Customer Reviews

Ciudad De Las Bestias (Spanish Edition)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Alex Cold is a studious fifteen year old, who enjoys mountain climbing with his Dad, and playing the flute. His life is turned upside down when his Mom becomes gravely ill, and he is sent off to New York to live with his eccentric and crusty aunt Kate. Guess what? She is heading off to the Amazon to search for the "Beast"--the tropical version of Bigfoot.

Deep in the jungle, Alex meets up with Nadia, the fifteen-year old daughter of their guide, and the other members of the National Geographic expedition, and begins a journey of discovery which will lead him to test the limits of his courage and endurance. The people he encounters are not always what they appear to be, and the adventure quickly turns from a lark to a nightmare. In the course of the 400 pages Alex encounters the mysterious People of the Mist, and the legendary "Beasts," who--well, you just have to read it.

While many of the reviewers have been critical of this book, I must disagree. I found it charming, delightful, sometimes funny, and always intriguing. Toward the climactic ending I couldn't put it down. Allende writes with an innocent, mystic charm that draws you in and captivates you if you let it. It is not meant to be taken literally. It is a story of discovery, and the most important thing Alex will discover is--himself!

I recommend "City of the Beasts" highly. Reviewed by Louis N. Gruber.

The only Allende book I couldn't finish was El Plan Infinito. All the rest have been superb. La Casa de los Espiritus was the first novel I ever read in Spanish, once I got into the rhythm of her writing it was like reading a beautiful song. La Ciudad de las Bestias is no different, and I'm delighted that she's writing books for young people. Like the Harry Potter series, I suspect these books will be every bit as popular with her adult readers.

Allende's ability and willingness to weave social themes into her books is to be applauded. All of us, no matter our age, need to be reminded that we have problems on this planet, and that we are the only ones who can solve them. We welcome her to the steadily growing group of human beings who are working to save this planet instead of destroy it. In light and joy, Nancy D.

I had to read this book for 7th grade summer reading, I looked at the back and saw what it is about. I thought it would be a self-discovery thing about a fantasy world of "The Beast", and guess what: I was right!!! But it's so much more than that, Isabel Allende makes it interesting. She also describes everything really graet. For example take one of the caves they were in when they found a dragon, she described it so you could actually picture it in your head. I'm only on chapter 17 but until now it's awesome! She talks about it like she was actually there, how the weather feels, how dense the forest is. Don't even get me started on the plot. The plot is really great, how everything fits into place with the nightmare and everthing. The only thing I can complain about is that SOMETIMES, not always, sometimes you don't really understand all the indian stuff and indian words, but then you get used to them and know what they mean. I really recomend this book for anyone, even though the adults who have read it are giving bad reviews about it.

Honestly, I was reluctant to try to read this novel instead of using all the wonderful materials I have collected through the years. I am attempting it at the strong suggestion of the University in High School program I work with. I have been pleased with the repetition of useful vocabulary, the introduction to common expressions previously untaught, the coverage of the conservation issues concerning the Amazon, the culture of the indigenous people, the development of the characters, and, oh, all right, the Magical Realism. I am using it in a Spanish V class. They agreed to continue the novel when I gave them the option. If permission can be granted to view an R rated movie, The Emerald Forest seems to be a good companion. For me there has been an incredible amount of preparation in order to present this as a class activity.

Alexander Cold departs his family and ill mother to take a trip of a lifetime with his adventurous grandmother to find "the Beast." He is taken aboard a boat where he meets the rest of the team, including a famous anthropologists, a doctor, a guide and his daughter Nadia. As they travel down the Amazon river, Alexander discovers the beauty and splendors of the dense rain forest. Throughout the story, both Alexander and Nadia journey through the forest where they discover the invisible "people of the mist" who show them a diffrent world far diffrent from theirs. This is a fantastic book that will capture your imagination and envelop it with adventure. The descriptions are so vivid and mesmorizing, as if they pop out of the book and show each scene infront of you. This book shows Isabelle Allende at her best!!

I teach high school Spanish and was searching for interesting reading material to build vocabulary/grammar skills in my upper tier 3rd/4th year students. I currently use mini-novels for 3rd year kids, but I had 2-3 really excelling students who wanted something more challenging with a "real plot" similar to novels they enjoy in English. The 3 students who chose to read this over the summer really loved the story line because it made them feel like they were reading a "real story with real characters that were interesting" I feel it is just the right level for a student finishing 3rd year. Kids who like the "Harry Potter" magic/fantasy genre love this. It is not a rip off of that theme, but has a more sophisticated take on ecology/fantasy/spirituality/cultural levels.

