Customer Reviews

The Inhabited Woman (THE AMERICAS)

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As a retired English teacher longing for a "good read". I was delighted from the first chapter of Inhabited Woman. The concept of one woman from one period/culture being a factor in another woman's life sent a tingle through me. As I read on, I was excited in the insights gained by the main character. As she struggled with choices, I found myself rethinking my life and values. The characters are well drawn and the plot complex enough to be interesting. Furthermore, the author's use of langauge and images is sometimes almost poetry. BRAVO!!

This is a book that is a must because it helps to understand (or at least to have another point of view) about latin american "guerrillas", but also about the subtle and not so subtle differences between men and women, that havent changed so much in hundred years. Going back to the past (to the spaniard invasion)and forward to our days, Belli knits a unique beautiful story of two eras distant in time, but very close in their needs. Not perfect in its "literary structure", but an original, passionate and enlighten story.

I found it interesting that Belli would use the character of a Native American woman to be the emotional narrator of this book. At first, it would seem unlikely that a Native American woman who lived a few hundred years before her modern counterpart would have much in common with each other. Yet, Belli does a marvelous job of tying the emotions of the two women together. As a result, the reader is left with the impression that human beings are basically the same despite differences in circumstances and time periods.

While this theme isn't new, Belli presents it in a manner that is very typical of Latin American authors. The book displays a very strong narrative, well-defined characters, and a touch of mysticism to make things seem slightly otherworldly. I did find the revolutionary angle of the text a little dated. But, that fact didn't detract from an otherwise magnificent book. It should be read by anyone who's either looking for an introduction to Latin American literature, or looking for a reminder about the universality of the human emotional experience.

Una escritora increible para una historia verdaderamente emocionante donde el presente con su guerra civil en Nicaragua y el pasado con su Conquista espan~ola tienen aspectos en comun, se unen, se cruzan, se mezclan, pero todo tiene siempre sentido. Es una de las novelas mas intensas que haya leido de toda la literatura hispano americana. Lo aconsejo a todos los latinos.

Gioconda Belli is one of Nicaragua's most highly regarded writers. Her poetry and fiction have been published in Spain, Mexico, Germany, Denmark, Holland, Finland, Greece and Turkey. She currently lives in Los Angeles. THE INHABITED WOMAN was awarded "Best Literary Work of the Year" by the Union of German Publishers and Editors.

"[It] is a passionate story of love, courage, solidarity and death, where reality and legend blend harmoniously. The lives of the characters are intertwined with the destiny of a country and the struggle of a people for dignity. There is so much truth in this book, that it is impossible for the reader to remain indifferent. This is a story that needed to be told and Belli does it with talent." --Isabel Allende

"THE INHABITED WOMAN is engrossing, reading like an action adventure...[it] opens on a stunning, magical note..." --The Daily News

"THE INHABITED WOMAN revitalizes two literary genres that in recent years seemed to have lost their grips on the imagination of new writers and, as a matter of course, readers-magic realism and social realism." --The Hartford Courant

This book is a must. Most criticisms would say it is only about eroticism, femenine and masculine division. You could find in this book also the symbol of mirror. Some might say that the eyes are the mirrors of the sole. Reading this book you can find what the saying is trying to acomplish. If some of you like misticism there is something magical for you too. A book for everyone who is able to see the reality of life from an elevated position.

I am the reader who reviewed this book on May 6th, 1997, and I just wanted to, how should we say it, emphasize once again that this book is brilliant. I continue to recommend it to everyone from all walks of life. I have conned my whole family into reading it, and my in-laws, and work colleagues, and no one has left disappointed. Books like this make me wonder why some terribly written books sell millions by getting onto Opera's lists and others that are equally accessible literally get sidelined. The encouraging thing is that you can STILL buy it, so do it now!

I guess I need to back up a step and say that I am not saying this belongs on the Top 100 books of the century or anything like that. But if you read more than five books of fiction a year, this is a book that is a good read and very original in how the common revolution theme brings life and death to specific every-day individuals.

Few are the books that come along to grip us in their merciless stories. The inhabited woman is a wonderful book of love and war, passion and death, spirituality and beliefs. Lavinia is a woman for the 21st century. Bravo to Gioconda Belli for a most inspiring and haunting tale of the power of our own destiny!! Lavinia is a modern day heroine! I love this book! It ranks high on the list of keepers and most definately a book to pass along to generations to come.

The Inhabited Woman is a beautifully written story. It takes place in an unspecified Central American country. Briefly, it intertwines the story of a modern-day young woman with a woman warrior fighting the Spanish Conquistadores. The spirit of the warrior grows into an orange tree in the woman's yard, and eventually enters her body to share her experience. The story blends romance, revolution, history and spirituality, exploring the role of women in each. One of the most enjoyable books I have read of late

Quick, name the ten top novelists from Nicaragua. Give Up? Well extend it then to the top ten from anywhere in Latin America.

After reading this book you will almost certainly put Gioconca Belli on this list. The Inhabited Woman is Lavinia, a modern woman of our time, she becomes 'inhabited' by the spirit of an Indian woman warrior and she joins the revolution against a violent dictator.

At least semi-biographical, Ms. Belli joined the revolutionary Nicaraguan FSLN in 1970 until forced to leave the country in 1975. After Somoza was ousted and th Sandinistas came to power she entered Government service to 1986 when she resigned in to write full time.