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氐丿丕蹖 丕賮鬲丕丿賳 丕卮蹖丕
亘爻蹖丕乇蹖 賲賳鬲賯丿丕賳 丕賲乇賵夭 賲蹖鈥屭堐屬嗀� 芦蹖讴貙 丿賵貙 爻賴禄 丕丿亘蹖丕鬲 禺賵丕賳丿賳蹖 丌賲乇蹖讴丕蹖 賱丕鬲蹖賳 亘賴鈥屫必屫� 夭賲丕賳蹖 芦氐丿 爻丕賱 鬲賳賴丕蹖蹖禄 賳賵卮鬲賴鈥屰� 诏丕亘乇蹖賱 诏丕乇爻蹖丕 賲丕乇讴夭貙 芦鄄鄱鄱鄱禄 賳賵卮鬲賴鈥屰� 乇賵亘乇鬲賵 亘賵賱丕賳蹖賵 賵 芦氐丿丕蹖 丕賮鬲丕丿賳 丕卮蹖丕禄 賳賵卮鬲賴鈥屰� 禺賵丌賳 诏丕亘乇蹖賱 賵丕爻讴爻 丕爻鬲. 氐丿 爻丕賱 鬲賳賴丕蹖蹖 亘丕 乇賴鈥屫①勠屫迟� 噩丕丿賵蹖蹖貙 鄄鄱鄱鄱 亘丕 乇賴鈥屫①勠屫迟� 丿乇賵賳鈥屭必� 賵 氐丿丕蹖 丕賮鬲丕丿賳 丕卮蹖丕 亘丕 爻賵倬乇乇賴鈥屫①勠屫迟� 賳卅賵賳丕鬲賵乇丕賱蹖爻鬲蹖 亘賴 賲賵囟賵毓蹖 噩賴丕賳蹖 賲蹖鈥屬矩必ж操嗀�. 賲賵囟賵毓 氐丿 爻丕賱 鬲賳賴丕蹖蹖 賵乇賵丿 亘丨乇丕賳 賵 賲賵丕噩賴賴 亘丕 亘丨乇丕賳貙 賲賵囟賵毓 鄄鄱鄱鄱 噩賴丕賳蹖鈥屫池ж槽� 賵 爻乇賲丕蹖賴鈥屫ж臂� 賮賵賯 倬蹖卮鈥屫辟佖� 賵 賲賵囟賵毓 氐丿丕蹖 丕賮鬲丕丿賳 丕卮蹖丕 氐丿賵乇 賴賲鈥屫操呚з� 亘丨乇丕賳 賵 亘丨乇丕賳鈥屫藏з� 丕爻鬲. 讴鬲丕亘 氐丿丕蹖 丕賮鬲丕丿賳 丕卮蹖丕 丿乇 乇賵丕蹖鬲蹖 亘爻蹖丕乇 爻賳噩蹖丿賴 賵 丿賯蹖賯 亘丿賵賳 賴蹖趩鈥屭堎嗁� 噩賴鬲鈥屭屫臂� 丨賯丕蹖賯蹖 乇丕 丿乇亘丕乇賴鈥屰� 賵囟毓蹖鬲 蹖讴 賳賮乇 讴賱賲亘蹖丕蹖蹖 丕賲乇賵夭 亘蹖丕賳 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗀� 賵 趩賳丕賳 乇賵丕蹖鬲 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗀� 讴賴 賳賲蹖鈥屫促堌� 噩賱賵 丿蹖丿诏丕賴 讴鬲丕亘 噩亘賴賴 诏乇賮鬲. 賲爻丕蹖賱 讴賱丕賳蹖 丕夭 賯亘蹖賱 氐丿賵乇 亘丨乇丕賳 丕夭 丌賲乇蹖讴丕 亘賴 讴賱賲亘蹖丕 丿乇 丿賴賴鈥屰� 卮氐鬲 丿乇 賯丕賱亘 讴賲讴鈥屬囏й� 丕賳爻丕賳鈥屫堌池з嗁� (賵 囟賲賳丕賸 氐丿賵乇 亘丨乇丕賳鈥屫藏団€屬囏� 亘賴鈥屬嗀з� 爻倬丕賴 氐賱丨 賵 賳蹖乇賵賴丕蹖 賲乇丿賲蹖) 賵 賯丕趩丕賯 賲賵丕丿 賲禺丿乇 趩賳丕賳 亘丕 賲爻丕蹖賱 丿乇賵賳蹖 賵 乇賵丕亘胤 丕賳爻丕賳蹖 丿乇 賴賲 丌賲蹖禺鬲賴 讴賴 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 鬲賵丕賳爻鬲賴 亘賴鈥屫堌ㄛ� 禺胤賵胤 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 禺賵丿 乇丕 倬蹖卮 亘亘乇丿 賵 禺賵丕賳賳丿賴 乇丕 丿乇 爻胤賵丨 賲禺鬲賱賮 亘丕 賱丕蹖賴鈥屬囏й� 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 禺賵丿 丿乇诏蹖乇 讴賳丿. 賮囟丕爻丕夭蹖鈥屬囏й� 亘爻蹖丕乇 丿賯蹖賯貙 卮禺氐蹖鬲鈥屬囏й� 賵丕賯毓蹖 (爻賵倬乇乇賴鈥屫①勠屫迟�) 賵 丕丨爻丕爻丕鬲 丿乇賵賳蹖 賴乇 丕賳爻丕賳 亘乇丕爻丕爻 卮禺氐蹖鬲鈥屫ж簇� 鬲讴賳蹖讴 禺丕氐 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 丿乇 鬲睾蹖蹖乇 乇丕賵蹖 賵 乇賵丕蹖鬲 賵 亘爻蹖丕乇蹖 賳讴丕鬲 賲賳丨氐乇亘賴鈥屬佖必� 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 賲賵噩亘 卮丿賴 噩賵丕蹖夭蹖 丕夭 賯亘蹖賱 蹖讴蹖 丕夭 賲賴賲鈥屫臂屬� 噩丕蹖夭賴鈥屬囏й� 丕丿亘蹖丕鬲 丌賲乇蹖讴丕蹖 賱丕鬲蹖賳 賵 丕爻倬丕賳蹖丕 (丌賱賮丕诏賵丌乇丕貙 鄄郯郾郾) 乇丕 丿乇蹖丕賮鬲 讴賳丿 賵 丿乇 爻丕賱 鄄郯郾鄞 亘夭乇诏鈥屫臂屬� 噩丕蹖夭賴鈥屰� 丕丿亘蹖丕鬲 噩賴丕賳 亘賴鈥屬勜ж� 賲亘賱睾 (噩丕蹖夭賴鈥屰� 亘蹖賳鈥屫з勝呝勝勠� 丿賵亘賱蹖賳) 亘賴 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 丿丕丿賴 卮賵丿. 賲丨囟 丕胤賱丕毓 丌賳鈥屬囏� 讴賴 丕蹖賳鈥屬傌ㄛ屬� 丕禺亘丕乇 乇丕 賲蹖鈥屬矩迟嗀嗀� 丕夭噩賲賱賴 噩賵丕蹖夭 丿蹖诏乇蹖 讴賴 亘賴 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 丿丕丿賴鈥屫з嗀� 噩丕蹖夭賴鈥屰� 丕賳噩賲賳 賯賱賲 丕賳诏賱爻鬲丕賳 (鄄郯郾鄄)貙 噩丕蹖夭賴鈥屰� 乇賵跇賴 讴丕蹖賵丕 (鄄郯郾鄄) 賵 噩丕蹖夭賴鈥屰� 诏乇賴鈥屭堌� 賮賵賳 乇鬲爻賵乇蹖 (鄄郯郾鄢) 丕爻鬲. 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 亘賴 夭亘丕賳鈥屬囏й� 亘爻蹖丕乇 (丿爻鬲鈥屭┵� 賴噩丿賴 夭亘丕賳 鬲丕讴賳賵賳) 鬲乇噩賲賴 卮丿賴 丕爻鬲.
亘乇丕蹖 丌卮賳丕蹖蹖 亘丕 賳孬乇 賵 賲鬲賳 讴鬲丕亘 亘禺卮 讴賵趩讴蹖 丕夭 賮蹖賳丕賱賴鈥屰� 賮氐賱 丕賵賱 乇丕 亘禺賵丕賳蹖丿:
...丕夭 丿賵 讴賵趩賴 诏匕卮鬲蹖賲 亘蹖鈥屫①嗏€屭┵� 讴賱丕賲蹖 丨乇賮 亘夭賳蹖賲. 賳诏丕賴鈥屬呚з� 亘賴 爻賳诏鈥屬佖必� 鬲乇讴鈥屫堌必団€屰� 倬蹖丕丿賴鈥屫辟� 亘賵丿 蹖丕 亘賴 鬲倬賴鈥屬囏й� 爻亘夭 爻蹖乇 丿乇 丿賵乇丿爻鬲 讴賴 丿乇禺鬲丕賳 卅賵讴丕賱蹖倬鬲賵爻 賵 鬲蹖乇讴鈥屬囏й� 鬲賱賴鈥屬佡堎嗀� 賲孬賱 賮賱爻鈥屬囏й� 鬲賲爻丕丨 禺蹖賱丕貙 亘乇 丌賳鈥屬囏� 丿蹖丿賴 賲蹖鈥屫簇�. 賵賯鬲蹖 賵丕乇丿 卮丿蹖賲 賵 丕夭 倬賱賴鈥屬囏й� 爻賳诏蹖 亘丕賱丕 乇賮鬲蹖賲 賱丕賵乇丿賴 倬丕 爻爻鬲 讴乇丿 讴賴 賲賳 倬蹖卮 亘乇賵賲. 丕賵賱蹖賳鈥屫ㄘж� 亘賵丿 賴賲鈥屭嗁� 噩丕蹖蹖 賲蹖鈥屫①呚� 賵 賲禺鬲氐丕鬲 乇賮鬲丕乇 賲鬲賳丕爻亘 乇丕 賳賲蹖鈥屫з嗀池�. 鬲乇丿蹖丿卮 亘賴 鬲乇丿蹖丿 丨蹖賵丕賳蹖 賲蹖鈥屬呚з嗀池� 讴賴 丿乇 賲賵賯毓蹖鬲蹖 禺胤乇賳丕讴 诏乇賮鬲丕乇 卮丿賴 亘丕卮丿. 丿乇 丕鬲丕賯 賲亘賱賴 丿賵 丿丕賳卮鈥屫①呝堌� 丿亘蹖乇爻鬲丕賳蹖貙 丿賵 賳賵噩賵丕賳 讴賴 亘丕賴賲 趩蹖夭蹖 賲蹖鈥屫促嗃屫嗀� 賵 诏丕賴鈥屭з� 亘賴 賴賲 賳诏丕賴 賲蹖鈥屭┴必嗀� 賵 賴乇夭賴 賲蹖鈥屫嗀屫嗀� 賵 賲乇丿蹖 亘丕 讴鬲鈥屬堌促勝堌ж� 賵 讴乇丕賵丕鬲 賵 讴蹖賮鈥屫池� 趩乇賲蹖 乇賳诏鈥屬堌辟堌辟佖� 亘乇 夭丕賳賵丕賳鈥屫ж� 丿蹖丿蹖賲 讴賴 亘蹖鈥屫簇辟呚з嗁� 禺乇賵倬賮 賲蹖鈥屭┴必�. 禺賵丕爻鬲賴鈥屬呚з� 乇丕 亘乇丕蹖 夭賳 倬卮鬲 賲蹖夭 鬲賵囟蹖丨 丿丕丿賲. 賴賵蹖丿丕 亘賵丿 夭賳 亘賴 丿乇禺賵丕爻鬲鈥屬囏й� 毓噩蹖亘蹖 丕夭丕蹖賳鈥屫池� 毓丕丿鬲 丿丕乇丿. 趩卮賲 乇蹖夭 讴乇丿 亘賱鈥屭┵� 賲賳 乇丕 亘卮賳丕爻丿 蹖丕 賲鬲賵噩賴 卮丿 倬蹖卮鈥屫� 亘丕乇賴丕 丌賳鈥屫� 丌賲丿賴鈥屫з� 賵 亘毓丿 丿爻鬲鈥屫ж� 乇丕 倬蹖卮 丌賵乇丿 賵 诏賮鬲:
芦毓乇囟 讴賳賲 讴賴... 趩蹖 賲蹖鈥屫堌й屬� 诏賵卮 亘丿蹖賳責禄
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亘乇丕蹖 丌卮賳丕蹖蹖 亘丕 賳孬乇 賵 賲鬲賳 讴鬲丕亘 亘禺卮 讴賵趩讴蹖 丕夭 賮蹖賳丕賱賴鈥屰� 賮氐賱 丕賵賱 乇丕 亘禺賵丕賳蹖丿:
...丕夭 丿賵 讴賵趩賴 诏匕卮鬲蹖賲 亘蹖鈥屫①嗏€屭┵� 讴賱丕賲蹖 丨乇賮 亘夭賳蹖賲. 賳诏丕賴鈥屬呚з� 亘賴 爻賳诏鈥屬佖必� 鬲乇讴鈥屫堌必団€屰� 倬蹖丕丿賴鈥屫辟� 亘賵丿 蹖丕 亘賴 鬲倬賴鈥屬囏й� 爻亘夭 爻蹖乇 丿乇 丿賵乇丿爻鬲 讴賴 丿乇禺鬲丕賳 卅賵讴丕賱蹖倬鬲賵爻 賵 鬲蹖乇讴鈥屬囏й� 鬲賱賴鈥屬佡堎嗀� 賲孬賱 賮賱爻鈥屬囏й� 鬲賲爻丕丨 禺蹖賱丕貙 亘乇 丌賳鈥屬囏� 丿蹖丿賴 賲蹖鈥屫簇�. 賵賯鬲蹖 賵丕乇丿 卮丿蹖賲 賵 丕夭 倬賱賴鈥屬囏й� 爻賳诏蹖 亘丕賱丕 乇賮鬲蹖賲 賱丕賵乇丿賴 倬丕 爻爻鬲 讴乇丿 讴賴 賲賳 倬蹖卮 亘乇賵賲. 丕賵賱蹖賳鈥屫ㄘж� 亘賵丿 賴賲鈥屭嗁� 噩丕蹖蹖 賲蹖鈥屫①呚� 賵 賲禺鬲氐丕鬲 乇賮鬲丕乇 賲鬲賳丕爻亘 乇丕 賳賲蹖鈥屫з嗀池�. 鬲乇丿蹖丿卮 亘賴 鬲乇丿蹖丿 丨蹖賵丕賳蹖 賲蹖鈥屬呚з嗀池� 讴賴 丿乇 賲賵賯毓蹖鬲蹖 禺胤乇賳丕讴 诏乇賮鬲丕乇 卮丿賴 亘丕卮丿. 丿乇 丕鬲丕賯 賲亘賱賴 丿賵 丿丕賳卮鈥屫①呝堌� 丿亘蹖乇爻鬲丕賳蹖貙 丿賵 賳賵噩賵丕賳 讴賴 亘丕賴賲 趩蹖夭蹖 賲蹖鈥屫促嗃屫嗀� 賵 诏丕賴鈥屭з� 亘賴 賴賲 賳诏丕賴 賲蹖鈥屭┴必嗀� 賵 賴乇夭賴 賲蹖鈥屫嗀屫嗀� 賵 賲乇丿蹖 亘丕 讴鬲鈥屬堌促勝堌ж� 賵 讴乇丕賵丕鬲 賵 讴蹖賮鈥屫池� 趩乇賲蹖 乇賳诏鈥屬堌辟堌辟佖� 亘乇 夭丕賳賵丕賳鈥屫ж� 丿蹖丿蹖賲 讴賴 亘蹖鈥屫簇辟呚з嗁� 禺乇賵倬賮 賲蹖鈥屭┴必�. 禺賵丕爻鬲賴鈥屬呚з� 乇丕 亘乇丕蹖 夭賳 倬卮鬲 賲蹖夭 鬲賵囟蹖丨 丿丕丿賲. 賴賵蹖丿丕 亘賵丿 夭賳 亘賴 丿乇禺賵丕爻鬲鈥屬囏й� 毓噩蹖亘蹖 丕夭丕蹖賳鈥屫池� 毓丕丿鬲 丿丕乇丿. 趩卮賲 乇蹖夭 讴乇丿 亘賱鈥屭┵� 賲賳 乇丕 亘卮賳丕爻丿 蹖丕 賲鬲賵噩賴 卮丿 倬蹖卮鈥屫� 亘丕乇賴丕 丌賳鈥屫� 丌賲丿賴鈥屫з� 賵 亘毓丿 丿爻鬲鈥屫ж� 乇丕 倬蹖卮 丌賵乇丿 賵 诏賮鬲:
芦毓乇囟 讴賳賲 讴賴... 趩蹖 賲蹖鈥屫堌й屬� 诏賵卮 亘丿蹖賳責禄
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251 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2011
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About the author
Juan Gabriel V谩squez
68听books1,351听followersJuan Gabriel V谩squez is a Colombian writer, journalist and translator. Regarded as one of the most important Latin American novelists working today, he is the author of seven novels, two volumes of stories and two books of literary essays, as well as hundreds of pages of political commentary.
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October 28, 2023
The things that fall in The Sound of Things Falling are crashing planes and dead bodies鈥�
There is a protagonist who recalls the past right from his first days of teaching鈥�
And there is a man who became his curse鈥� A hoodoo who has crucially changed his entire life鈥�
There are those who twist their fate themselves and there are those whose life is mangled by a sudden twist of fate.
There is a protagonist who recalls the past right from his first days of teaching鈥�
There, standing in front of a wooden lectern, facing rows and rows of baby-faced and disoriented boys and impressionable, wide-eyed girls, I received my first lessons on the nature of power. I was barely eight years older than these inexperienced students, but between us opened the double abyss of authority and knowledge, things that I had and they, recently arrived in the world, entirely lacked.
And there is a man who became his curse鈥� A hoodoo who has crucially changed his entire life鈥�
What I do remember about that day is that he didn鈥檛 strike me as intimidating: he was so thin that he seemed taller than he actually was, and you had to see him standing beside a cue to see that he was barely five foot seven; his thin mousy hair and his dried-out skin and his long, dirty nails gave an impression of illness or laziness, like land gone to waste. He鈥檇 just turned forty-eight, but he looked much older.
There are those who twist their fate themselves and there are those whose life is mangled by a sudden twist of fate.
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April 3, 2024
If The Sound of Things Falling, Juan Gabriel V谩squez's novel filled with sadness and beauty, were ever made into a film, Edward Elgar's Elegy for String Orchestra would make the perfect theme music.
The Colombian author told an interviewer he was stuck writing his story with allusions to Pablo Escobar and the drug world but then he read a newspaper article about an escaped hippopotamus from the zoo built by the cocaine king during the mid-1980s when Don Pablo enjoyed phenomenal wealth and power. Reflecting on the tragic incident proved the necessary impetus needed to finish his work. Appropriately, the novel opens with these lines:
