Customer Reviews

Miracle in Seville (Random House Large Print (Paper))

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

 

 

Hearing about the bull fights before visiting Spain I thought how cruel and terrible. My opinion was based on ideas I do not share and a culture I do not understand. In Madrid, I experienced a bullfight sitting next to a local. What I learned to appreciate that day. Now reading "Miracle", again my perspective has been changed. And isn't that what truly good reading does - changes our perspective? Michener teaches about the history and glory of the bullfight creating an understanding with the reader. While still not my choice of sport for the treatment of the animal, I better understand the bullfight. Thanks, Michener!

I found that this book captured the beauty of Seville in all of it's grandeur. It described the love and passion of bullfighting and how it is reflected in the religous faith of it's most devout. The book accurately describes the love and devotion that the Spanish in Seville have for Our most Holy Mother. She is love and she is above all things. The book tells of how Our Lady peforms all kinds of miracles for those good and devout to her.

Anyone who knows Spain and bullfighting can only cringe (or hoot in derision) upon reading this ridiculous book. One has to wonder if Michener ever really visited this country. Among the many inaccuracies in the book, I'll list a few of the craziest: he has Spaniards spending pesos (the currency in Spain is pesetas), he has the locals referring to El Puerto de Santa Maria as "Santa Maria" (which no one does), and he has two bullfighters blaming a third for ruining their chances of getting carried out of the bullring in triumph (this simply never happens--each bullfighter is judged on his own merits). And the book is just badly written--somehow managing to be dull and melodrmatic at the same time. The "fiery gypsy" is an absurd stereotype, and all the characters are presented in the most wooden and amateurish manner. Only John Fulton's fine illustrations save the book from being a total loss (but Fulton--who was himself a matador--should have been ashamed of himself for being party to such a travesty).

Great story, with lovely illustrations and a parallel thread of Catholic devotion.

I read it one summer evening and thoroughly enjoyed it.

JGR

This is a nice brief read that emphasizes the power of faith. Although it is a story about a bull ranch breeder , his bulls and the bullfighters, the story draws strongly on mystic beliefs of the the gypsy as well as the grace of religion and the Virgin Mary. The story takes palce during Holy Week in Spain and the pagentry of the religious street processions and the ring are told with great detail. Michner is a marvelous story teller. Remember this is a novel, therefore creative liberty is expected and usually the norm when it comes to presenting a story. One annonymous reviewer here was offended by the inaccuracies. Suffice to say, there is a difference between fiction and non-fiction; this work is a fiction novel. One of the highlights of this lovely story is the tremendous art work by the late American matador de toros, John Fulton. The twenty-six drawings are mini-art treasures to be appreciated as you read the story of the arrogant gypsy matador Gomez, his ally sister, the fortune teller Magdalena Lopez,the cross-eyed Virgin Mary known as La Bizca, Mr. Shenstone and Don Cayetano Mota and his bulls. Reading this story with the illustrations is a experience that brings life and color to the pages. This is a great story , told in the manner that only James Michner can that will captivate the imagination while you are reading about the exploits of the various characters. Recommended for lovers of exotic fiction steeped in the power of faith.

This was not an easy book for me to read. Michener gives the history of bullfighting which is Spain's ancient tradition. The festivities begin with a man in medieval costume on a white horse asking for permission to get the games started. There will be three matadors and six animals. The parade like Mardi Gras is unmatched in any other sport. This strange novel is full of the pageantry surrouding the running of the bulls every year at Holy Week.

There have always been female matadors in Mexico. I viewed a PBS special and one of the women expressed the same things this author did, which surprised me, about feeling the bull was inside her. I though that very strange.

Sometimes the matador loses his nerve; if he does not show a true sense of honor (like Gypsy), the bullfight falls apart and its essence is destroyed. It is savagery at its worse and "the magic is lost." It takes a linked chain of good deeds and superstition to make it work smoothly. Camino would have worked a miracle of passion and beauty. El Viti might have caused the crowd to gasp in wonder. Diego Puerta, highly regarded as the gentleman matador of his era, was testbook-perfect in his performances.

Not many bulls live on; Ferdinand was only a children's book. Torpedo was spared at Seville as being "too brave to kill" and crowned with laurels, as the crowd shouted "Toro, toro" and threw flowers as the matadors took bows. They had made a sacred journey through the streets of Seville, home of Spain's classic arena, carrying heavy floats.

The Gypsy quarter is across the river from Seville. More than five hundred years ago, the first gypsy arrived in Spain "on foot" over the Pyrenees Mountains. One is in this story. This strange novel is full of the pageantry surrouding the running of the bulls and the devout Spaniards who are extremely superstitious and most support the churches. Carlos Ubach sent me castanets and varied souvenirs with paintings of bullfighters in their colorful regalia. How they do worship the sport! Also the beautiful church in Barcelona. No typo -- Carlos is a real person. There was a special on PBS about female matadors and a lot of it came right out of this book. Because of the Spanish War, the women were not allowed to fight the bulls in Spain, and so had to show their prowess in Mexico. One of the best said what Mitchener did, that she felt the bull in her inner being and prayed for courage and honor from her Mother Saint. She must have read this little book.