July GeoCAT -- Central America and the Caribbean
Talk 2016 Category Challenge
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1sallylou61
CENTRAL AMERICA
Central America consists of seven countries: Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama.
The official language majority in all Central American countries is Spanish, except in Belize, where the official language is English. Mayan languages constitute a language family consisting of about 26 related languages. Guatemala formally recognized 21 of these in 1996. Xinca and Garifuna are also present in Central America.
Central America consists of seven countries: Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama.
The official language majority in all Central American countries is Spanish, except in Belize, where the official language is English. Mayan languages constitute a language family consisting of about 26 related languages. Guatemala formally recognized 21 of these in 1996. Xinca and Garifuna are also present in Central America.
2sallylou61
CENTRAL AMERICAN LITERATURE
LITERATURE FROM GUATEMALA:
19th century:
José Batres Montúfar -- most famous works are Don Pablo and El Relox.
José Milla y Vidaurre, considered the father of the Guatemalan novel, wrote La hija del Adelantado; Los Nazarenos; El visitador; and El libro sin nombre.
20th century:
Miguel Ángel Asturias (1967 Nobel Prize winner and author of novels including El Señor Presidente and Hombres de Maíz (Men of Maize) and Banana Trilogy; also a playwright and journalist
Carlos Solórzano (playwright) famous for Las Manos de Dios, La Sin Ventura, and Tres Actos.
LITERATURE FROM HONDURAS:
Froylan Turcois, best known novel: Páginas del Ayer.
Lucila Gamero de la Medina, one of best known female authors, romance novelist, wrote Blanca Olmedo.
Ramon Amaya Amador, a Communist, wrote El señor de la sierra ("The Man from the Mountains”) and Con la misma herradura (“With the Same Tool”)
LITERATURE FROM EL SALVADOR:
Roque Dalton is considered one of the most famous writers of El Salvador although he wrote in exile, poet who wrote La Ventana en el rostro (“The Window in My Face,"; El turno del ofendido (“The Injured Party’s Turn,"); La Ventana en el rostro; El Mar (“The Sea”); and Taberna y ostros lugares (“Tavern and Other Places”)
Arrué Salvador Salazar, best known by his pseudonym Salarrué, author of Cuentos de Cipotes.
Manlio Argueta, novelist and poet, who in the English speaking world is well known for his book One Day of Life.
LITERATURE FROM NICARAGUA:
These poets were revolutionaries
Ruben Darío, a leading poet wrote “Azul”, “Prosas profanas y otros poemas”, and “Cantos de vida y esperanza.”
Giaconda Belli, feminist poet, “El infinito la palma de la mano”
Ernesto Cardenal, another poet wrote“Epigramas” and “La hora 0”
LITERATURE FROM COSTA RICA:
Manuel Arguello Mora, 19th century, historical novel, La Trinchera;
Joaquin Garcia Monge best known for short novel El Moto.
Carlos Luis Fallas, 20th century novelist, Mamita Yunai.
Carmen Lyra, important female novelist and folktale author, En una silla de ruedas (In a Wheelchair); most well-known work Los Cuentos de Mi Tia Panchita (Tales of My Aunt Panchita); Bananos y Hombres (Bananas and Men)
LITERATURE FROM PANAMA:
Ricardo Miró, poet -- most representative poems are Preludios (Preludes); Los segundos preludios (The second preludes); La leyenda del Pacífico (The legend of the Pacific);and Caminos silenciosos (Silent Roads). He also wrote short stories and two novels: Las Noches de Babel (The Nights of Babel) and Flor de Maria.
María Olimpia de Obaldía (who wrote poetry on women’s issues) -- Orquídeas Panamá; Breviario Lírico; Parnaso Infantil, Visiones eternas, Obra Poética Completa,
Rogelio Sinán, best known for his short stories but also wrote poems and novels. His popular titles include “Todo un conflicto de sangre” (1946), “Los pájaros del sueño” (1957), “Plenilunio” (1947) and his renown collection of poems entitled “Onda” (1929).