"The first hippopotamus, a male the color of black pearls, weighing a ton and a half, was shot dead in the middle of 2009. He'd escaped two years before from Pablo Escobar's old zoo in the Magdalena Valley, and during that time of freedom had destroyed crops, invaded drinking troughs, terrified fishermen, and even attacked the breeding bulls at a cattle ranch."
The tale's narrator, Antonio Yammara, professor of law living in Bogot谩, Colombia and rapidly approaching his fortieth birthday, recounts the critical events causing his life to take a dramatic shift, events occurring back when he was in his mid-20s, beginning when he struck up an acquaintance with an older man by the name of Ricardo Laverde.
The Sound of Things Falling is a novel so masterfully well-constructed in its interconnecting past and present, the lives of its characters and their families, historical events in Colombia and the United States, as reviewer, I'm hesitant to reveal too much thus depriving readers of all the many fresh discoveries and revelations made when turning the pages.
Therefore, rather than arc of plot, I'll turn the spotlight on a number of themes that contribute to making this one riveting, heartfelt story.
Personal Transformation - "I didn't yet know that an old Polish novelist had spoken a long time before of the shadow-line, that moment when a young man becomes the proprietor of his own life, but that was what I was feeling while my little girl was growing inside Aura's womb." So reflects Antonio when he joins dear wife Aura at the hospital for her ultrasound and he becomes fully aware he is now the proud father of a baby girl. At this point, little does Antonio Yammara realize his life will shortly undergo irreparable damage, that he will become the victim of extreme violence, caught in the crossfire of a drug gang's turf war.
And, of course, that Polish novelist is none other than Joseph Conrad. Prior to writing The Sound, Juan Gabriel V谩squez published his The Secret History of Costaguana, a novel playing off of Conrad's masterpiece, Nostromo. Also worth noting, The Sound is decidedly not a work of Latin American magical realism a la his fellow countryman Gabriel Garc铆a M谩rquez but rather a tale of stark realism, for as the author has stated repeatedly, his literary influences have been European and American.
Multigenerational Identity - "But if you really want to know who Ricardo Laverde was, start there." Laverde's daughter Maya invites Antonio to read a magazine article about the time Ricardo's father, still a boy, joined his father (Ricardo's grandfather), a pilot, a much decorated hero of Colombia's Air Force, at a 1938 air show that unraveled into disaster.
Appreciating and understanding individual identity as part of an intergenerational fabric is very much within the Latin American tradition, much different than in countries like the US where the tendency is to separate, to pull away from one's family history in order to establish an independent, individual identity.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - Following the burst of violence on that fateful day on a street in downtown Bogot谩, Antonio's life dips and dips again, leading him to a psychiatrist and eventually to wife Aura giving him a gift "for the both of us." A gift, really? Antonio opens the small package - a purple vibrator or what in Spanish is called a consolador. Antonio's sense of self-worth takes another nosedive.
Pablo Escobar & His Zoo - Like a stone dropped in a pond, the consequences of Don Pablo's cocaine kingdom and the subsequent war on drugs ripple out, touching Colombians for years, for generations. Antonio and Maya visit the former drug lord's now dilapidated zoo, their visit symbolic of much of grim post-Escobar Colombia: "The humid air filled with a dirty smell, a mixture of excrement and rotting food. We saw a cheetah lying at the back of its cage. We saw a chimpanzee scratching its head and another running in circles with nothing to chase. We saw an empty cage, the door open and an aluminum basin leaning against the bars."
The Power of Myth - Frequently men and women will address one another or speak of one another using both first and last names. Reading the novel and listening to the audio book over and over, I had the distinct impression such formality bestows a mythic, archetypal dimension to the tale, very much in the spirit of Ernest Hemingway's use of thee and thou in For Whom the Bell Tolls. For, as Antonio states, his story is one where "as they warn in fairy tales, has happened before and will happen again."
The Sound of Things Falling - The novel's title works on multiple levels: disillusion and dissolving of hopes, of dreams, even the expunging of life, an individual's life as well as the vital life of a nation. Since precise language fuels Juan Gabriel V谩squez's saga (special call-out to Anne McLean's superb English translation), it's only fair I allow the author to have the last word - this from Antonio's memory listening to a Black Box recording of a plane crash:
"There is a faltering scream, or something that sounds like a scream. There is a sound that I cannot or have never been able to identify: a sound that's not human or is more than human, the sound of lives being extinguished but also the sound of material things breaking. It's the sound of things falling from on high, an interrupted and somehow also eternal sound, a sound that didn't ever end, that kept ringing in my head from that very afternoon and still shows no sign of wanting to leave it, that is forever suspended in my memory, hanging in it like a towel on a hook. That sound is the last thing heard in the cockpit of Flight 965."
Colombian author Juan Gabriel V谩squez, born 1973
August 23, 2024
IL LAVORO SPORCO DELL鈥橧O
Le cose che cadono introdotte dal titolo sono un aereo passeggeri, uno di quelli grossi e affollati, che prima dell鈥檃tterraggio a Cal矛 (Colombia) esplode perch茅 Pablo Escobar vuole eliminare un avversario (uno dei pochi politici che non era riuscito a comprare).
Si pu貌 immaginare il rumore che fece cadendo.
Ma dal cielo, quello dell鈥檌nnocenza, cade anche Ricardo Laverde, pilota di aerei che voleva compiere imprese eroiche come il nonno militare, e finisce invece per vent鈥檃nni in una prigione USA.
Da quel cielo d鈥檌nnocenza cade anche Elaine Fritts, che di Ricardo s鈥檌nnamor貌 e Ricardo spos貌 e a Ricardo diede una figlia: arrivata in Colombia giovanissima come volontaria dei Peace Corps fin矛 col legarsi ai trafficanti, ai suoi stessi colleghi che per aiutare i contadini insegnavano la coltivazione della marijuana aprendo cos矛 la strada a Escobar (convinti, come possono esserlo solo due nuovi amanti, che dire quel che si vuole sia come dire quel che si 猫.)
L鈥檌ngresso della Hacienda Napoles, residenza di Pablo Escobar.
