Customer Reviews

El Zorro / Zorro (Spanish Edition)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Es interesante la forma descriptiva que utiliza Isabel allende para abordar este libro, lo que es caracteristico de su lectura. Las primeras paginas resultan un poco lentas asi que no deben desanimarse al inicio del libro y deben permitirle capturarlos en los personajes y sus aventuras. Soy una verdadera fans del zorro por lo que no debe faltar este libro que a mi parecer es el primero de una probable zaga

I read the Spanish version of the book and my wife read the English translation. This was a wonderful and delightful book. The story and the writing style were great and the book was a joy to read. I have recommended and gifted this book to many friends.

Isabel Allende is a great writer and she shows this again in her last book Zorro. It's about a boy Diego (half white/half indian) who grows up together with his Indian 'brother'. When they're older they part for Barcelona where Diego will learn about love and justice and where he will be admitted to a secret society for Justice: that's where he will gets his name ZORRO. It's a book about life, poverty, justice and love: themes frequently found in Allende. Daily things which are developed more profoundly and thus makes it interesting to read. No thrilling, exciting, spectacular things, just a normal boy who lives his life. I would just say: read the book and you'll find out for yourself.

Three and a half stars. ***1/2

This was an easy read following the creation of Zorro from Diego de la Vega's childhood up to his first full adventure as Zorro in California. Unlike Allende's other books, it was more for entertainment than serious thought on a certain era of time and it felt like she just had a lot of fun writing it.

Although called "Zorro", the real focus is on the women who helped him become Zorro. Out of the books I've read by her, it was the first time I saw her have a man as her principal character which I think she struggled with a bit. Hence, her using the women's roles (her forte) to save her.

Anyway, I really enjoyed following the characters (although I could have slapped Juliana around a bit -- okay, I could have slapped a lot of them) on their wild ride to Zorro's creation.

I couldn't put the book down as her writing was quite gripping and certainly kept me entertained (beautifully written scenery and swashbuckling adventures!) but it wasn't as intellectually satisfying as her other works. For this, I'd recommend the book to seasoned Allende readers but not first timers. This is not a reflection of her usual work (except in terms of her ease in prose) and so beginners would be best introduced to her earlier works.

Isabel Allende unmasks an old favorite and makes him solid and real. She starts with Diego de la Vega's childhood: family, friends, and enemies. Allende guides us through his quite eventful youth and adolescent years. As he is growing up, he learns how to battle bullies and help the weak or downtrodden, practicing skills he will need as he becomes Zorro.

As a young man, his studies take him across the sea to Barcelona, where he continues his covert escapades and hones his alter ego. Diego falls in love with a beautiful young woman who steals his heart but loves him like a brother. Meanwhile, he continues to pick up new skills as he mingles with some gypsies he has met, all the while making useful friends -- and at least one ruthless enemy.

A time comes that he must leave Spain, due to an unstable political climate. Aboard the ship, he continues his life's work of saving damsels in distress and righting wrongs. But he has a nagging feeling that something is not right at home. There is much work for Zorro in the town of de la Vega's childhood and he does not balk at even the most impossible-sounding task.

While mostly a feel-good novel, ZORRO isn't without its dark side. But the good conquers evil message comes through loud and clear. Allende's powerful writing and rich characterization make this a true delight.

I really enjoyed this book, it was a refreshing way of seeing Zorro, since his very beggining, before that even, and we could understand why he become what he become and why he was doing what he was doing.

Me encantó este libro, tiene una dosis perfecta de ironía pero aun así me llegó al corazón, pudimos enterarnos por qué el Zorro hacía lo que hacía y cómo se convirtió en él.

Isabel Allende's Zorro is a thrilling biography of a fictional character. With her descriptive prose, she brings the legendary hero to life, literally, as she recounts his birth and childhood in California--long before the day he dons the mask for the first time. As the reader follows Diego De La Vega across the seas, one can't help but get caught up in the gripping plot that drives De La Vega's desire for revenge and justice. Fun and adventurous without being cliche or overly romanticized. The period, though not necessarily Allende's writing, remind me of The Count of Monte Cristo or The Three Musketeers by Dumas. Definitely recommended for fans of Allende!

Isabelle Allende has created a believable childhood for Diego, his family, friends, and adventures. The historical context is very interesting as well. I have always been quite a sucker for this romantic hero, going back to the television series as a young girl--so I am probably a fairly easy "sell". I am reading the book in Spanish (with some cheating in the English translation). I find the language elegant and highly readable in either language. This book was a great idea--wished I'd have thought of it!

In this telling of the legend, Diego is one-quarter Native, and he's grounded by his Native "milk brother" Bernando. The two are raised by Diego's mother Toypurnia (aka Regina), who favors her Native side and can't get used to married life with her husband, Zorro's father. Diego's grandmother White Owl teaches them her Native values of okahué: honor, justice, respect, dignity, and courage. Diego first gets a sense of injustice when ranchers force Indians off their land and his father refuses to do anything about it.

As the son of a rich landowner, Diego has a personal sense of right and wrong but doesn't think of the systemic abuses of tyranny--at least not initially. His eyes are opened during his travels, when companions tell him of the French Revolution and question the existence of God. He also experiences the benefits of democracy and the evils of slavery in Jean Lafitte's pirate enclave. His rival Rafael Moncada even meets Thomas Jefferson, so he's one degree of separation away from a Founding Father.

The Native aspects

Only a few stereotypes mar this otherwise excellent book. I don't know if the California Natives had a concept called okahué. It's too conveniently similar to the values Zorro adopts as a hero. I'm not sure I've ever heard of a Native culture touting "justice," a concept Europeans traditionally consider more important than Natives.

Allende does a good job of rendering the Spanish-Indian actions, even if her Indians are somewhat generic. But her version of California's Native cultures includes vision quests, totem animals, and medicine wheels. I question whether these things, especially medicine wheels, were ever part of these cultures.

Also, Bernando is too much the faithful Indian sidekick a la Tonto. He suffers a trauma in childhood that renders him mute, so he becomes the strong, silent type who sees everything but says nothing. His character works well enough, but you're aware that he's not a three-dimensional figure like Diego and his friends. Perhaps that's why he disappears for much of the second half of the book.

Despite these qualifications, I'd say Zorro is at least as good as the most respected Native fiction--e.g., The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven, The Grass Dancer, and Ceremony. Rob's rating: 8.5 of 10.

Rob Schmidt

BlueCornComics.com

Una novela embelesante - I'm sure the English version will also be quite good.