LITERATURE FROM BELIZE (formerly British Honduras) -- English is official language -- many authors including the few listed below:
Zee Edgell -- woman author -- considered Belize’s principal contemporary writer -- works include: Beka Lamb; Festival of San Joaquin; and Time and the River.
Glen Godfrey -- The Sinner’s Bossanova
Felicia Hernandez -- works include: I Don’t Know You but I Love You; Those Ridiculous Years – A collection of Short Stories; Narenga; and Reflections.
George Seymour Gabb -- a playwright, a poet, a painter, and a famous sculptor -- wrote The Yellowtail (a play), and The Naked Eye (a collection of poems-proverbs).
James Sullivan Martinez -- poet -- Caribbean Jingles
Authors from http://thelatinoauthor.com/countries/literature, click on name of country -- often had to look up individual authors on the web to find titles of their works.
Remember to post the books you read on the GeoCAT wiki:
http://www.librarything.com/wiki/index.php/2016CC_GeoCAT#July
LITERATURE FROM GUATEMALA:
19th century:
José Batres Montúfar -- most famous works are Don Pablo and El Relox.
José Milla y Vidaurre, considered the father of the Guatemalan novel, wrote La hija del Adelantado; Los Nazarenos; El visitador; and El libro sin nombre.
20th century:
Miguel Ángel Asturias (1967 Nobel Prize winner and author of novels including El Señor Presidente and Hombres de Maíz (Men of Maize) and Banana Trilogy; also a playwright and journalist
Carlos Solórzano (playwright) famous for Las Manos de Dios, La Sin Ventura, and Tres Actos.
LITERATURE FROM HONDURAS:
Froylan Turcois, best known novel: Páginas del Ayer.
Lucila Gamero de la Medina, one of best known female authors, romance novelist, wrote Blanca Olmedo.
Ramon Amaya Amador, a Communist, wrote El señor de la sierra ("The Man from the Mountains”) and Con la misma herradura (“With the Same Tool”)
LITERATURE FROM EL SALVADOR:
Roque Dalton is considered one of the most famous writers of El Salvador although he wrote in exile, poet who wrote La Ventana en el rostro (“The Window in My Face,"; El turno del ofendido (“The Injured Party’s Turn,"); La Ventana en el rostro; El Mar (“The Sea”); and Taberna y ostros lugares (“Tavern and Other Places”)
Arrué Salvador Salazar, best known by his pseudonym Salarrué, author of Cuentos de Cipotes.
Manlio Argueta, novelist and poet, who in the English speaking world is well known for his book One Day of Life.
LITERATURE FROM NICARAGUA:
These poets were revolutionaries
Ruben Darío, a leading poet wrote “Azul”, “Prosas profanas y otros poemas”, and “Cantos de vida y esperanza.”
Giaconda Belli, feminist poet, “El infinito la palma de la mano”
Ernesto Cardenal, another poet wrote“Epigramas” and “La hora 0”
LITERATURE FROM COSTA RICA:
Manuel Arguello Mora, 19th century, historical novel, La Trinchera;
Joaquin Garcia Monge best known for short novel El Moto.
Carlos Luis Fallas, 20th century novelist, Mamita Yunai.
Carmen Lyra, important female novelist and folktale author, En una silla de ruedas (In a Wheelchair); most well-known work Los Cuentos de Mi Tia Panchita (Tales of My Aunt Panchita); Bananos y Hombres (Bananas and Men)
LITERATURE FROM PANAMA:
Ricardo Miró, poet -- most representative poems are Preludios (Preludes); Los segundos preludios (The second preludes); La leyenda del Pacífico (The legend of the Pacific);and Caminos silenciosos (Silent Roads). He also wrote short stories and two novels: Las Noches de Babel (The Nights of Babel) and Flor de Maria.
María Olimpia de Obaldía (who wrote poetry on women’s issues) -- Orquídeas Panamá; Breviario Lírico; Parnaso Infantil, Visiones eternas, Obra Poética Completa,
Rogelio Sinán, best known for his short stories but also wrote poems and novels. His popular titles include “Todo un conflicto de sangre” (1946), “Los pájaros del sueño” (1957), “Plenilunio” (1947) and his renown collection of poems entitled “Onda” (1929).