Le cose che cadono sono le vite che precipitano, spariscono nel nulla, e fanno rumore, probabilmente un ronzio simile a quello delle api che Maya coltiva a La Dorada (ero sola, ero rimasta sola, non c鈥檈ra pi霉 nessuno tra me e la morte. Essere orfani 猫 questo: non c鈥櫭� nessuno davanti, si 猫 prossimi in linea di successione. Il prossimo turno tocca a noi.)
A cucire tutto, Antonio, il protagonista, che parte da una storia privata, la sua, risale nel tempo, e va a incrociarsi con la storia pubblica.
La storia diventa la Storia. (mi stupiva con quanto accanimento frughiamo nei ricordi, esercizio dannoso che non ci porta niente di buono e che serve solo a renderci impacciati, come quei sacchetti di sabbia che gli atleti si legano intorno ai polpacci per allenarsi.)
Il volo Aviana 203 era un volo nazionale partito dall鈥檃eroporto di Bogot谩-El Dorado diretto all鈥檃eroporto Alfondo Bonilla Arag贸n di Cal矛, Colombia: il 27 novembre 1989 un ordigno esplose 5 minuti dopo il decollo. La bomba piazzata vicino ai serbatoi del carburante esplose incendiando i vapori di carburante presenti in un serbatoio vuoto. L'esplosione divise l'aereo in due parti: la punta dalla coda, e le due sezioni caddero a terra in fiamme. Tutti i 107 passeggeri morirono nell'esplosione e altre 3 persone vennero uccise dai detriti caduti a terra. Secondo le investigazioni la bomba fu caricata all'interno dell'aereo da un uomo in giacca e cravatta, il quale era riuscito a portare la bomba all'interno della propria valigetta. Il candidato presidente C茅sar Gaviria, che Escobar voleva eliminare, non era per貌 salito sull鈥檃ereo.
Tutte queste storie, grazie al notevole talento narrativo di Juan Gabriel Vasquez, per me bellissima scoperta di quest鈥檃nno (insieme al suo conterraneo Santiago Gamboa), scaturiscono una dall鈥檃ltra come acqua di fonte, in modo naturale, fresco, pressoch茅 spontaneo, crescono, diventano narrazione collettiva, una storia genera l鈥檃ltra, gemmazione affabulatoria.
Pablo Escobar e il figlio Juan Pablo.
Gli US sono i pi霉 grandi consumatori di droga del mondo. E cos矛, quando Nixon per combatterne il traffico decide di chiudere la frontiera col Messico, i consumatori non fanno altro che rivolgersi a nuovi mercati, pi霉 a sud: la Colombia che allora si limitava a lavorare la cocaina coltivata in Per霉 e Bolivia cambia la sua storia e diventa teatro di guerra quotidiana tra polizia, narcos, terrorismo, politici, per lo pi霉 sommersi da dollari e immersi nella corruzione. La vita in Colombia diventa un rischio quotidiano, un pericolo 24/7, la tensione 猫 altissima, sfibrante, deformante. Escobar diventa uno dei cinque uomini pi霉 ricchi del mondo (entrando nella lista di Forbes), il suo zoo 猫 attrazione nazionale, e trasmette una lezione che 猫 tuttora difficile contraddire: il rispetto della legge 猫 il pi霉 grande ostacolo per la felicit脿 (Gabriel Garcia Marquez).
Antonio incontra Maya, una donna che al bacio rivela un fiato pulito e stanco, un fiato da fine giornata, e non credo si possa dire meglio l鈥檃more arrivato tardi.
Copertina
Le cose che cadono introdotte dal titolo sono un aereo passeggeri, uno di quelli grossi e affollati, che prima dell鈥檃tterraggio a Cal矛 (Colombia) esplode perch茅 Pablo Escobar vuole eliminare un avversario (uno dei pochi politici che non era riuscito a comprare).
Si pu貌 immaginare il rumore che fece cadendo.
Ma dal cielo, quello dell鈥檌nnocenza, cade anche Ricardo Laverde, pilota di aerei che voleva compiere imprese eroiche come il nonno militare, e finisce invece per vent鈥檃nni in una prigione USA.
Da quel cielo d鈥檌nnocenza cade anche Elaine Fritts, che di Ricardo s鈥檌nnamor貌 e Ricardo spos貌 e a Ricardo diede una figlia: arrivata in Colombia giovanissima come volontaria dei Peace Corps fin矛 col legarsi ai trafficanti, ai suoi stessi colleghi che per aiutare i contadini insegnavano la coltivazione della marijuana aprendo cos矛 la strada a Escobar (convinti, come possono esserlo solo due nuovi amanti, che dire quel che si vuole sia come dire quel che si 猫.)
L鈥檌ngresso della Hacienda Napoles, residenza di Pablo Escobar.
Le cose che cadono sono le vite che precipitano, spariscono nel nulla, e fanno rumore, probabilmente un ronzio simile a quello delle api che Maya coltiva a La Dorada (ero sola, ero rimasta sola, non c鈥檈ra pi霉 nessuno tra me e la morte. Essere orfani 猫 questo: non c鈥櫭� nessuno davanti, si 猫 prossimi in linea di successione. Il prossimo turno tocca a noi.)
A cucire tutto, Antonio, il protagonista, che parte da una storia privata, la sua, risale nel tempo, e va a incrociarsi con la storia pubblica.
La storia diventa la Storia. (mi stupiva con quanto accanimento frughiamo nei ricordi, esercizio dannoso che non ci porta niente di buono e che serve solo a renderci impacciati, come quei sacchetti di sabbia che gli atleti si legano intorno ai polpacci per allenarsi.)
Il volo Aviana 203 era un volo nazionale partito dall鈥檃eroporto di Bogot谩-El Dorado diretto all鈥檃eroporto Alfondo Bonilla Arag贸n di Cal矛, Colombia: il 27 novembre 1989 un ordigno esplose 5 minuti dopo il decollo. La bomba piazzata vicino ai serbatoi del carburante esplose incendiando i vapori di carburante presenti in un serbatoio vuoto. L'esplosione divise l'aereo in due parti: la punta dalla coda, e le due sezioni caddero a terra in fiamme. Tutti i 107 passeggeri morirono nell'esplosione e altre 3 persone vennero uccise dai detriti caduti a terra. Secondo le investigazioni la bomba fu caricata all'interno dell'aereo da un uomo in giacca e cravatta, il quale era riuscito a portare la bomba all'interno della propria valigetta. Il candidato presidente C茅sar Gaviria, che Escobar voleva eliminare, non era per貌 salito sull鈥檃ereo.
Tutte queste storie, grazie al notevole talento narrativo di Juan Gabriel Vasquez, per me bellissima scoperta di quest鈥檃nno (insieme al suo conterraneo Santiago Gamboa), scaturiscono una dall鈥檃ltra come acqua di fonte, in modo naturale, fresco, pressoch茅 spontaneo, crescono, diventano narrazione collettiva, una storia genera l鈥檃ltra, gemmazione affabulatoria.
Pablo Escobar e il figlio Juan Pablo.
Gli US sono i pi霉 grandi consumatori di droga del mondo. E cos矛, quando Nixon per combatterne il traffico decide di chiudere la frontiera col Messico, i consumatori non fanno altro che rivolgersi a nuovi mercati, pi霉 a sud: la Colombia che allora si limitava a lavorare la cocaina coltivata in Per霉 e Bolivia cambia la sua storia e diventa teatro di guerra quotidiana tra polizia, narcos, terrorismo, politici, per lo pi霉 sommersi da dollari e immersi nella corruzione. La vita in Colombia diventa un rischio quotidiano, un pericolo 24/7, la tensione 猫 altissima, sfibrante, deformante. Escobar diventa uno dei cinque uomini pi霉 ricchi del mondo (entrando nella lista di Forbes), il suo zoo 猫 attrazione nazionale, e trasmette una lezione che 猫 tuttora difficile contraddire: il rispetto della legge 猫 il pi霉 grande ostacolo per la felicit脿 (Gabriel Garcia Marquez).
Antonio incontra Maya, una donna che al bacio rivela un fiato pulito e stanco, un fiato da fine giornata, e non credo si possa dire meglio l鈥檃more arrivato tardi.
Copertina
October 11, 2020
THIS BOOK HAS TOO IMPORTANT A MESSAGE NOT TO POST IT IN FULL HERE.
Rating: 4* of five
The Publisher Says: In the city of Bogot谩, Antonio Yammara reads an article about a hippo that had escaped from a derelict zoo once owned by legendary Colombian drug kingpin Pablo Escobar. The article transports Antonio back to when the war between Escobar鈥檚 Medell铆n cartel and government forces played out violently in Colombia鈥檚 streets and in the skies above.
Back then, Antonio witnessed a friend鈥檚 murder, an event that haunts him still. As he investigates, he discovers the many ways in which his own life and his friend鈥檚 family have been shaped by his country鈥檚 recent violent past. His journey leads him all the way back to the 1960s and a world on the brink of change: a time before narco-trafficking trapped a whole generation in a living nightmare.
V谩squez is 鈥渙ne of the most original new voices of Latin American literature,鈥� according to Nobel Prize winner Mario Vargas Llosa, and The Sound of Things Falling is his most personal, most contemporary novel to date, a masterpiece that takes his writing鈥攁nd will take his literary star鈥攅ven higher.
I received this ARC from the publisher as part of LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program
My Review: To every rule its exception: This book is praised highly by a writer whose work I abhor, Jonathan Franzen; and ordinarily that means I will avoid the book so as not to read even a Pearl-Rule 46pp of something I'm bound to hate.
Ha ha ha, rules. I liked this book a lot. Well, "like" is a weird word for the emotional resonance of the book. I responded to the book like a tuning fork responds to a smack.
The fact is that I am a fan of Latin American literature because, like this book and author, most of the translated works are political and tendentious in their natures, and so are the authors. So am I. So it's usually a good fit.
This story, which feels as personal as the blurb suggests it actually is, made me very uncomfortable, as I watched Colombia's descent into warlord rule and civil failure. I suspect I'd feel the same fearful anger if I were to visit Montana or Idaho or Wyoming, places that white supremacist/apocalyptic christian cultists have claimed for themselves. When nutball extremists take over a place, it's a failure of civil authority, and that is a crime. The net effect is the same as the drug cartels' takeover of Colombia in the 1970s or the current failure of civil authority in Mexico today or the Cascadian separatist movement here.
These are not positive developments, they have tremendous costs in personal misery, and they are much to be deplored. V谩squez does his deploring by focusing tightly on the emotional and psychic costs of civil failure to a small group of friends, Antonio's friends and his good self. It's a sad, sad chronicle of horror and rage. And it's wrapped in beautiful words expressing solidly grounded truths:
Translator McLean has done a marvelous job of making poetry in the English, and while I haven't read the original Spanish text, I can only say that she is unlikely to have made such handsome bricks without good, abundant straw.
If I must pick a nit, and I must, it's that the structure of the novel is a tad more complex than is strictly speaking necessary to tell the author's very involving story. It's not hard to follow, but it's just artificial enough to pop the reader out of the narrative flow. That's almost never a good thing. (Okay, it's never a good thing, but I've learned not to make absolute statements because some little twidgee or another will come along and say something tiresome about my opinions and frankly I'm over it.)
I hope, that issue aside, that you will all race out to your local bookeries and procure copies of this book. It's got something important to say to us in the USA about the incredibly high cost of allowing dissent to become dissolution. Colombia failed its citizens, and their agony only slowly passes. Mexico is mid-failure, and is much closer to us. And yet we allow our own idiot rebels a far freer hand in obstructing and undermining our governmental institutions and shredding our social fabric in the name of some illusory "right" they assert that they have to do this to us all.
Read the book. Learn the cost. The price of the right wing's version of freedom is too goddamned high, and V谩squez knows it first hand. Please listen to him.
Rating: 4* of five
The Publisher Says: In the city of Bogot谩, Antonio Yammara reads an article about a hippo that had escaped from a derelict zoo once owned by legendary Colombian drug kingpin Pablo Escobar. The article transports Antonio back to when the war between Escobar鈥檚 Medell铆n cartel and government forces played out violently in Colombia鈥檚 streets and in the skies above.
Back then, Antonio witnessed a friend鈥檚 murder, an event that haunts him still. As he investigates, he discovers the many ways in which his own life and his friend鈥檚 family have been shaped by his country鈥檚 recent violent past. His journey leads him all the way back to the 1960s and a world on the brink of change: a time before narco-trafficking trapped a whole generation in a living nightmare.
