A collection of very short stories, all in some way inspired by “marciano“ a word that can either mean popsicle or Martian. In each the characters have extra-ordinary reactions to ordinary happenings. It is impressive how the author can evoke an entire story, completely unsettling the reader, in a few pages, but there is also a slight distance, such that any impressions left quickly melted away.
3.5⭐ #Peru
Huacos are potteries left in pre-Columbian burial sites, too often pillaged by Europeans “explorers“ and “archeologists“ such as the author's great-grandfather. Gabriela Wiener does not look like her French/Austrian ancestor: her face is reminiscent of huacos, in colour & features. In this autofiction, she writes about family & world history, her personal life, relationships, racism, colourism, decolonialism & sex.
Your cup of coffee or glass of rum must taste better, the smoke of your cigar, a swim in the ocean on a hot day, the movie you see on Saturday, the merengue on the radio, everything must leave a more pleasurable sensation in your body and spirit when you had what Trujillo had taken away from Dominicans thirty-one years ago: free will. #readingtheamericas2023 #dominicanrepublic
It had been this malaise of so many years‘ duration - thinking one thing and doing something that contradicted it every day - that led him, in the secret recesses of his mind, to condemn Trujillo to death, to convince himself that as long as Trujillo lived, he and many other Dominicans would be condemned to this awful queasy sickness of constantly having to lie to themselves and deceive everyone else…#readingtheamericas2023 #dominicanrepublic
I didn‘t get close to finishing #readingtheamericas2023, but I want to continue it, so I‘ll be #readingtheamericas in 2024 as well. I‘ll be using the books in the Around the World in 80 Books challenge on Goodreads as well. Anyone else still #readingtheamericas in 2024? @BarbaraBB @Librarybelle thanks for hosting and have a good time #readingoceania2024!
Very interesting depictions of South America just before the millennium. Also good if you like motorcycles.
I really enjoyed this book about a family, traveling around the world. Many of the places they visit I‘ve been myself too and I could easily identify with them. The places I didn‘t visit, I now want to go as well!
I also enjoyed the family dynamics. Fun read that I‘ll be using for #ReadingThe Americas23 #Peru and #FoodAndLit #Chile. 🇵🇪 🇨🇱
Thanks for the recommendation Meg 🤍