LITERATURE FROM BELIZE (formerly British Honduras) -- English is official language -- many authors including the few listed below:
Zee Edgell -- woman author -- considered Belize’s principal contemporary writer -- works include: Beka Lamb; Festival of San Joaquin; and Time and the River.
Glen Godfrey -- The Sinner’s Bossanova
Felicia Hernandez -- works include: I Don’t Know You but I Love You; Those Ridiculous Years – A collection of Short Stories; Narenga; and Reflections.
George Seymour Gabb -- a playwright, a poet, a painter, and a famous sculptor -- wrote The Yellowtail (a play), and The Naked Eye (a collection of poems-proverbs).
James Sullivan Martinez -- poet -- Caribbean Jingles
Authors from http://thelatinoauthor.com/countries/literature, click on name of country -- often had to look up individual authors on the web to find titles of their works.
Remember to post the books you read on the GeoCAT wiki:
http://www.librarything.com/wiki/index.php/2016CC_GeoCAT#July
3sallylou61
THE CARIBBEAN
The Caribbean is a region that consists of the Caribbean Sea, its islands (some surrounded by the Caribbean Sea and some bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean), and the surrounding coasts. The region is southeast of the Gulf of Mexico and the North American mainland, east of Central America, and north of South America. The region comprises more than 700 islands, islets, reefs, and cays.
The Caribbean is a region that consists of the Caribbean Sea, its islands (some surrounded by the Caribbean Sea and some bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean), and the surrounding coasts. The region is southeast of the Gulf of Mexico and the North American mainland, east of Central America, and north of South America. The region comprises more than 700 islands, islets, reefs, and cays.
4sallylou61
LITERATURE OF THE CARIBBEAN: In the 1920s Spanish and French Caribbean writers began to break away from European ideals and to identify themselves with their fellow West Indians, most of whom were black. The leaders of this movement, mainly poets, were Luis Palés Matos (Puerto Rico), Jacques Roumain (Haiti), Nicolás Guillén (Cuba), Léon Damas (French Guiana), and Aimé Césaire (Martinique). Césaire wrote Cahier d’un retour au pays natal (Return to My Native Land).
BRITISH CARIBBEAN AUTHORS:
Vic Reid (Jamaica) wrote New Day
Samuel Selvon (Tridad) wrote: A Brighter Sun, and The Lonely Londoners
George Lamming (Barbados) wrote: In the Castle of My Skin
V.S. Naipaul (Trinidad) wrote:Mystic Masseur and A House for Mr. Biswas
Louise Bennett-Loverley (Jamaica) -- Poet -- wrote: Jamaica Labrish
C.L.R. James (Trinidad) wrote: The Future In the Present; Spheres of Existence; At the Rendezvous of Victory; and Cricket
Derek Walcott (St. Lucia) -- poet and playwright -- wrote epic, booklength poem: Omeros and the play: Dream of Monkey Mountain
Wilson Harris (Guyana) -- wrote numerous novels in addition to short stories, poetry, and nonfiction
Edward Brathwaite (born in Barbados)-- poet; wrote Rights of Passage; Masks; and Islands.
Source for much of the above information, especially names of authors: http://www.britannica.com/art/Caribbean-literature
CUBAN LITERATURE:
Alejo Carpentier -- novelist and musicologist -- one of best known works: El reino de este mundo (The Kingdom of This World)
Nicolas Guillen -- one of most important poets -- bilingual editions (Spanish and English) of his poems: Man-making Words: Selected Poems of Nicolas Guillén; and Nueva poesia de amor: En algun sitio de la primavera (New Love Poetry: In Some Springtime Place)
Guillermo Cabrera Infante -- novelist, essayist and screenwriter -- novelist, essayist and screenwriter -- most recognized novel: Tres Tristes Tigers (Three Trapped Tigers)
Daina Chaviano is a Cuban-American writer now living in the United States --considered one of the most notable women science fiction and fantasy authors that write in Spanish -- wrote The Island of Eternal Love.