V谩squez is 鈥渙ne of the most original new voices of Latin American literature,鈥� according to Nobel Prize winner Mario Vargas Llosa, and The Sound of Things Falling is his most personal, most contemporary novel to date, a masterpiece that takes his writing鈥攁nd will take his literary star鈥攅ven higher.
I received this ARC from the publisher as part of LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program
My Review: To every rule its exception: This book is praised highly by a writer whose work I abhor, Jonathan Franzen; and ordinarily that means I will avoid the book so as not to read even a Pearl-Rule 46pp of something I'm bound to hate.
Ha ha ha, rules. I liked this book a lot. Well, "like" is a weird word for the emotional resonance of the book. I responded to the book like a tuning fork responds to a smack.
The fact is that I am a fan of Latin American literature because, like this book and author, most of the translated works are political and tendentious in their natures, and so are the authors. So am I. So it's usually a good fit.
This story, which feels as personal as the blurb suggests it actually is, made me very uncomfortable, as I watched Colombia's descent into warlord rule and civil failure. I suspect I'd feel the same fearful anger if I were to visit Montana or Idaho or Wyoming, places that white supremacist/apocalyptic christian cultists have claimed for themselves. When nutball extremists take over a place, it's a failure of civil authority, and that is a crime. The net effect is the same as the drug cartels' takeover of Colombia in the 1970s or the current failure of civil authority in Mexico today or the Cascadian separatist movement here.
These are not positive developments, they have tremendous costs in personal misery, and they are much to be deplored. V谩squez does his deploring by focusing tightly on the emotional and psychic costs of civil failure to a small group of friends, Antonio's friends and his good self. It's a sad, sad chronicle of horror and rage. And it's wrapped in beautiful words expressing solidly grounded truths:
Adulthood brings with it the pernicious illusion of control, perhaps even depends on it. I mean that mirage of dominion over our own life that allows us to feel like adults, for we associate maturity with autonomy, the sovereign right to determine what is going to happen to us next.
Translator McLean has done a marvelous job of making poetry in the English, and while I haven't read the original Spanish text, I can only say that she is unlikely to have made such handsome bricks without good, abundant straw.
If I must pick a nit, and I must, it's that the structure of the novel is a tad more complex than is strictly speaking necessary to tell the author's very involving story. It's not hard to follow, but it's just artificial enough to pop the reader out of the narrative flow. That's almost never a good thing. (Okay, it's never a good thing, but I've learned not to make absolute statements because some little twidgee or another will come along and say something tiresome about my opinions and frankly I'm over it.)
I hope, that issue aside, that you will all race out to your local bookeries and procure copies of this book. It's got something important to say to us in the USA about the incredibly high cost of allowing dissent to become dissolution. Colombia failed its citizens, and their agony only slowly passes. Mexico is mid-failure, and is much closer to us. And yet we allow our own idiot rebels a far freer hand in obstructing and undermining our governmental institutions and shredding our social fabric in the name of some illusory "right" they assert that they have to do this to us all.
Read the book. Learn the cost. The price of the right wing's version of freedom is too goddamned high, and V谩squez knows it first hand. Please listen to him.
March 28, 2023
A well written novel about the violent period in Colombia's past. The story of the narrator is triggered by an article he reads regarding the killing of a hippo escaped from Pablo's Escobar's zoo. This event leads to painful memories about the murder of a man he knew, Ricardo Laverde, by drug traffickers. Unfortunately, the narrator was a witness to the murder, being also hit by a stray bullet. Suffering from PDSD, he starts to investigate the attack and the reasons behind the hit. It is a complex novel but somehow it did not manage to impress me, to make a lasting impression on me. I cannot understand why exactly, I guess some books work better for some readers.
June 15, 2023
First my thanks to David from Calgary who recommended this book to me.
A story set in Bogota, Colombia. The narrator is a young man who was severely wounded when his companion was murdered in a motorcycle drive-by shooting. The main theme of the book is how the violence of Pablo Escobar鈥檚 drug wars impacted not only the narrator鈥檚 life but that of a whole generation in Colombia mostly during the 1980鈥檚. The narrator is hospitalized for a long time and ends up with PTSD and agoraphobia that severely impacts his relationship with his wife and infant.
The man becomes obsessed with wanting to know why his friend was killed. He learns about a secret cassette tape. His dead friend was an older man who used to be an airplane pilot and who came from a family of pilots. As he investigates, the story is interwoven with bits of true history involving recent Colombian air crashes. In one crash his friend鈥檚 wife had been killed. There are historical crashes such as one in 1938 where a daredevil pilot performing for a national patriotic celebration crashed into stands killing more than 50 spectators and almost killing the President of Colombia. (Thus the title.) Other true history is part of the story such as the zoo and hippos that drug kingpin Escobar maintained at his estate.
The author shifts the focus of the story around on us. We think it鈥檚 going to be mainly about the narrator. Then, as he starts investigating his dead friend, we think it will shift to the pilot. But then he gets in contact with his friend鈥檚 daughter and it kind of becomes her story. But in the end most of the focus ends up on his friend鈥檚 wife (killed in an airline crash) who was an American Peace Corp volunteer in Colombia back in the 1960鈥檚.
His friend鈥檚 wife left a collection of letters and news articles that her daughter gathered. We learn quite a bit about the operation of the Peace Corps in Colombia and, to be honest, the book drags a bit at this point. The author creates a parallel between how Americans of that era marked time by dramatic events (Vietnam, Nixon鈥檚 resignation, Kennedy and Chappaquiddick, the Manson murders) with how Colombians did the same 鈥� 鈥淲here were you when that car bomb went off that killed 100 people?鈥�
A good story (translated from the Spanish) that won the 2014 International IMPAC DUBLIN Literary Award. I also enjoyed another novel by this author, a historical novel about the building of the Panama Canal.
Photo of Bogata from diana-aqua.com
Newsclip from ebay.com
The author from expansion.mx
[Revised 6/15/23]
A story set in Bogota, Colombia. The narrator is a young man who was severely wounded when his companion was murdered in a motorcycle drive-by shooting. The main theme of the book is how the violence of Pablo Escobar鈥檚 drug wars impacted not only the narrator鈥檚 life but that of a whole generation in Colombia mostly during the 1980鈥檚. The narrator is hospitalized for a long time and ends up with PTSD and agoraphobia that severely impacts his relationship with his wife and infant.
The man becomes obsessed with wanting to know why his friend was killed. He learns about a secret cassette tape. His dead friend was an older man who used to be an airplane pilot and who came from a family of pilots. As he investigates, the story is interwoven with bits of true history involving recent Colombian air crashes. In one crash his friend鈥檚 wife had been killed. There are historical crashes such as one in 1938 where a daredevil pilot performing for a national patriotic celebration crashed into stands killing more than 50 spectators and almost killing the President of Colombia. (Thus the title.) Other true history is part of the story such as the zoo and hippos that drug kingpin Escobar maintained at his estate.
The author shifts the focus of the story around on us. We think it鈥檚 going to be mainly about the narrator. Then, as he starts investigating his dead friend, we think it will shift to the pilot. But then he gets in contact with his friend鈥檚 daughter and it kind of becomes her story. But in the end most of the focus ends up on his friend鈥檚 wife (killed in an airline crash) who was an American Peace Corp volunteer in Colombia back in the 1960鈥檚.
His friend鈥檚 wife left a collection of letters and news articles that her daughter gathered. We learn quite a bit about the operation of the Peace Corps in Colombia and, to be honest, the book drags a bit at this point. The author creates a parallel between how Americans of that era marked time by dramatic events (Vietnam, Nixon鈥檚 resignation, Kennedy and Chappaquiddick, the Manson murders) with how Colombians did the same 鈥� 鈥淲here were you when that car bomb went off that killed 100 people?鈥�
A good story (translated from the Spanish) that won the 2014 International IMPAC DUBLIN Literary Award. I also enjoyed another novel by this author, a historical novel about the building of the Panama Canal.
Photo of Bogata from diana-aqua.com
Newsclip from ebay.com
The author from expansion.mx
[Revised 6/15/23]
December 1, 2017
This is such profoundly sad book. A life stymied and stunted during the height of the drug wars in Bogot谩. I will think about it for a long time to come.
February 15, 2021
4.5 stars. Ha, damn. Who knew it'd take such a quiet and introspective novel to break my heart.
I'm sorry because my fangirling probably won't help, but I found Juan Gabriel V谩squez's storytelling just wonderful. As often when I fall in love with a book - especially when none of my friends have read it, I've been feeling a little self-conscious and read a few reviews with low ratings. I... don't advise doing that, lol. In the end, I'm not able to acknowledge the flaws pointed there - too much telling rather than showing? - because I just did not see that. Shrugs.
My experience with The Sound of Things Falling was :
- opened the book
- started reading
- couldn't stop because really, how could I?!
It takes a great author to lift us out of our every day scenery and make us feel like we're there without smashing us under the weight of too heavy descriptions . In that aspect it was perfect - anecdotes, customs, I was soon absorbed in this Bogot谩 and was involved in the characters' story almost instantly. I couldn't stop reading - even exhausted, I couldn't put it down, even at 4 in the morning, I had to know, to devour it.
My heart in my throat, and the worry, the worry - the passion - brought me to this - albeit quite ridiculous, but not less valid at the time - epiphany when I wanted to yell that THIS WAS WHY I WANTED TO READ BOOKS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD (I did not. It was 4 in the morning. I am not an animal) My lassitude with US settings has never been so clear than then, when I wanted nothing more than learn again and again about another country, another history, even fictionalized.
Juan Gabriel V谩squez's talent for weaving the threads of his characters' lives - and attach the reader in the process - forcefully doomed me to care for his characters, no matter how great my disagreement with their actions could be - and disagree I did. That's okay. I quickly understood the role I was meant to take : I wasn't there to love them, I was there to slowly unpack their memories and maybe, maybe, above the solitude and nostalgia, find a little place in myself for them.
Spoiler alert : I did.
Antonio, Elaine, Ricardo - every one of these characters is flawed and unlikeable at times . I can see how their behavior could alienate some readers but in all honesty I understood them, especially Ricardo whose smile I'd protect with my life (MY HEART). As for the plot, I genuinely think that we should go in blind - as I did - that's why I won't develop it. I didn't even read the blurb, only picked it because it was part of my translated books list, and I could not recommend doing the same strongly enough.
I'd recommend this novel to every reader who loves family sagas whose secrets, no matter how trivial, shape the characters into these real people we care about. The Sound of Things Falling is not some action-packed journey getting us from point A to point B : this is rather a very character driven novel , a fucking train wreck where solitude and nostalgia pour through every page and I am not okay.
Not a perfect book by any means - Elaine's Americanism sure annoyed me a lot, for one - yet if you know me, then you're well aware that I can overtake a few flaws if I am certain - as much one can be certain of anything, that goes without saying - that the book I just closed will linger. Well I believe that I won't forget The Sound of Things Falling anytime soon. Oh, no.
TW : One scene contains cruelty towards an animal. Also, drugs.
