all their complexity. The characters stayed in my mind after I finished the book. I think a good deal of this credit goes to the English translator who was able to capture the beauty and romance of the Spanish language and allowed you to forget that you were reading a translation. If you love poetry, have ever traveled in Latin America, and have a good female friend, you should read this book.

Marcela Serrano is a great writer, she is able to communicate emotions and feelings in a very strong and effectiveness way. When you are reading you can really feel what the characters experience, and at the same time you get to know the reality of south America: great book!