Eliseo Alberto -- also wrote in exile -- one of his most important books: Caracol Beach.
Source: http://thelatinoauthor.com/countries/literature/cuban-authors/
LITERATURE OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC:
Friar Bartolome de Las Casa -- started a style of literary nostalgic writing called Indigenismo with his literary work entitled Apologetic Historias de Los Indios.
Hilma Contreras -- described as Dominican Republic’s best writer of short stories. She is the author of Facetas de la vida, Entre DOS Silencios, and other short stories.
Arambilet -- novelist, poet, screenwriter, painter, graphic artist and filmmaker -- won National Short Story Award for The Cayenne petals and National Novel Prize for Neguri's Secret.
source: http://thelatinoauthor.com/countries/literature/dominican-republic-authors-and-l....
and Wikipedia for more info about Arambilet
If you have additional information which you would like me to post, please send it to me on my profile page. Thanks.
Remember to post the books you read on the GeoCAT wiki:
http://www.librarything.com/wiki/index.php/2016CC_GeoCAT#July
BRITISH CARIBBEAN AUTHORS:
Vic Reid (Jamaica) wrote New Day
Samuel Selvon (Tridad) wrote: A Brighter Sun, and The Lonely Londoners
George Lamming (Barbados) wrote: In the Castle of My Skin
V.S. Naipaul (Trinidad) wrote:Mystic Masseur and A House for Mr. Biswas
Louise Bennett-Loverley (Jamaica) -- Poet -- wrote: Jamaica Labrish
C.L.R. James (Trinidad) wrote: The Future In the Present; Spheres of Existence; At the Rendezvous of Victory; and Cricket
Derek Walcott (St. Lucia) -- poet and playwright -- wrote epic, booklength poem: Omeros and the play: Dream of Monkey Mountain
Wilson Harris (Guyana) -- wrote numerous novels in addition to short stories, poetry, and nonfiction
Edward Brathwaite (born in Barbados)-- poet; wrote Rights of Passage; Masks; and Islands.
Source for much of the above information, especially names of authors: http://www.britannica.com/art/Caribbean-literature
CUBAN LITERATURE:
Alejo Carpentier -- novelist and musicologist -- one of best known works: El reino de este mundo (The Kingdom of This World)
Nicolas Guillen -- one of most important poets -- bilingual editions (Spanish and English) of his poems: Man-making Words: Selected Poems of Nicolas Guillén; and Nueva poesia de amor: En algun sitio de la primavera (New Love Poetry: In Some Springtime Place)
Guillermo Cabrera Infante -- novelist, essayist and screenwriter -- novelist, essayist and screenwriter -- most recognized novel: Tres Tristes Tigers (Three Trapped Tigers)
Daina Chaviano is a Cuban-American writer now living in the United States --considered one of the most notable women science fiction and fantasy authors that write in Spanish -- wrote The Island of Eternal Love.
Eliseo Alberto -- also wrote in exile -- one of his most important books: Caracol Beach.
Source: http://thelatinoauthor.com/countries/literature/cuban-authors/
LITERATURE OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC:
Friar Bartolome de Las Casa -- started a style of literary nostalgic writing called Indigenismo with his literary work entitled Apologetic Historias de Los Indios.
Hilma Contreras -- described as Dominican Republic’s best writer of short stories. She is the author of Facetas de la vida, Entre DOS Silencios, and other short stories.
Arambilet -- novelist, poet, screenwriter, painter, graphic artist and filmmaker -- won National Short Story Award for The Cayenne petals and National Novel Prize for Neguri's Secret.
source: http://thelatinoauthor.com/countries/literature/dominican-republic-authors-and-l....
and Wikipedia for more info about Arambilet
If you have additional information which you would like me to post, please send it to me on my profile page. Thanks.