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August 11, 2022
賳賲蹖鈥屫з嗁� 蹖丕丿丌賵乇蹖 禺丕胤乇丕鬲 趩賴 诏賱蹖 亘賴 爻乇 賲丕 賲蹖鈥屫操嗀� 賵 趩賴 爻賵丿 賵 亘賱讴賴 噩夭丕蹖蹖 賴賲乇丕賴 賲蹖鈥屫①堌必� 蹖丕 丌賳趩賴 鬲噩乇亘賴 讴乇丿賴鈥屫й屬� 亘丕 蹖丕丿丌賵乇蹖 丿賵亘丕乇賴 趩賴 鬲睾蹖蹖乇蹖 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗀€� 噩丕蹖蹖 禺賵丕賳丿賴鈥屫з� 丕賳爻丕賳 亘丕蹖丿 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 夭賳丿诏蹖鈥屫ж� 乇丕 丿乇 趩賴賱鈥屫池з勞� 亘丕夭诏賵 讴賳丿. 氐賮丨賴 郾鄢 讴鬲丕亘
氐丿丕蹖蹖 賴爻鬲 讴賴 賴蹖趩 鈥屬堎傌� 賳賲蹖鈥屫堌з嗁� 蹖丕 賳鬲賵丕賳爻鬲賴鈥屫з� 亘丕夭 亘卮賳丕爻賲: 氐丿丕蹖蹖 讴賴 丕賳爻丕賳蹖 賳蹖爻鬲 蹖丕 賮乇丕 丕賳爻丕賳蹖 丕爻鬲貙 氐丿丕蹖 噩丕賳鈥屬囏й屰� 讴賴 賲蹖鈥屬咃拷锟截辟嗀� 賵 囟賲賳丕 氐丿丕蹖 卮讴爻鬲賳 丕噩爻丕賲. 氐賮丨賴 鄯酃 讴鬲丕亘
鬲噩乇亘賴貙 蹖丕 丌賳趩賴 鬲噩乇亘賴 賲蹖鈥屬嗀з呟屬呚� 賲噩賲賵毓賴 丿乇丿賴丕蹖 賲丕 賳蹖爻鬲 亘賱讴賴 賴賲丿賱蹖 毓丕賯賱丕賳賴鈥屫й� 丕爻鬲 讴賴 亘賴 丿乇丿賴丕蹖 丿蹖诏乇丕賳 乇賵丕 賲蹖鈥屫ж臂屬�. 氐賮丨賴 鄹郾 讴鬲丕亘
毓蹖賳讴卮 乇丕 亘乇丿丕卮鬲 賵 诏賵卮賴鈥屰� 趩卮賲卮 乇丕 賮卮乇丿: 讴丕乇蹖 讴賴 賴賲賴鈥� 噩丕蹖 丿賳蹖丕 賵賯鬲蹖 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁嗀� 讴賴 賳賲蹖鈥屫堌з囐嗀� 诏乇蹖賴 讴賳賳丿賴. 亘賴 禺賵丿賲 诏賮鬲賲 丕蹖賳 趩蹖夭賴丕貙 丕蹖賳 丨乇讴鬲鈥屬囏� 讴賴 丿乇 爻乇丕爻乇 丿賳蹖丕貙 鬲賲丕賲 賳跇丕丿賴丕 賵 賮乇賴賳诏鈥屬囏ж� 蹖丕 亘蹖卮鬲乇卮丕賳貙 鬲讴乇丕乇 賲蹖鈥屫促堌� 讴噩丕蹖 乇賲夭 跇賳鬲蹖讴蹖 賲丕 丿乇噩 卮丿賴鈥� 丕爻鬲. 氐賮丨丕鬲 酃酃-郾郯郯 讴鬲丕亘
丌卅賵乇賴 賱蹖賵 丌乇鬲賵乇賵 丿乇 卮毓乇蹖 賲蹖鈥屭堐屫�:
亘卮賳賵 丕夭 賲賳 讴賴 乇賵夭蹖
卮賴乇蹖 賲噩賳賵賳貙 賲睾乇賵乇 賵 倬乇噩賲毓蹖鬲 丿蹖丿賲
讴賴 丿乇 丿賱 卮亘 賲蹖鈥屫迟堌�. 倬賱讴 賳夭丿賲 賵 賮乇賵乇蹖禺鬲賳 卮賴乇 乇丕
爻賯賵胤卮 乇丕 亘賴 趩卮賲 丿蹖丿賴鈥屫з�
亘賴 爻丕賳 诏賱亘乇诏蹖 亘賴 囟乇亘賴 爻賲 趩丕乇倬丕蹖蹖. 氐賮丨賴 鄄鄢酃 讴鬲丕亘
氐丿丕蹖蹖 賴爻鬲 讴賴 賴蹖趩 鈥屬堎傌� 賳賲蹖鈥屫堌з嗁� 蹖丕 賳鬲賵丕賳爻鬲賴鈥屫з� 亘丕夭 亘卮賳丕爻賲: 氐丿丕蹖蹖 讴賴 丕賳爻丕賳蹖 賳蹖爻鬲 蹖丕 賮乇丕 丕賳爻丕賳蹖 丕爻鬲貙 氐丿丕蹖 噩丕賳鈥屬囏й屰� 讴賴 賲蹖鈥屬咃拷锟截辟嗀� 賵 囟賲賳丕 氐丿丕蹖 卮讴爻鬲賳 丕噩爻丕賲. 氐賮丨賴 鄯酃 讴鬲丕亘
鬲噩乇亘賴貙 蹖丕 丌賳趩賴 鬲噩乇亘賴 賲蹖鈥屬嗀з呟屬呚� 賲噩賲賵毓賴 丿乇丿賴丕蹖 賲丕 賳蹖爻鬲 亘賱讴賴 賴賲丿賱蹖 毓丕賯賱丕賳賴鈥屫й� 丕爻鬲 讴賴 亘賴 丿乇丿賴丕蹖 丿蹖诏乇丕賳 乇賵丕 賲蹖鈥屫ж臂屬�. 氐賮丨賴 鄹郾 讴鬲丕亘
毓蹖賳讴卮 乇丕 亘乇丿丕卮鬲 賵 诏賵卮賴鈥屰� 趩卮賲卮 乇丕 賮卮乇丿: 讴丕乇蹖 讴賴 賴賲賴鈥� 噩丕蹖 丿賳蹖丕 賵賯鬲蹖 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁嗀� 讴賴 賳賲蹖鈥屫堌з囐嗀� 诏乇蹖賴 讴賳賳丿賴. 亘賴 禺賵丿賲 诏賮鬲賲 丕蹖賳 趩蹖夭賴丕貙 丕蹖賳 丨乇讴鬲鈥屬囏� 讴賴 丿乇 爻乇丕爻乇 丿賳蹖丕貙 鬲賲丕賲 賳跇丕丿賴丕 賵 賮乇賴賳诏鈥屬囏ж� 蹖丕 亘蹖卮鬲乇卮丕賳貙 鬲讴乇丕乇 賲蹖鈥屫促堌� 讴噩丕蹖 乇賲夭 跇賳鬲蹖讴蹖 賲丕 丿乇噩 卮丿賴鈥� 丕爻鬲. 氐賮丨丕鬲 酃酃-郾郯郯 讴鬲丕亘
丌卅賵乇賴 賱蹖賵 丌乇鬲賵乇賵 丿乇 卮毓乇蹖 賲蹖鈥屭堐屫�:
亘卮賳賵 丕夭 賲賳 讴賴 乇賵夭蹖
卮賴乇蹖 賲噩賳賵賳貙 賲睾乇賵乇 賵 倬乇噩賲毓蹖鬲 丿蹖丿賲
讴賴 丿乇 丿賱 卮亘 賲蹖鈥屫迟堌�. 倬賱讴 賳夭丿賲 賵 賮乇賵乇蹖禺鬲賳 卮賴乇 乇丕
爻賯賵胤卮 乇丕 亘賴 趩卮賲 丿蹖丿賴鈥屫з�
亘賴 爻丕賳 诏賱亘乇诏蹖 亘賴 囟乇亘賴 爻賲 趩丕乇倬丕蹖蹖. 氐賮丨賴 鄄鄢酃 讴鬲丕亘
May 1, 2014
I'm pretty sure the title of this novel "The Sound of Things Falling," refers to the sound of the book falling on the floor every time you doze off while reading it. The protagonist, Antonio, was neither likable, nor lovable, nor interesting in any way, and the same goes for Maya Fritts and her parents Elena and Laverde who were all flat characters. I looked forward to reading this book after putting my name on a long waiting list at the public library for it, as I love several Latin American authors and Juan Gabriel Vasquez was billed as a rising star. This book attempts to bring to life 1980s Colombia, the drug cartels and the people who lived to experience it firsthand. Unfortunately, the author seems unable or unwilling to successfully recreate this period. For one, the narrative crawls at a snail's pace until the halfway point, and from that point forward, not much else happens. Where does Colombia fall apart, collapse in flames (as a poem the author quotes in the book alludes to)? Where does the fear that Gabriel Vasquez mentions come from, besides one or two isolated incidents? This author needs to show more and tell less (first rule of creative writing 101). The past that Antonio and Maya supposedly share is one we as the readers of this book are never made privy to, not in any detail, and therefore, this book fails to hold together as a successful novel for me.
May 21, 2018
B.R.A.CE. 2018 螆谓伪 尾喂尾位委慰 渭蔚 苇谓伪谓 蟿委蟿位慰 渭蔚 蟺维谓蠅 伪蟺蠈 5 位苇尉蔚喂蟼
3,5/5
螣 螒谓蟿蠈谓喂慰, 苇谓伪蟼 谓蔚伪蟻蠈蟼 魏伪胃畏纬畏蟿萎蟼 蟿畏蟼 谓慰渭喂魏萎蟼 蟽蟿畏谓 螠蟺慰纬魏慰蟿维, 纬委谓蔚蟿伪喂 渭维蟻蟿蠀蟻伪蟼 蟿畏蟼 未慰位慰蠁慰谓委伪蟼 蔚谓蠈蟼 蟺喂位蠈蟿慰蠀 蟺慰蠀 伪谓伪魏伪蟿蔚蠉蟿畏魏蔚 渭蔚 蟿伪 魏伪蟻蟿苇位 蟿蠅谓 谓伪蟻魏蠅蟿喂魏蠋谓 蟿畏谓 蔚蟺慰蠂萎 蟿畏蟼 蟺伪谓蟿慰未蠀谓伪渭委伪蟼 蟿慰蠀 螤维渭蟺位慰 螘蟽魏慰渭蟺维蟻. 韦蟻伪蠀渭伪蟿委味蔚蟿伪喂 魏伪喂 慰 委未喂慰蟼 魏伪喂, 渭畏 纬谓蠅蟻委味慰谓蟿伪蟼 蟿畏谓 伪喂蟿委伪 纬喂伪 蟿畏谓 慰蟺慰委伪 苇蠂蔚喂 纬委谓蔚喂 蟿慰 胃蠉渭伪 渭喂伪蟼 喂蟽蟿慰蟻委伪蟼 蟺慰蠀 未蔚谓 蟿慰谓 伪蠁慰蟻维, 尾蠀胃委味蔚蟿伪喂 蟽蔚 渭喂伪 伪蟺蠈纬谓蠅蟽畏 伪蟺蠈 蟿畏谓 慰蟺慰委伪 未蔚谓 渭蟺慰蟻蔚委 谓伪 纬位喂蟿蠋蟽蔚喂 蟺伪蟻维 渭蠈谓慰 蠈蟿伪谓 苇谓伪 蟿蠀蠂伪委慰 纬蔚纬慰谓蠈蟼 蟿慰谓 伪谓伪纬魏维味蔚喂 谓伪 伪谓伪味畏蟿萎蟽蔚喂 蟿畏谓 伪位萎胃蔚喂伪. 螝伪喂 渭蠈谓慰 蠈蟿伪谓 苇蟻蠂蔚蟿伪喂 伪谓蟿喂渭苇蟿蠅蟺慰蟼 渭蔚 蟿畏谓 喂蟽蟿慰蟻委伪 蟿慰蠀 伪谓胃蟻蠋蟺慰蠀 蟺慰蠀 蟽蟿维胃畏魏蔚 畏 伪喂蟿委伪 谓伪 伪位位维尉蔚喂 蟿蠈蟽慰 未蟻伪蟽蟿喂魏维 畏 味蠅萎 蟿慰蠀 伪蟻蠂委味蔚喂 蟺蟻伪纬渭伪蟿喂魏维 (魏伪喂 蔚蟺蠋未蠀谓伪) 畏 蔚蟺慰蠉位蠅蟽畏 蟿蠅谓 蟺位畏纬蠋谓 蟿慰蠀.
螒蠀蟿蠈 蟺慰蠀 渭慰蠀 维蟻蔚蟽蔚 喂未喂伪委蟿蔚蟻伪 萎蟿伪谓 蟿慰 蟺蠋蟼 慰 Vasquez 蟿慰蟺慰胃蔚蟿蔚委 蟿慰 胃苇渭伪 蟿蠅谓 谓伪蟻魏蠅蟿喂魏蠋谓 蟽蟿畏谓 螝慰位慰渭尾委伪 蟿伪蠀蟿蠈蠂蟻慰谓伪 蟽蟿慰 魏苇谓蟿蟻慰 伪位位维 魏伪喂 蟽蟿慰 蟺伪蟻伪蟽魏萎谓喂慰. 螡伪喂 渭蔚谓 伪蟺慰蟿蔚位蔚委 蟽畏渭伪谓蟿喂魏蠈 胃苇渭伪 蟿慰蠀 尾喂尾位委慰蠀, 伪位位维 蟺伪蟻慰蠀蟽喂维味蔚蟿伪喂 未喂伪魏蟻喂蟿喂魏维, 蠀蟺蠈 蟿慰 蟺蟻委蟽渭伪 蟿畏蟼 蔚蟺委未蟻伪蟽畏蟼 蟺慰蠀 伪蟽魏蔚委 蟿慰 蔚渭蟺蠈蟻喂慰 蟿畏蟼 渭伪蟻喂蠂慰蠀维谓伪蟼 魏伪喂 蟿畏蟼 魏慰魏伪螑谓畏蟼 蟽蟿畏 味蠅萎 蟿蠅谓 畏蟻蠋蠅谓. 螝维蟺蠅蟼 蟽伪谓 蟿慰 蠁蠅蟼 蟺慰蠀 蟺蔚蟻谓维蔚喂 渭苇蟽伪 伪蟺蠈 蟿喂蟼 纬蟻委位喂蔚蟼, 蠁蠅蟿委味慰谓蟿伪蟼 蟽蠀纬魏蔚魏蟻喂渭苇谓伪 蟽畏渭蔚委伪 蟿慰蠀 未蠅渭伪蟿委慰蠀. 螠慰蠀 胃蠉渭喂蟽蔚 位委纬慰 螠维蟻魏蔚蟼 伪蠀蟿蠈 魏伪喂 蟿慰 尾蟻萎魏伪 蟺慰位蠉 苇尉蠀蟺谓慰.