I found that I really loved the novel myself, too! Allende is an outstanding author (I've read her more famous novels) and even for an adult, the characters are engaging and the plot moves along. In fact, I have read 2 out of the series of 3 because it is light reading for me in Spanish...a fun story for summer reading without having to do "high literature" but not sacrificing solid, interesting writing.

At first the book was a little boring to read. But then I really got into it. It was funny, interesting, and shocking at the end. It's a good read, and I would recomend it.

Isabel Allende's book speaks to the hearts of those who are ready to change their emotional attitudes.
This novel describes attitude change in a teenager, a change from being self-centered, sour, rigid, and emotionally blind (with
respect to the needs of others) to a sharing, helpful, more altruistic, and more positive outlook. This is a change that some
readers are not interested in contemplating, at this time in their life, for various reasons, and so we may hear their complaints
that this book is not "entertaining" or that this story does not make a practical sense.
Allende has extended the realm of so called magical realism to her allegorical stories of the wounded and partly frozen heart in
which most characters on their life journey may slowly learn to move away from impulsive hatred, or from their lonely struggle
for finding their private comfortable role in life, further on to a more spiritual unity with others.
Allende's book is prone to confuse numerous readers. Some may object that the imaginary world of her novel no longer
matches the standard materialistic outlook on life, or that there are too many unexpected changes in her narrative style, in the
depth and scope of the vocabulary, or that her story is not a light entertainment.
For example, some persons (both in her novel and in the real life) indeed may understand each other, at times, without knowing
each other's language. The fact that not everyone can replicate this (or at least views himself unable of replicating this at least
once in his life) does not annihilate the existence of this uncommon phenomenon.
Allende's story has several symbolic levels and latent meanings or aspects, similarly to abstract paintings. Some of the frequent
criticisms of this particular novel may be compared to those faced by Van Gogh for his paintings of sunflowers, or of wooden
chairs, or of the trees moving in the wind.
The paintings by Henri Rousseau were often misunderstood by some as paintings "for children" and this particular book by
Isabel Allende is, in fact, mistakenly classified in many Canadian libraries as the one for the children's section. However, if we view this classification positively, it has the advantage of making the book accessible to teenagers.
I have listened to this book in Spanish (from audiotapes) while commuting in my car. After hearing the whole book more than 5 times, I have developed more appreciation for its poetic and rather unpredictable language and symbols. I am looking forward to obtaining more of Allende's books on audiotapes, hopefully in her original Spanish.
Not everybody is ready for this particular novel of Isabel Allende. However, it is a much needed tool for those human beings
that have a need to engage in a similar allegorical journey, in a jungle of symbols, allusions via simplifications, and with an
emotional symphony.

I've read many books with my twelve year old son and eight year old daughter that they have enjoyed, but that I found myself struggling to feign interest. I barely made it through the first Harry Potter book with my kids. They went on to read all four. The Laura Ingalls Wilder books seemed even more inane to me but my daughter liked them.

I teach high school Spanish Literature in Spanish and am accustomed to meatier works by Latin American writers. I am reading "The City of the Beasts" with my eight year old and she is finding the book quite interesting. It provides her with some new vocabulary and opportunities for us to have meaningful discussions based on situations in the book. It isn't a mental work out for me, but I do find it an enjoyable read. I am sure that my twelve year old son will enjoy it as well, even if it doesn't have flying motorcycles.

I haven't looked at the Spanish version yet, but the English version has quite a natural feel to it so don't feel that you're missing anything.

Allende has a good sense of what makes a good youth novel. I don't hesitate to recommend this book for a teenager or precocious pre-teen reader. You might even find it refreshing as well if you read with your kids.

¿Te gusto libros sobre Las amazonas? Ese libro es mi favorito. El libro es sobre Alexander Cold, un niño que fue a Las Amazonas con su abuelo Kate Cold.

Alex y su abuelo fueron a La Amazona para escribir un artículo sobre la misterioso Bestia, un monstruo que ha matado unas personas. Alex metí Naudia, La niña del piolet. Por unos desastres, el grupo esta estradito en La Amazona. Juntos, Alex y Naudia descubrió el misterio de la bestia.

Este libro es uno de mis favoritos libros. Me gusto los caracteres buenos y detesto los caracteres malos. Me gusto la mención de la gente de la niebla. Quiero saber más de ellos. No puedo esperar para la secuela.