Remember to post the books you read on the GeoCAT wiki:
http://www.librarything.com/wiki/index.php/2016CC_GeoCAT#July
5LibraryCin
Well, the one on my tbr that fits better, my library doesn't have. I have just requested it via ILL, but it's hard to say when it will arrive. If it comes in time, it's this book:
Jaguar: Struggle and Triumph in the Jungles of Belize / Alan Rabinowitz
If that doesn't come, this might be reaching, but the "Caribbean" and "Jamaica" tags are pretty large, so they must play a decent role, but this is the other option from my tbr:
Voyager / Diana Gabaldon
... which I would like to get to sometime soon.
Jaguar: Struggle and Triumph in the Jungles of Belize / Alan Rabinowitz
If that doesn't come, this might be reaching, but the "Caribbean" and "Jamaica" tags are pretty large, so they must play a decent role, but this is the other option from my tbr:
Voyager / Diana Gabaldon
... which I would like to get to sometime soon.
6VioletBramble
I'm planning to read The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway. It's set in Cuba.
7DeltaQueen50
I am planning on reading Growing Up Wild in Trinidad by Gervase M. Bushe, this will also be for my Commonwealth Challenge. I am also hoping to fit Untamed State by Roxane Gay which is set in Haiti.
8japaul22
I have Haitian author Edwidge Danticat's book The Farming of Bones on the TBR shelf. I've heard great things about her writing so I hope to give this a try in July.
9Kristelh
My plan is to read Annie John which I can get from library. Takes place on Antigua. Jamaica Kincaid is an Antiguan-American novelist, essayist, gardener, and gardening writer. She was born in St. John's, Antigua, which is part of the twin-island nation of Antigua and Barbuda. Another option This book is on the 1001 Book list. Another option Three Trapped Tigers by Guillermo Cabrera Infante (Cuba) and Small Island by Levy but this isn't a good choice as it starts in Jamaica and then immigrates to England.
Other options
In the Time of Butterflies Dominican Republic
Brother, I'm dying 813.54 immigration story of Haitians
The True History of Paradise, Jamiaca and The Pirate's Daughter by Margaret Cezair-Thompson
Captain of the Sleepers Mayra Montero
The House on the Lagoon
The Renunciation by Edgardo Rodriquez Julia (Unesco Collection of Representative Works)
The Rum Diaries by Hunter S. Thompson.
Other options
In the Time of Butterflies Dominican Republic
Brother, I'm dying 813.54 immigration story of Haitians
The True History of Paradise, Jamiaca and The Pirate's Daughter by Margaret Cezair-Thompson
Captain of the Sleepers Mayra Montero
The House on the Lagoon
The Renunciation by Edgardo Rodriquez Julia (Unesco Collection of Representative Works)
The Rum Diaries by Hunter S. Thompson.
10jeanned
This month I'll be going to Cuba with Beautiful Maria of My Soul by Oscar Hijuelos.
11Chrischi_HH
I'm planning to read In the Time of Butterflies by Julia Alvarez.
12cbl_tn
I plan to read A House for Mr. Biswas.
>8 japaul22: The Farming of Bones was one of my top reds two or three years ago!
>8 japaul22: The Farming of Bones was one of my top reds two or three years ago!
13-Eva-
I've ordered Before Night Falls (Cuba) for this CAT - I've seen the film, but really want to read the book as well.
14pamelad
I've just read Peacekeeping by Mischa Berlinski. It's set in Haiti. Ahead of schedule, but it's an ILL, so I couldn't predict when it would arrive.
15LibraryCin
Slipping Into Paradise: Why I Live in New Zealand / Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson
3.25 stars
Masson is an American who has chosen to live in New Zealand, after living in many other countries around the world. He loves his adopted country and is writing about it in this book. He has chapters on the history, the flora and fauna, some travels throughout the country, etc.
I've been wanting to see NZ since I was in high school. There were parts of the book I enjoyed (flora, fauna descriptions, in particular), but the travel section was very specific to places he has travelled to. That makes sense, I guess, but the chapter just didn't flow well, for me. Other than that, I do like his easy-to-read writing style. Some people seem to have taken offense to his political viewpoints, but I suppose I barely noticed, because I mostly agree.
3.25 stars
Masson is an American who has chosen to live in New Zealand, after living in many other countries around the world. He loves his adopted country and is writing about it in this book. He has chapters on the history, the flora and fauna, some travels throughout the country, etc.
