Customer Reviews

The House on the Lagoon

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The amazing feat of Rosario Ferre is her ability to weave historical events with a fictional family's history all the while giving the reader an amazing page turner. This book gives a brief lesson in Puerto Rican history and the complexities of race, class and gender relationships.
This novel tells the story of two wealth Puerto Rican families. The tellling of the stories leads to disagreements between the main characters, husband and wife, Quintin and Isabel. Their disagreements beg the reader to decide which one is telling the truth and who is more believable. It is a fascinating journey which challenges the reader, which is exactly what a great book should do.

I read this book on the recommendation of a friend who is a Puertorriqueno-Americano. He read it in Espanol and loved it. I read it in English and truly enjoyed the beauty of the writing and extremely well crafted characters. Three houses on the lagoon was a stretch of the imagination. I learned at least one woman's perspective of Puerto Rican history and culture presented in a highly palatable form. I have no idea of how well it represents reality (which -- as the book illustrates -- is highly dependent on the eye of the beholder). As a fan of detective novels I ended up thinking that the author killed off more characters than the average thriller. I concluded that Quintin knew the number to the Swiss bank account -- just a strong impression. The book made me want to take my next Caribbean vacation in Puerto Rico. My friend warned me not to expect to find the house on the lagoon which seemed so real to me. Accepted for what it is, this is a fine book.

Rosario Ferré is without doubt a formidable writer with broad literary formation (holding a doctorate in Latin American literature) and impressive versatility in genres: short story, poetry, essay, novelist. She joins that welcomed and exciting cadre of Latina writers who skillfully articulates profound feminist concerns in their respective societies. In THE HOUSE ON THE LAGOON, Ferré presents two of her constantly recurring themes that form the core of her literary trajectory: Puerto Rican reality past and present ... the agonizing socio-psychological consequences produced by the unique historical-political-economic link to the United States; and Latina feminism accompanied by society's ugly prejudicial response. This story offers a highly critical view of Puerto Rican society with a bold reinterpretation of her island's history. As in all her tales and essays (as she herself has revealed) there is a thinly veiled autobiographical reflection. Ferré crafts a stunning literary language that expresses itself via surreal images similar to those that characterized the vanguard writers and visual artists of the opening decades of the twentieth century. In Spanish we call the technique "desdoblamiento" -- the exposition or unfolding of images to narrate the events afflicting her protagonists. It perhaps functions more intensively in the original Spanish. But what results in essence is a mystical fusion of fiction and reality ... magical realism. This is a mesmerizing work by an extremely talented writer and is highly recommended.

Alan Cambeira
Author of AZUCAR! The Story of Sugar (a novel)

Like most of the reviewers here, I was totally absorbed by this book and its exquisite vision and representation of a racially separated Puerto Rican world. I wasn't blind to the stereotypes that Ferre employs, just accepting of the fact that her fictional characters have a factual basis in reality.

But what sets this book apart from the other Latin American authors I have read was the marvelous intertextuality of the story--both husband and wife writing and rewriting history while remaining silent with each other. Quintin's contributions to Isabel's story were every bit as fascinating as the family saga she was weaving. But there's not enough of his point of view, as Ferre takes a turn from his perspective to finishing off the story.

The obvious issue at stake here is whether history or fiction has more merit--and whether written family histories MUST be faithful to facts. This ideological debate is one that has polarized academics in the humanities before, and its treatment here was utterly fascinating. Unfortunately, Ferre couldn't sustain that premise, and the novel quickly deteriorates in the final chapters towards its overly Hollywood-ish ending. But up until the last third, it's a marvelous read, and as thought-provoking on racial issues as it is on the themes of revenge, family loyalties, and money.

I became a fan of Ferre after reading her collection entitled, The Youngest Doll. Present in all of her tales, is the story of an island immersed in a constant struggle between race, language, religion, ownership, and histories which involve three continents. Intertwined within this struggle for identity, Ferre brings a woman, equally intertwined, and equally struggling. The House On The Lagoon is about one woman's attempt to understand and redeem the history of herself, and all of the women in her family, by writing a historical account of their lives (How accurate becomes an issue in the plot, however, it is her bravery in attemptng the rediscovery that is significant). It is also about a husband who is terrified of his wife laying claim to herself. Through this tale we are told stories of several generations-Spaniards, Africans, Corsicans, and Puerto Ricans. We are also given a sense of how the debate as to the island's independence or dependence on the United States has shaped every generation born in Puerto Rico this century. I love Ferre's innovative stories, and her sense of style. When I finished this novel, I felt haunted.