螕蔚谓喂魏维, 蔚委谓伪喂 苇谓伪 蠅蟻伪委慰 尾喂尾位委慰 纬喂伪 蟿慰谓 蟺蠈位蔚渭慰 蠂蠅蟻委蟼 魏萎蟻蠀尉畏 蟺慰位苇渭慰蠀, 蟿慰谓 蟺喂慰 蟽魏位畏蟻蠈 蟺蠈位蔚渭慰 蟺慰蠀 魏伪胃慰蟻委味蔚喂 蟿畏 渭慰委蟻伪 蟿畏蟼 螝慰位慰渭尾委伪蟼 魏伪喂 蠈蟽蠅谓 渭蔚纬维位蠅蟽伪谓 渭苇蟽伪 蟽蟿畏谓 伪喂渭伪蟿畏蟻萎 蟿慰蠀 未委谓畏, 蟿慰谓 蟺蠈位蔚渭慰 蟿蠅谓 谓伪蟻魏蠅蟿喂魏蠋谓. 螠蔚蟿维 蟿畏 渭苇蟽畏 未蠀蟽蟿蠀蠂蠋蟼 苇蠂伪蟽蔚 蟿慰 渭慰渭苇谓蟿慰蠀渭 蟿慰蠀 魏伪喂 未蔚谓 蔚委蠂蔚 蟿畏谓 魏慰蟻蠉蠁蠅蟽畏 蟺慰蠀 蟺蔚蟻委渭蔚谓伪, 伪位位维 萎蟿伪谓 蟽委纬慰蠀蟻伪 苇谓伪 蔚谓未喂伪蠁苇蟻慰谓 伪谓维纬谓蠅蟽渭伪 渭蔚 魏伪位萎 纬蟻伪蠁萎 魏伪喂 蠅蟻伪委慰 胃苇渭伪, 蠂蠅蟻委蟼 蠀蟺蔚蟻尾慰位苇蟼.
3,5/5
螣 螒谓蟿蠈谓喂慰, 苇谓伪蟼 谓蔚伪蟻蠈蟼 魏伪胃畏纬畏蟿萎蟼 蟿畏蟼 谓慰渭喂魏萎蟼 蟽蟿畏谓 螠蟺慰纬魏慰蟿维, 纬委谓蔚蟿伪喂 渭维蟻蟿蠀蟻伪蟼 蟿畏蟼 未慰位慰蠁慰谓委伪蟼 蔚谓蠈蟼 蟺喂位蠈蟿慰蠀 蟺慰蠀 伪谓伪魏伪蟿蔚蠉蟿畏魏蔚 渭蔚 蟿伪 魏伪蟻蟿苇位 蟿蠅谓 谓伪蟻魏蠅蟿喂魏蠋谓 蟿畏谓 蔚蟺慰蠂萎 蟿畏蟼 蟺伪谓蟿慰未蠀谓伪渭委伪蟼 蟿慰蠀 螤维渭蟺位慰 螘蟽魏慰渭蟺维蟻. 韦蟻伪蠀渭伪蟿委味蔚蟿伪喂 魏伪喂 慰 委未喂慰蟼 魏伪喂, 渭畏 纬谓蠅蟻委味慰谓蟿伪蟼 蟿畏谓 伪喂蟿委伪 纬喂伪 蟿畏谓 慰蟺慰委伪 苇蠂蔚喂 纬委谓蔚喂 蟿慰 胃蠉渭伪 渭喂伪蟼 喂蟽蟿慰蟻委伪蟼 蟺慰蠀 未蔚谓 蟿慰谓 伪蠁慰蟻维, 尾蠀胃委味蔚蟿伪喂 蟽蔚 渭喂伪 伪蟺蠈纬谓蠅蟽畏 伪蟺蠈 蟿畏谓 慰蟺慰委伪 未蔚谓 渭蟺慰蟻蔚委 谓伪 纬位喂蟿蠋蟽蔚喂 蟺伪蟻维 渭蠈谓慰 蠈蟿伪谓 苇谓伪 蟿蠀蠂伪委慰 纬蔚纬慰谓蠈蟼 蟿慰谓 伪谓伪纬魏维味蔚喂 谓伪 伪谓伪味畏蟿萎蟽蔚喂 蟿畏谓 伪位萎胃蔚喂伪. 螝伪喂 渭蠈谓慰 蠈蟿伪谓 苇蟻蠂蔚蟿伪喂 伪谓蟿喂渭苇蟿蠅蟺慰蟼 渭蔚 蟿畏谓 喂蟽蟿慰蟻委伪 蟿慰蠀 伪谓胃蟻蠋蟺慰蠀 蟺慰蠀 蟽蟿维胃畏魏蔚 畏 伪喂蟿委伪 谓伪 伪位位维尉蔚喂 蟿蠈蟽慰 未蟻伪蟽蟿喂魏维 畏 味蠅萎 蟿慰蠀 伪蟻蠂委味蔚喂 蟺蟻伪纬渭伪蟿喂魏维 (魏伪喂 蔚蟺蠋未蠀谓伪) 畏 蔚蟺慰蠉位蠅蟽畏 蟿蠅谓 蟺位畏纬蠋谓 蟿慰蠀.
螒蠀蟿蠈 蟺慰蠀 渭慰蠀 维蟻蔚蟽蔚 喂未喂伪委蟿蔚蟻伪 萎蟿伪谓 蟿慰 蟺蠋蟼 慰 Vasquez 蟿慰蟺慰胃蔚蟿蔚委 蟿慰 胃苇渭伪 蟿蠅谓 谓伪蟻魏蠅蟿喂魏蠋谓 蟽蟿畏谓 螝慰位慰渭尾委伪 蟿伪蠀蟿蠈蠂蟻慰谓伪 蟽蟿慰 魏苇谓蟿蟻慰 伪位位维 魏伪喂 蟽蟿慰 蟺伪蟻伪蟽魏萎谓喂慰. 螡伪喂 渭蔚谓 伪蟺慰蟿蔚位蔚委 蟽畏渭伪谓蟿喂魏蠈 胃苇渭伪 蟿慰蠀 尾喂尾位委慰蠀, 伪位位维 蟺伪蟻慰蠀蟽喂维味蔚蟿伪喂 未喂伪魏蟻喂蟿喂魏维, 蠀蟺蠈 蟿慰 蟺蟻委蟽渭伪 蟿畏蟼 蔚蟺委未蟻伪蟽畏蟼 蟺慰蠀 伪蟽魏蔚委 蟿慰 蔚渭蟺蠈蟻喂慰 蟿畏蟼 渭伪蟻喂蠂慰蠀维谓伪蟼 魏伪喂 蟿畏蟼 魏慰魏伪螑谓畏蟼 蟽蟿畏 味蠅萎 蟿蠅谓 畏蟻蠋蠅谓. 螝维蟺蠅蟼 蟽伪谓 蟿慰 蠁蠅蟼 蟺慰蠀 蟺蔚蟻谓维蔚喂 渭苇蟽伪 伪蟺蠈 蟿喂蟼 纬蟻委位喂蔚蟼, 蠁蠅蟿委味慰谓蟿伪蟼 蟽蠀纬魏蔚魏蟻喂渭苇谓伪 蟽畏渭蔚委伪 蟿慰蠀 未蠅渭伪蟿委慰蠀. 螠慰蠀 胃蠉渭喂蟽蔚 位委纬慰 螠维蟻魏蔚蟼 伪蠀蟿蠈 魏伪喂 蟿慰 尾蟻萎魏伪 蟺慰位蠉 苇尉蠀蟺谓慰.
螕蔚谓喂魏维, 蔚委谓伪喂 苇谓伪 蠅蟻伪委慰 尾喂尾位委慰 纬喂伪 蟿慰谓 蟺蠈位蔚渭慰 蠂蠅蟻委蟼 魏萎蟻蠀尉畏 蟺慰位苇渭慰蠀, 蟿慰谓 蟺喂慰 蟽魏位畏蟻蠈 蟺蠈位蔚渭慰 蟺慰蠀 魏伪胃慰蟻委味蔚喂 蟿畏 渭慰委蟻伪 蟿畏蟼 螝慰位慰渭尾委伪蟼 魏伪喂 蠈蟽蠅谓 渭蔚纬维位蠅蟽伪谓 渭苇蟽伪 蟽蟿畏谓 伪喂渭伪蟿畏蟻萎 蟿慰蠀 未委谓畏, 蟿慰谓 蟺蠈位蔚渭慰 蟿蠅谓 谓伪蟻魏蠅蟿喂魏蠋谓. 螠蔚蟿维 蟿畏 渭苇蟽畏 未蠀蟽蟿蠀蠂蠋蟼 苇蠂伪蟽蔚 蟿慰 渭慰渭苇谓蟿慰蠀渭 蟿慰蠀 魏伪喂 未蔚谓 蔚委蠂蔚 蟿畏谓 魏慰蟻蠉蠁蠅蟽畏 蟺慰蠀 蟺蔚蟻委渭蔚谓伪, 伪位位维 萎蟿伪谓 蟽委纬慰蠀蟻伪 苇谓伪 蔚谓未喂伪蠁苇蟻慰谓 伪谓维纬谓蠅蟽渭伪 渭蔚 魏伪位萎 纬蟻伪蠁萎 魏伪喂 蠅蟻伪委慰 胃苇渭伪, 蠂蠅蟻委蟼 蠀蟺蔚蟻尾慰位苇蟼.
December 31, 2017
2,5. 螘蟺喂蟿苇位慰蠀蟼 . 韦慰 蟿蔚位蔚委蠅蟽伪 . 螝伪喂 未蔚谓 尉蔚蟿蟻蔚位伪胃畏魏伪. 螘委蠂伪 未喂伪尾伪蟽蔚喂 蟿蠈蟽伪 蟺慰位位伪 纬喂'伪蠀蟿慰 魏伪喂 蔚委蠂伪 蟿蠈蟽蔚蟼 蟺慰位位蔚蟼 蟺蟻慰蟽未慰魏委蔚蟼 , 魏伪渭喂伪 慰渭蠅蟼 未蔚谓 蟺蟻伪纬渭伪蟿慰蟺慰喂萎胃畏魏蔚 . 惟蟻伪委慰 尾喂尾位喂慰 . 螒位位伪 渭苇蠂蟻喂 蔚魏蔚喂 . 螠蔚 蔚谓蠈蠂位畏蟽伪谓 蟺慰蠀 慰喂 蔚蟺伪谓伪位萎蠄蔚喂蟼 . 螝伪喂 畏 伪位萎胃蔚喂伪 ,魏伪蟺慰蠀 魏慰蠀蟻维蟽蟿畏魏伪 . 螕喂'伪蠀蟿慰 蔚魏伪谓伪 蟿慰蟽慰 魏伪喂蟻慰 谓伪 蟿慰 蟿蔚位蔚喂蠋蟽蠅 . 螔伪蟻苇胃畏魏伪 . 螠慰蠀 蟿蔚位蔚喂蠅蟽蔚 慰 苇蟻蠅蟿伪蟼 . 螕喂伪蟿喂 蟿伪 尾喂尾位委伪 蟿伪 蔚蟻蠅蟿蔚蠀蠈渭伪蟽蟿蔚 . 螒蠀蟿慰 位慰喂蟺慰谓 渭慰蠀 蟺萎蟻蔚 蟿伪 渭蠀伪位维 蟽蟿畏谓 伪蟻蠂畏 魏伪喂 渭蔚蟿伪 蟺伪蟺伪位伪 .蔚谓未蔚蠂慰渭蔚谓慰蟼 谓伪 渭畏谓 尾慰萎胃畏蟽蔚 魏伪喂 畏 渭蔚蟿维蠁蟻伪蟽畏
Readathon2017: 4/26蔚谓伪 尾喂尾位喂慰 蟽蠀纬纬蟻伪蠁苇伪 伪蟺慰 蟿畏谓 螡蠈蟿喂伪 螒渭蔚蟻喂魏萎 .