I've been wanting to see NZ since I was in high school. There were parts of the book I enjoyed (flora, fauna descriptions, in particular), but the travel section was very specific to places he has travelled to. That makes sense, I guess, but the chapter just didn't flow well, for me. Other than that, I do like his easy-to-read writing style. Some people seem to have taken offense to his political viewpoints, but I suppose I barely noticed, because I mostly agree.
16leslie.98
I hope to read some poetry by Juan Ramon Jimenez -- though he was born in Spain, he lived in Puerto Rico for a long time and so could be considered a Caribbean author. I don't know about Central America yet but maybe a novel by Guatemalan author Miguel Angel Asturias...
17LisaMorr
I've got three possibilities from my shelves:
Captain Blood - takes place in Barbados and the Spanish Main
A Servant's Tale - beginning of the novel takes place on the fictional Caribbean island of San Pedro
Treasure Island - thought to be one of the British Virgin Islands
I'm leaning towards Treasure Island.
Captain Blood - takes place in Barbados and the Spanish Main
A Servant's Tale - beginning of the novel takes place on the fictional Caribbean island of San Pedro
Treasure Island - thought to be one of the British Virgin Islands
I'm leaning towards Treasure Island.
18leslie.98
>17 LisaMorr: I loved both Treasure Island and Captain Blood so hope you enjoy. In fact, maybe it would be a good time for me to reread Captain Blood...
19LisaMorr
>18 leslie.98: I finished Treasure Island today and definitely enjoyed it! Not sure how I missed it growing up - a very good pirate yarn!
Captain Blood was recommended by one of my work colleagues - always good to see another thumbs up here!
I'm on book #3 for this month already, so should be able fit another GeoCAT book in as well!
Captain Blood was recommended by one of my work colleagues - always good to see another thumbs up here!
I'm on book #3 for this month already, so should be able fit another GeoCAT book in as well!
20DeltaQueen50
I just finished An Untamed State by Roxane Gay and although this was a difficult read, it was also a five star read for me.
21LoisB
I fully intended to read A Brief History of Seven Killings for this challenge, but it is anything but brief. It is nearly 800 pages of difficult reading in various Jamaican dialects. I've been at it for over a week, and I'm convinced that I will not finish it this month. So, I did a complete turnaround from a Man Booker prize winner to a total cozy mystery fluff. Death by Deceit which takes place in Grenada is my substitute for this challenge.
22japaul22
I read The Farming of Bones by Haitian author Edwidge Danticat and loved it. It's about the Parsley Massacre, a massacre of Haitians living in the Dominican Republic by Trujillo's troops in the 1930s. It's called the Parsely Massacre because parsley is a word pronounced differently between Haitians and Dominicans and it was a way to tell them apart. Though the subject is grim, Danticat's writing keeps the book from being dreary.
23Kristelh
Read Annie John by Jamaica Kincaid, author born in Antigua and book set in Antigua.
24LibraryCin
About the last 1/3 or 1/4 of this book was set in the Caribbean. Both "Caribbean" and "Jamaica" are highly prominent tags for this book, so I've decided to count it (though if my ILL ever comes in, I will have a book that is set in Belize to read, as well).
Voyager / Diana Gabaldon
3.75 stars
This is the 3rd book in the series. I'm not sure I want to give too much away of the plot, as I don't want to ruin earlier books for anyone who hasn't yet read them. But... we start in the 1960s, then move to the 18th century after a bit, where Claire and Jamie are reunited after many years (I'm not considering this a spoiler because why would the series continue if they didn't manage to reunite!). From there, they have to relearn about each other in the midst of all kinds of other adventure and travel.
It was another enjoyable book in the series. They are so long (over 1000 pages), though, so what I found happened a few times for me, anyway, is when there was a character at the start of the book who returned later, I often didn't realize it just from the name, but needed more background info before the light came on! Despite the length, though, it was a “quick” read (for the length!), I thought, and certainly captivating.