The "House on the Lagoon" parallels ideas of american society. It introduces historical issues relating to Puerto Rico. It portrays the ideas of social status, family responsibilities, and the power relegated to senior members of their society. The subtle strength and power of the women is outstandingly exemplified.

Wonderfully planned and written. I was so drawn into the story and life that I treasured each page I absorbed.

This is a rich, well-written book packed with interesting characters and history. I agree the ending did feel a bit rushed and that it would have been nice to have more of Quintin's perspective in the last part of the book. This book does bring up questions of truth and perspective. Some events were a bit ambiguous, but that was the point. I'm most conflicted about Quintin-was he really responsible for so much violence? At first I wanted to believe he was a regular out of touch middle-aged man, but by the end I thought of him more as a monster. Why didn't Isabel speak out more against the fragmentation of her family?

The story in this book takes place in Puerto Rico, where I lived for five years from age 11 to 16. It is beautifully written and very well crafted. It's way more than a "romance" book. You might call it a story of a dynasty - an important (fictional) family. It's also full of the ways of the island itself. My husband and I bought a house in Puerto Rico last year for our upcoming retirement and I read the book while in our new house. I was sad when I finished it, as I always am when I read a good book.

Although I feel that Ferre's ability to write in English has improved since she wrote The House in the Lagoon (still not comparable to her elegant and beautiful skill with her native tongue), my review responds to some comments made by Mr.Luis Hernandez in his review: "Close but not even close to Isabel Allende". First things first. Mr. Hernandez, comparing Ferre to Isabel Allende, Julia de Burgos (por Dios!) or the INFAMOUS Esmeralda Santiago (eek!) is neither here nor there. A writer, I believe, should be taken into consideration based on his/her own merits. But I guess that is not my biggest problem with this review. Actually, I think Mr.Hernandez, with all your travels and experiences in the small island of Puerto Rico, you seem to have only a very dim perception of the intricate diversity and complex make-up of the island's ever changing social, economic and racial dynamics.

Mr. Hernandez,you are all upset because Ferre's book deals with rich land owners and not the dirt poor barrio/slums communities, therefore, the book does not deal with "The Puerto Rican experience." The Puerto Rican experience??? Are you kidding me?

If anything Rosario Ferre brings to life another side of the island. You think it's fun reading about stereotypical dirt poor socially disadvantaged jibaros ALL THE TIME? I mean, that's fun for a while, I'm for that whole "learn from your history and your roots" and all that song and dance, but, COME ON!

I'm a young educated white upper class female from Puerto Rico, so according to you, Mr. Hernandez no one would EVER want to read a book I write. I'll have to keep that in mind so I don't even bother.

Nevertheless, I do believe every individual's experience is unique, valuable and worth the read if their style and content is pleasing to an audience. Ferre obviously has it. People have responded well to her books, she is a successful writer and, although being an independentista I may not always agree with her political biases, I'm absolutely PSYCHED her books have already been translated in seven languages and she's coming up with new stuff! So, bring it on!

It's really disturbing when people like Mr. Hernandez insist on categorizing and confining individuals to ridiculous generalizations: statehooders / rich, independentistas/poor. Apparently this guy knows very little about what is going on in the island and has obviously NEVER touched a history book! Ok, so let's play a game, dear readers,... only those who've had what Mr. Hernandez labels "The Puerto Rican experience" (whatever that is) raise your hand... Ok, only you guys can write successful books that people will read, respect and relate to, the rest of us may shut up now.

And by the way,those of you who CAN write, make sure you write like Julia de Burgos and Isabel Allende...

So to all of you, open minded souls out there, read about the rich people in the Caribbean, get mesmerized by all the political turmoil and marital struggle amidst the bewitching landscape of a place like no other on earth. It sure is a lot of fun! At the very least, a refreshing change of pace!