Readathon2017: 4/26蔚谓伪 尾喂尾位喂慰 蟽蠀纬纬蟻伪蠁苇伪 伪蟺慰 蟿畏谓 螡蠈蟿喂伪 螒渭蔚蟻喂魏萎 .
August 7, 2013
The ambience of this melancholy novel often appeared in my dreams at night while I was reading this book. I am not sure how long-lasting the effect will be, but it has put me into a funk. This is a quiet novel depicting the solitary interior life of a ruined generation. There are frequent pleasures; I really enjoyed the descriptions of the Laverde family, urban life up in the mountains in Bogot谩 contrasted with the rural tropical areas, the beautiful geography of Colombia and inferring some of the broader changes that took place between the 1960麓s through to the 1990麓s. This is an enjoyable novel; however, there is something selfish about writing a book that leaves the reader feeling so alone.
Update two months later: I never know if the novel I just finished will linger in my thoughts for weeks, months or if it will quickly fade from my memory. Two months later, however, when the emotional impact of most novels have long passed, I am still occasionally looking longingly out a window, imagining the beauty of Bogota.
Update two months later: I never know if the novel I just finished will linger in my thoughts for weeks, months or if it will quickly fade from my memory. Two months later, however, when the emotional impact of most novels have long passed, I am still occasionally looking longingly out a window, imagining the beauty of Bogota.
August 11, 2020
After reading an invigorating review by Glenn of the English version of this book I decided to reread this book. Why? I remembered many things that he noted in his review but I was curious. This was the very first book that I read in Spanish and I wanted to know how well I read it, as well as how my initial review stood up.
I was very surprised. Yes of course this is a book about the drug violence of Colombia in the later 20th century and it deals with challenging issues such as terrorism and crime.
But I came away with a different angle. At the heart of the story it is a love story and how one faces life鈥檚 challenge. Young Antonio Yammara learns painfully about life and love. He makes friend with Ricardo Laverde, a pilot with a shadowy background. During an outing, they are both shot by a drive by motorcyclist. Yammara survives and wants to find out what happened while at the same time almost abandoning his wife and young daughter to understand why.
Vasquez shows his dynamism as a writer as we delve into the painful past of Laverde and the connections to the present. A rollercoaster ride that is truly remarkable. Politics, the drug war, tragedy, and even the past can greatly influence people鈥檚 lives. How we deal with it is the challenge. How we cope and it鈥檚 outcomes can change our perspectives.
This is what makes this book so good. We fall for the story, wonder about our narrator Yammara, and want a proper outcome. But life changes that.
Would bump this to a 4.5 and my favourite Alfaguara winner read to date.
Here is the original 2012 review.
I first heard a radio interview with Vasquez on CBC Writers and Company last month and was intrigued by his life and his literary interests. He was born in Columbia but educated in London and lived in Paris following after Garcia Marquez, Vargas Llosa and Carlos Fuentes (three writers that I admire). He has spent the last decade living in Barcelona. I was recently there and tracked down his most recent book "The Noise of Things Falling"). This was a challenge as this is the first novel I read entirely in Spanish (since the English translation is not due till the fall of 2012).
This book won the Premio Alfaguara de novela 2011 and there is a reason why it won - it is a great read. The story is a beautiful, tragic and very disturbing tale that neatly unfolds the recent "drug war" in Columbia through the eyes of the main characters. Antonio is a young professor who befriends an older man Ricardo Laverde who enjoys playing billiards. When he is murdered, Antonia begins to discover Laverde's past and uncovers a family caught up in the violent drug world. Imagine a world where when you walk down the road you pay attention to where all the phone booths are because if there is a bombing, you need to call home (in those pre-cell phone days). Imagine a world where children visit a private zoo - owned by the infamous drug lord Pablo Escobar, who killed many people and even blew up planes to make his point. This book had so many revelations on Columbia (good and bad). What I like about Vasquez is he isn't preaching, and our hero truly shows his feelings the more he discovers.
Vasquez has been compared to Vargas Llosa and often I caught the same language and style in his words but he definitely has his own style. He plays with words about sounds and "things falling" and even makes a joke about "100 years of Solitude" by teasing the Columbian master's title. His descriptive qualities are masterful and his characters both real and ambiguous but I like that quality,
Read this book when the English translations comes out.
I was very surprised. Yes of course this is a book about the drug violence of Colombia in the later 20th century and it deals with challenging issues such as terrorism and crime.
But I came away with a different angle. At the heart of the story it is a love story and how one faces life鈥檚 challenge. Young Antonio Yammara learns painfully about life and love. He makes friend with Ricardo Laverde, a pilot with a shadowy background. During an outing, they are both shot by a drive by motorcyclist. Yammara survives and wants to find out what happened while at the same time almost abandoning his wife and young daughter to understand why.
Vasquez shows his dynamism as a writer as we delve into the painful past of Laverde and the connections to the present. A rollercoaster ride that is truly remarkable. Politics, the drug war, tragedy, and even the past can greatly influence people鈥檚 lives. How we deal with it is the challenge. How we cope and it鈥檚 outcomes can change our perspectives.
This is what makes this book so good. We fall for the story, wonder about our narrator Yammara, and want a proper outcome. But life changes that.
Would bump this to a 4.5 and my favourite Alfaguara winner read to date.
Here is the original 2012 review.
I first heard a radio interview with Vasquez on CBC Writers and Company last month and was intrigued by his life and his literary interests. He was born in Columbia but educated in London and lived in Paris following after Garcia Marquez, Vargas Llosa and Carlos Fuentes (three writers that I admire). He has spent the last decade living in Barcelona. I was recently there and tracked down his most recent book "The Noise of Things Falling"). This was a challenge as this is the first novel I read entirely in Spanish (since the English translation is not due till the fall of 2012).
This book won the Premio Alfaguara de novela 2011 and there is a reason why it won - it is a great read. The story is a beautiful, tragic and very disturbing tale that neatly unfolds the recent "drug war" in Columbia through the eyes of the main characters. Antonio is a young professor who befriends an older man Ricardo Laverde who enjoys playing billiards. When he is murdered, Antonia begins to discover Laverde's past and uncovers a family caught up in the violent drug world. Imagine a world where when you walk down the road you pay attention to where all the phone booths are because if there is a bombing, you need to call home (in those pre-cell phone days). Imagine a world where children visit a private zoo - owned by the infamous drug lord Pablo Escobar, who killed many people and even blew up planes to make his point. This book had so many revelations on Columbia (good and bad). What I like about Vasquez is he isn't preaching, and our hero truly shows his feelings the more he discovers.
Vasquez has been compared to Vargas Llosa and often I caught the same language and style in his words but he definitely has his own style. He plays with words about sounds and "things falling" and even makes a joke about "100 years of Solitude" by teasing the Columbian master's title. His descriptive qualities are masterful and his characters both real and ambiguous but I like that quality,
Read this book when the English translations comes out.
October 6, 2016
螆谓伪 尾喂尾位委慰 蟺慰蠀 蟽蔚 蟿伪尉喂未蔚蠉蔚喂 蟽蟿畏谓 螝慰位慰渭尾委伪 蟿蠅谓 60-70s 魏伪喂 90s. 螠蔚 蟿蠈蟽慰 味蠅谓蟿伪谓苇蟼 蔚喂魏蠈谓蔚蟼 蟺慰蠀 谓慰渭委味蔚喂蟼 蠈蟿喂 苇味畏蟽蔚蟼 魏喂 蔚蟽蠉 蟿蠈蟿蔚. 螆谓伪 尾喂尾位委慰 蟺慰蠀 蟽慰蠀 未蔚委蠂谓蔚喂 蟿慰 伪蟺慰蟿蠉蟺蠅渭伪 蟿慰蠀 蟺慰位苇渭慰蠀 蟺慰蠀 蔚委蠂蔚 尉蔚蟽蟺维蟽蔚喂 蟿伪 蠂蟻蠈谓喂伪 蟿畏蟼 魏蠀蟻喂伪蟻蠂委伪蟼 蟿慰蠀 螤维渭蟺位慰 螘蟽魏慰渭蟺维蟻 魏伪喂 蟿蠅谓 谓伪蟻魏蠅蟿喂魏蠋谓.
螌渭蠅蟼, 蔚委谓伪喂 魏伪喂 苇谓伪 尾喂尾位委慰 纬喂伪 蟿伪 蠈谓蔚喂蟻伪 蟿蠅谓 谓苇蠅谓 蟺慰蠀 魏蠈尾慰谓蟿伪喂 伪蟺蠈蟿慰渭伪. 螕喂伪 伪蠀蟿慰蠉蟼 蟺慰蠀 魏维蟺慰蟿蔚 蔚委蠂伪谓 蠈谓蔚喂蟻伪, 伪位位维 (蟽蠀谓蔚喂未畏蟿维 萎 蠈蠂喂) 蟿伪 "维蠁畏蟽伪谓" 蟽蟿畏谓 蟺慰蟻蔚委伪. 螕喂伪 伪蠀蟿慰蠉蟼 蟺慰蠀 蟿慰 蟺伪蟻蔚位胃蠈谓 蟿慰 魏蟻伪蟿维谓蔚 味蠅谓蟿伪谓蠈 蟽伪谓 谓伪 蔚委谓伪喂 蟿慰 蟺伪蟻蠈谓 魏伪喂 味慰蠀谓 渭苇蟽伪 伪蟺蠈 伪蠀蟿蠈.
螤慰位蠉 蠈渭慰蟻蠁畏 纬蟻伪蠁萎 魏伪喂 魏伪胃畏位蠅蟿喂魏萎 伪蠁萎纬畏蟽畏 伪蟺蠈 蟿慰谓 Vasquez, 蟽蔚 蟽畏渭蔚委慰 蟺慰蠀 未蔚谓 渭蟺慰蟻慰蠉蟽伪 谓伪 伪蠁萎蟽蠅 蟿慰 尾喂尾位委慰 伪蟺蠈 蟿伪 蠂苇蟻喂伪 渭慰蠀.
违.螕: 螒谓 胃苇位蔚蟿蔚 谓伪 渭蟺蔚委蟿蔚 魏伪位蠉蟿蔚蟻伪 蟽蟿慰 魏位委渭伪 蟿畏蟼 "蔚蟽魏慰渭蟺伪蟻喂魏萎蟼" 螝慰位慰渭尾委伪蟼, 未喂伪尾维蟽蟿蔚 伪蠀蟿蠈 蟿慰 尾喂尾位委慰 魏伪喂 未蔚委蟿蔚 蟺伪蟻维位位畏位伪 蟿畏 蟽蔚喂蟻维 Narcos. 螆蟿蠀蠂蔚 尉蔚魏喂谓萎蟽蠅 蟿畏 蟽蔚喂蟻维 蟺蟻喂谓 未喂伪尾维蟽蠅 蟿慰 尾喂尾位委慰 魏伪喂 渭蔚 蔚委蠂蔚 "蠂蠋蟽蔚喂" 蟽' 伪蠀蟿萎谓 蟿畏谓 蟺蔚蟻委慰未慰.
螌渭蠅蟼, 蔚委谓伪喂 魏伪喂 苇谓伪 尾喂尾位委慰 纬喂伪 蟿伪 蠈谓蔚喂蟻伪 蟿蠅谓 谓苇蠅谓 蟺慰蠀 魏蠈尾慰谓蟿伪喂 伪蟺蠈蟿慰渭伪. 螕喂伪 伪蠀蟿慰蠉蟼 蟺慰蠀 魏维蟺慰蟿蔚 蔚委蠂伪谓 蠈谓蔚喂蟻伪, 伪位位维 (蟽蠀谓蔚喂未畏蟿维 萎 蠈蠂喂) 蟿伪 "维蠁畏蟽伪谓" 蟽蟿畏谓 蟺慰蟻蔚委伪. 螕喂伪 伪蠀蟿慰蠉蟼 蟺慰蠀 蟿慰 蟺伪蟻蔚位胃蠈谓 蟿慰 魏蟻伪蟿维谓蔚 味蠅谓蟿伪谓蠈 蟽伪谓 谓伪 蔚委谓伪喂 蟿慰 蟺伪蟻蠈谓 魏伪喂 味慰蠀谓 渭苇蟽伪 伪蟺蠈 伪蠀蟿蠈.