Voyager / Diana Gabaldon
3.75 stars
This is the 3rd book in the series. I'm not sure I want to give too much away of the plot, as I don't want to ruin earlier books for anyone who hasn't yet read them. But... we start in the 1960s, then move to the 18th century after a bit, where Claire and Jamie are reunited after many years (I'm not considering this a spoiler because why would the series continue if they didn't manage to reunite!). From there, they have to relearn about each other in the midst of all kinds of other adventure and travel.
It was another enjoyable book in the series. They are so long (over 1000 pages), though, so what I found happened a few times for me, anyway, is when there was a character at the start of the book who returned later, I often didn't realize it just from the name, but needed more background info before the light came on! Despite the length, though, it was a “quick” read (for the length!), I thought, and certainly captivating.
25-Eva-
I just finished Reinaldo Arenas' Before Night Falls about his life in Cuba and it was partially very interesting, but didn't work completely for me.
26sallylou61
After doing the research concerning Central American and Caribbean literature to introduce this challenge, I ended up reading In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez, which several other people are reading. This is a novel about the Mirabel sisters, revolutionary sisters in the Dominican Republic who were killed by henchmen of the dictator Trujillo. They were referred to as Las Mariposas, which translates as the butterflies.
27DeltaQueen50
As I am going to be away for the next little while, I have posted the August GeoCat Thread a little early. It can be found Here
28jeanned
>21 LoisB: This explains why, having requested this book from the library in January, and with only 8 people in front of me, I have yet to make my way to the top of the list. After your input, I might not pick it up.
29Kristelh
I finished In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez, a story of the Mirabal sisters, revolutionaries in the Dominican Republic ruled by dictator Trujillo. The author's own family came to New York City as exiles from tyranny of Trujillo in 1960.
30VivienneR
I've been reading Bandits by Elmore Leonard that is supposed to be partly set in Nicaragua. I'm about two-thirds through the book and the story is still in New Orleans. Looks like I'll have to choose another, luckily there are lots to choose from.
31streamsong
I've just started listening to The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz. So far it's been background information about Trujillo and the Dominican Republic, but I know the title character also emigrates to the US, so I'll just have to see how it works.
>29 Kristelh: I really liked In the Time of the Butterflies when I read it a few years ago.
>29 Kristelh: I really liked In the Time of the Butterflies when I read it a few years ago.
32Kristelh
>31 streamsong:, I read The Brief Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao several years back and really liked it. That's why it was good to read In the Time of the Butterflies because is was another look at Trujillo. I also was taken with the idea of communism, Castro and the difference for citizens in the US who aren't drawn to communism. I never get it but this book helped a little in the light of such abuse of power. Of course, I believe communism is an abuse of power too.
33Chrischi_HH
I also finished In the Time of Butterflies by Julia Alvarez and can only recommend it. A great book, set in the Dominican Republic.
34MissWatson
I read El derecho de asilo by Cuban author Alejo Carpentier, a short novella about a civil servant who saves himself into the embassy of a neighbouring country when the army stages a coup and asks for political asylum. Two years later he has taken his host country's nationality and the ambassador's job, spending all this time in the ambassador's flat and watching the military dictatorship from his host's living room window as it unfolds as all these coups do. The countries are unnamed, it could be any of the Latin American states and statelets.
I didn't agree with all the translations offered by my bilingual edition, but I do love Carpentier's style and have already put in an order for one of his novels. I wish I had read this ages ago.
ETC
I didn't agree with all the translations offered by my bilingual edition, but I do love Carpentier's style and have already put in an order for one of his novels. I wish I had read this ages ago.
ETC
35VivienneR
After making a wrong choice (>30 VivienneR:) where the setting wasn't as expected, I finished The Dame by Richard Stark that is another hard-boiled crime novel, set in Puerto Rico. I didn't care much for it. If I have time I'll read Gutshot Straight by Louis Berney, set in Panama.
