Customer Reviews

Hunger's Brides - A Novel Of Baroque

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Paul Anderson has created an encyclopedia of an epic read about a Mexican nun/poetess of the late 1600's and her obsessive contemporary researcher. Weighing in at nearly 5 pounds, this novel is more reminiscent of the old social conscience potboilers of the 1800's by Victor Hugo (like "Les Miserables") and Leo Tolstoy (like "War and Peace") who would add informative lengthy observations on topics which did not advance the plot.

"Hunger's Bride" is a debut novel for Mr. Anderson who shows off his considerable writing skills with various points of view and literary devices. The cultural times and history of the female characters are drawn extensively. Though the book could have been edited downward to 1,000 pages easily, his publishers evidently are making a virtue of its length for marketing purposes.

Still, the revolving stories between the cultural oppression facing Sor Juana de la Cruz in her frontier society and that facing Beulah Limosneros in our society keeps the story moving. The reader should be aware that this is not a beach book but a tale that demands the full attention of the reader. Having said that, this novel is one to be savored over several weeks -- think of it as a literary mini-series.

Perhaps Anderson should have followed Proust's example and published this many-layered novel filled with history and poetry in several volumes. Paul Scott's Ray Quartet is another example. Actually, it's somewhat reminiscent of A.S. Byatt's Possession; I think if you loved that book you will like Hunger's Brides. Anyway, the writing in this book will take your breath away, and the heroine is wonderful and her voices true. A book to curl up with - maybe throught the winter!

This book is beautifully written, recounts the life of one of the most fascinating people in the history of the western hemisphere, and contains fine translations of her gloriously sensual poetry-so why is it so hard to get through? Comparisons are being made to Vikram Seth's "A Suitable Boy" which runs a similar length, but heft is all the novels have in common. Where everything in Seth's book moved the story ahead or planted seeds that would later be reaped, "Hunger's Brides" spends a lot of time on everything. There's a parallel modern story line that could have been deleted altogether, and in fact, Sor Juana's story could have been told with half the length and twice the power if Paul Anderson had had a tough editor who made him cut, cut, cut.

But I suspect that both Anderson and the editor fell under Sor Juana's spell and could not bear to pare much from her extraordinary life. The illegitimate daughter of a 17th century Mexican rancher, she was a genius with a mind that today still defies explanation. Her wit, intelligence, and writings lead the Viceroy to demand the teenage Juana's presence at court in Mexico City. After only a few years at court, she left to enter one of the most restrictive convents in the city where she felt she would not be distracted from writing. Her beauty and brilliance made her convent cell a popular meeting place for the intelligencia (these things were allowed in those days), but between visits she wrote quite unchaste poetry that took the world by storm. Then, suddenly, she stopped, never to write again.

I like another reviewer's suggestion that the novel be broken up into volumes. Volume one could have been her childhood in the country, her discovery of the life of the mind, the invitation to court. The next, court life, her burgeoning celebrity, and her decision to enter the convent. The last, the full flowering of her genius and the Inquisition. Anderson has enough rich material for three satisfying novels in this one book. But putting them all together and adding that subplot make what could have been a remarkable achievement just too much to plow through.

Be careful all those who buy books based upon prepublication hype.

This is not a book for the impatient reader. If you are fascinated by obscure 17th century mexican poets or fancy arcane Aztec culture sprinkled with ancient Greek mythology, you'll probably enjoy this tome. Or those of you who enjoy a hodgepodge of literary genres, from magical realism to stream of consciousness ( a la Joyce) combined with Tolstoyan heft, get the book. I think this is one that will die on the vine, because most people, like me, will buy it and after the first three hundred pages, give up tyrying to muster some interest in the story (as it is presented) and ending up with a very effective doorstop. Suffice it to say that this could EASILY have been edited down to half its length. It's too bad because the author has talent that needs to be focused. (I don't know how he even finished this novel in twelve years with the life he's led!).

Take heed...this is not the kind of book that will suddenly snare you with interest after the first 200 or so pages.

even i, with the greatest of interests in, and an affinity for - the woman, her life, her writing, the time period, the country, etc .... am having difficulty refraining from skipping over huge sections of this book. my suggestion = read alicia gaspar de alba's sor juana's second dream, instead. hers is a beautifully imagined and cleverly crafted literary work - less than half the number of pages, and well worth the reading of every word! unfortunately, because it was put out by a small/university press, her novel never reached the readers it deserved.

Many times I wanted to strangle the author for writing this book! I have no idea why I picked it up! I thought perhaps, (this book being so big), it would have some great things to say. Alas, it is really Ambien in book form! It was too long and tedious, too many times. I kept wondering why the author needed over 1300 pages to say what he wanted to say. I recommend this title for those who are bibliophiles and want a good challenge. It is literally a mountain of reading! Even Tolstoy would have been challenged by such erudition. After you pass the winter with this title, use the book as a doorstop. Or you can make it a curious gift to a an office colleague you don't like too much! It can also be a good teaching aid to ESL students who wish to improve their reading skills. Still, you will have a feeling of accomplishment when you finish it. Good Luck! Don't say I didn't warn you!