pickMario Vargas Llosa is an excellent author. The fact that it took 3 months for me to finish it should have no bearing on what a well-written book it is. The issue is with the lengthy paragraphs in extremely long chapters. It‘s not the type of book to sneak in a few pages when you can. You actually have to devote time to it. Peruvian Ricardo believes true peace will be his if he can just live his life in Paris. Spoiler: he does. As a child in ⬇️
Texreader Peru, Ricardo falls for a Chilean girl named Lilly in his school. Despite showing some interest in him, she remains an enigma and then just disappears. When he moves to Paris to become a translator for UNESCO, he encounters her as a recruit with a new name for the predecessor to the Shining Path. He realizes he‘s madly in love with his childhood crush. But he sends her on to Cuba for training. And over the years he encounters her repeatedly. ⬇️ (edited) 7d
Texreader Each time he meets her again, almost always by chance, she has a brand new name with a new husband who will make her richer than the previous husband. But that doesn‘t stop their affair and she remains a mystery throughout and he remains obsessed with her. She refuses to commit to him, because he cannot bring her riches; his happiness is just to live in Paris. Of course, things go terribly wrong for her. Ricardo‘s love is put to the ⬇️ (edited) 7d
Texreader test, and here we find just how far each will go to be true to themselves. Definitely worth the read, but be prepared to be dedicated to this book. Though a short 260-something pages, for a reader like me, it takes perseverance. No doubt I‘ll read more by this author. #foodandlit #Peru (edited) 7d
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