Note: interesting that the default touchstone for The Dame is Jane Eyre :)
Note: interesting that the default touchstone for The Dame is Jane Eyre :)
36LibraryCin
Jaguar: Struggle and Triumph in the Jungles of Belize / Alan Rabinowitz
4.5 stars
In the early/mid 1980s, Alan Rabinowitz went to Belize to study jaguars in the wild. He was the first to do so. He found not only was he studying the animals, he was making friends with and learning about the local Maya Indians, and having to plead a case to the Belizean government to protect the area. He spent two years there.
I really liked this. I love animals, so learning about the jaguars was always interesting. It's extra interesting to be able to see the patterns of individual animals, which these kinds of studies do. This also confirmed for me that there are risks (for both human and animal) in these kinds of studies. There were also plenty of frustrating parts where Alan was confronting hunters, marijuana growers, even some of the Maya (who see nothing wrong with shooting any animal, for whatever reason), and having to plead with the government over and over, etc. There are so many obstacles for these animals (and every other animal) to overcome. It can be frustrating and heartbreaking.
4.5 stars
In the early/mid 1980s, Alan Rabinowitz went to Belize to study jaguars in the wild. He was the first to do so. He found not only was he studying the animals, he was making friends with and learning about the local Maya Indians, and having to plead a case to the Belizean government to protect the area. He spent two years there.
I really liked this. I love animals, so learning about the jaguars was always interesting. It's extra interesting to be able to see the patterns of individual animals, which these kinds of studies do. This also confirmed for me that there are risks (for both human and animal) in these kinds of studies. There were also plenty of frustrating parts where Alan was confronting hunters, marijuana growers, even some of the Maya (who see nothing wrong with shooting any animal, for whatever reason), and having to plead with the government over and over, etc. There are so many obstacles for these animals (and every other animal) to overcome. It can be frustrating and heartbreaking.
37VivienneR
As mentioned above, I read a second for the category Gutshot Straight by Lou Berney and really enjoyed this crime caper set in Panama.
38MissWatson
Concierto barroco by Cuban author Alejo Carpentier is short, but not an easy read: he's on a par with Thomas Mann when it comes to piling subclause upon subclause. Still, it was worthwhile the effort.
It is the tale of a journey: a rich Mexican travels to Europe, makes a stopover in Havana where he loses his servant and picks up another, and finally arrives in Venice during the carnival, where he suddenly finds himself drinking with three famous composers: Händel, Scarlatti and Vivaldi. The Mexican, whose name we never learn, has chosen Montezuma as his costume and Vivaldi is so fascinated by the story that he decides to write an opera about it. When he attends the dress rehearsal, our Mexican is furious at the liberties taken with history and surprised at himself because he sides with the Aztecs in the opera. He considered himself a descendant of the hidalgos, yet now he finds himself emotionally drawn to the side of the losers, who are his countrymen.
There's a certain fantastical element in the long night of drinking and carousing, they sit next to the grave of Stravinsky (who is credited with the disparaging remark of Vivaldi having written the same concert six hundred times) and watch the coffin of Wagner being loaded into a boat. The language is difficult because it uses musical terminology a lot, and not all the allusions to other works are explained. But the conversation between the Mexican and Vivaldi about the opera was revelatory. Great stuff.
It is the tale of a journey: a rich Mexican travels to Europe, makes a stopover in Havana where he loses his servant and picks up another, and finally arrives in Venice during the carnival, where he suddenly finds himself drinking with three famous composers: Händel, Scarlatti and Vivaldi. The Mexican, whose name we never learn, has chosen Montezuma as his costume and Vivaldi is so fascinated by the story that he decides to write an opera about it. When he attends the dress rehearsal, our Mexican is furious at the liberties taken with history and surprised at himself because he sides with the Aztecs in the opera. He considered himself a descendant of the hidalgos, yet now he finds himself emotionally drawn to the side of the losers, who are his countrymen.
There's a certain fantastical element in the long night of drinking and carousing, they sit next to the grave of Stravinsky (who is credited with the disparaging remark of Vivaldi having written the same concert six hundred times) and watch the coffin of Wagner being loaded into a boat. The language is difficult because it uses musical terminology a lot, and not all the allusions to other works are explained. But the conversation between the Mexican and Vivaldi about the opera was revelatory. Great stuff.