螤慰位蠉 蠈渭慰蟻蠁畏 纬蟻伪蠁萎 魏伪喂 魏伪胃畏位蠅蟿喂魏萎 伪蠁萎纬畏蟽畏 伪蟺蠈 蟿慰谓 Vasquez, 蟽蔚 蟽畏渭蔚委慰 蟺慰蠀 未蔚谓 渭蟺慰蟻慰蠉蟽伪 谓伪 伪蠁萎蟽蠅 蟿慰 尾喂尾位委慰 伪蟺蠈 蟿伪 蠂苇蟻喂伪 渭慰蠀.
违.螕: 螒谓 胃苇位蔚蟿蔚 谓伪 渭蟺蔚委蟿蔚 魏伪位蠉蟿蔚蟻伪 蟽蟿慰 魏位委渭伪 蟿畏蟼 "蔚蟽魏慰渭蟺伪蟻喂魏萎蟼" 螝慰位慰渭尾委伪蟼, 未喂伪尾维蟽蟿蔚 伪蠀蟿蠈 蟿慰 尾喂尾位委慰 魏伪喂 未蔚委蟿蔚 蟺伪蟻维位位畏位伪 蟿畏 蟽蔚喂蟻维 Narcos. 螆蟿蠀蠂蔚 尉蔚魏喂谓萎蟽蠅 蟿畏 蟽蔚喂蟻维 蟺蟻喂谓 未喂伪尾维蟽蠅 蟿慰 尾喂尾位委慰 魏伪喂 渭蔚 蔚委蠂蔚 "蠂蠋蟽蔚喂" 蟽' 伪蠀蟿萎谓 蟿畏谓 蟺蔚蟻委慰未慰.
January 17, 2024
It is a novel set in late 20th-century Colombia, a country struggling with the violence of the drug war.
There, we find the fear and post-traumatic shock of an individual and a society that no longer recognizes each other after attacks that cause deaths and injuries but also collateral victims.
We realize how the simple need to earn money to feed one's family has gradually transformed into international trafficking, which is challenging to get rid of afterward.
We see the need to understand and exorcise our demons.
It's a story of psychology and society, about discovering a corner of the world that we know little about.
There, we find the fear and post-traumatic shock of an individual and a society that no longer recognizes each other after attacks that cause deaths and injuries but also collateral victims.
We realize how the simple need to earn money to feed one's family has gradually transformed into international trafficking, which is challenging to get rid of afterward.
We see the need to understand and exorcise our demons.
It's a story of psychology and society, about discovering a corner of the world that we know little about.
October 10, 2022
4,5*
#outubrohispanoamericano
Tentaria depois recordar a 煤ltima vez que tinha experimentado algo do g茅nero, essa anula莽茫o sem considera莽玫es do mundo real, esse sequestro absoluto da minha consci锚ncia, e cheguei 脿 conclus茫o de que nada de similar me tinha acontecido desde a inf芒ncia.
Este livro sugou-me para dentro dele como poucos e apesar das v谩rias pontas soltas, porque na vida real tamb茅m nem tudo tem explica莽茫o nem 茅 poss铆vel averiguar, o final n茫o me deixou o mesmo vazio que ao protagonista, Antonio Yammara.
Ali, na rede, enquanto os lia, senti outras coisas, algumas inexplic谩veis e sobretudo uma muito confusa: o desconforto de saber que aquela hist贸ria em que o meu nome n茫o aparecia falava de mim em cada uma das suas linhas. Senti tudo isso, e no fim todos os sentimentos se reduziram a uma solid茫o tremenda, uma solid茫o sem causa vis铆vel e portanto sem rem茅dio. A solid茫o de uma crian莽a.
O in铆cio de 鈥淥 Barulho das Coisas ao Cair鈥� trouxe-me 脿 mem贸ria 鈥淎 Festa no Covil鈥� de Juan Pablo Villalobos devido 脿 refer锚ncia aos hipop贸tamos de um famoso traficante, mas enquanto o livro do autor mexicano era uma s谩tira, a obra de Juan Gabriel V谩squez 茅 uma trag茅dia para todos os seus participantes, joguetes de um drama maior que 茅 a Col么mbia retratada aqui nos anos 80 e 90, um antro de viol锚ncia e narcotr谩fico.
Ningu茅m que viva o suficiente pode surpreender-se por a sua biografia ter sido moldada por eventos long铆nquos, por vontades alheias, com pouca ou nenhuma participa莽茫o das suas pr贸prias decis玫es. Esses longos processos que acabar茫o por embater na nossa vida (...) costumam estar ocultos como correntes subterr芒neas, como meticulosos deslocamentos das placas tect贸nicas, e quando por fim se d谩 o terramoto invocamos as palavras que aprendemos a usar para nos tranquilizarmos, acidente, acaso, 脿s vezes destino.
鈥淥 Barulho das Coisas ao Cair鈥� 茅 um livro muito triste sobre duas fam铆lias desfeitas sob a m谩 estrela de uma Bogot谩 que atrai e repele as suas personagens, e quando nos apercebemos do porqu锚 do t铆tulo a meio da narrativa, 茅 o cora莽茫o que nos cai aos p茅s.
N茫o come莽ou a minha pr贸pria vida a precipitar-se por terra nesse mesmo instante, n茫o era aquele barulho o barulho da minha pr贸pria queda, que come莽ou ali sem que eu o soubesse?
#outubrohispanoamericano
Tentaria depois recordar a 煤ltima vez que tinha experimentado algo do g茅nero, essa anula莽茫o sem considera莽玫es do mundo real, esse sequestro absoluto da minha consci锚ncia, e cheguei 脿 conclus茫o de que nada de similar me tinha acontecido desde a inf芒ncia.
Este livro sugou-me para dentro dele como poucos e apesar das v谩rias pontas soltas, porque na vida real tamb茅m nem tudo tem explica莽茫o nem 茅 poss铆vel averiguar, o final n茫o me deixou o mesmo vazio que ao protagonista, Antonio Yammara.
Ali, na rede, enquanto os lia, senti outras coisas, algumas inexplic谩veis e sobretudo uma muito confusa: o desconforto de saber que aquela hist贸ria em que o meu nome n茫o aparecia falava de mim em cada uma das suas linhas. Senti tudo isso, e no fim todos os sentimentos se reduziram a uma solid茫o tremenda, uma solid茫o sem causa vis铆vel e portanto sem rem茅dio. A solid茫o de uma crian莽a.
O in铆cio de 鈥淥 Barulho das Coisas ao Cair鈥� trouxe-me 脿 mem贸ria 鈥淎 Festa no Covil鈥� de Juan Pablo Villalobos devido 脿 refer锚ncia aos hipop贸tamos de um famoso traficante, mas enquanto o livro do autor mexicano era uma s谩tira, a obra de Juan Gabriel V谩squez 茅 uma trag茅dia para todos os seus participantes, joguetes de um drama maior que 茅 a Col么mbia retratada aqui nos anos 80 e 90, um antro de viol锚ncia e narcotr谩fico.
Ningu茅m que viva o suficiente pode surpreender-se por a sua biografia ter sido moldada por eventos long铆nquos, por vontades alheias, com pouca ou nenhuma participa莽茫o das suas pr贸prias decis玫es. Esses longos processos que acabar茫o por embater na nossa vida (...) costumam estar ocultos como correntes subterr芒neas, como meticulosos deslocamentos das placas tect贸nicas, e quando por fim se d谩 o terramoto invocamos as palavras que aprendemos a usar para nos tranquilizarmos, acidente, acaso, 脿s vezes destino.
鈥淥 Barulho das Coisas ao Cair鈥� 茅 um livro muito triste sobre duas fam铆lias desfeitas sob a m谩 estrela de uma Bogot谩 que atrai e repele as suas personagens, e quando nos apercebemos do porqu锚 do t铆tulo a meio da narrativa, 茅 o cora莽茫o que nos cai aos p茅s.
N茫o come莽ou a minha pr贸pria vida a precipitar-se por terra nesse mesmo instante, n茫o era aquele barulho o barulho da minha pr贸pria queda, que come莽ou ali sem que eu o soubesse?
May 25, 2024
鈥淲hat鈥檚 there to live for?鈥�
Del perch茅 mi sia ritrovata a leggere un romanzo cos矛 intriso di morte ed ineluttabile destino, ancora non lo so.
A meno che, io voglia dar credito che in tutto ci sia un messaggio e soprattutto nelle azioni che compiamo apparentemente senza un senso immediato.
Sta di fatto che, in questi mesi estivi, mi ero ripromessa, di fare letture che non lasciassero strascichi.
Storie coinvolgenti dove la parola Fine 猫 definitiva e non ci sono personaggi da portarsi dietro n茅 tantomeno pensieri scomodi che stanno l矛 a stuzzicare nel tempo.
Avevo (ho) bisogno di apparente leggerezza eppure questo titolo mi ha irrimediabilmente attratta.
Cos矛 mi sono trovata ad oltre 2600 metri di altitudine trasportata dalle parole di Antonio, voce narrante di un racconto che dai giorni nostri torna a ritroso in una serie di racconti concentrici.
Tutto comincia nel 1996 in un鈥檃nonima sala da biliardo di un quartiere di Bogot脿 dove Antonio, giovane docente universitario, conosce Rosario Laverde, uomo dal passato misterioso.
Un terreno neutro, quello del bar dove i tavoli da biliardo uniscono persone di differenti et脿 ed estrazione sociale.
In una Colombia che ancora soffre per le ferite delle stragi degli anni 鈥�80 su cui ancora aleggia la figura di Pablo Escobar.
Antonio e Rosario divideranno una raffica di pallottole mentre camminano su un marciapiede: entrambi cadranno ma solo uno si rialzer脿 e col tempo sar脿 perseguitato dal pensiero di voler capire.
Due lampi di luce, due colpi:
鈥� Laverde cadde a terra e io caddi con lui, i due corpi che cadevano senza far rumore, e la gente cominci貌 a gridare e nelle orecchie sentii improvvisamente un ronzio.鈥�
Un minuto prima ci muoviamo.
Siamo esseri verticali che la morte rende orizzontali con un tonfo.
Si pu貌 vivere senza pensare?
Antonio crede di s矛 anzi, s鈥檌llude, di potersi chiudere la porta alla spalle, crogiolarsi nelle sue paure e nelle sue ossessioni, salvo, poi, scoprire che dal passato non si pu貌 fuggire e che una volta ascoltato il rumore delle cose che cadono nulla sar脿 come prima:
鈥� C鈥櫭� un rumore, che non riesco, e non ci sono mai riuscito, a riconoscere: un rumore che non 猫 umano 猫 pi霉 che umano, il rumore delle vite che finiscono ma anche il rumore dei materiali che si rompono. 脠 il rumore delle cose che cadono da quell鈥檃ltezza, un rumore interrotto e dunque eterno, un rumore che non finisce pi霉, che continua a risuonarmi nella testa da quel pomeriggio e non accenna a voler andarsene, che 猫 sospeso per sempre nella mia memoria, appeso come un asciugamano al suo gancio.鈥�
Dolorosamente bello.
Del perch茅 mi sia ritrovata a leggere un romanzo cos矛 intriso di morte ed ineluttabile destino, ancora non lo so.
A meno che, io voglia dar credito che in tutto ci sia un messaggio e soprattutto nelle azioni che compiamo apparentemente senza un senso immediato.
Sta di fatto che, in questi mesi estivi, mi ero ripromessa, di fare letture che non lasciassero strascichi.
Storie coinvolgenti dove la parola Fine 猫 definitiva e non ci sono personaggi da portarsi dietro n茅 tantomeno pensieri scomodi che stanno l矛 a stuzzicare nel tempo.
Avevo (ho) bisogno di apparente leggerezza eppure questo titolo mi ha irrimediabilmente attratta.
Cos矛 mi sono trovata ad oltre 2600 metri di altitudine trasportata dalle parole di Antonio, voce narrante di un racconto che dai giorni nostri torna a ritroso in una serie di racconti concentrici.
Tutto comincia nel 1996 in un鈥檃nonima sala da biliardo di un quartiere di Bogot脿 dove Antonio, giovane docente universitario, conosce Rosario Laverde, uomo dal passato misterioso.
Un terreno neutro, quello del bar dove i tavoli da biliardo uniscono persone di differenti et脿 ed estrazione sociale.
In una Colombia che ancora soffre per le ferite delle stragi degli anni 鈥�80 su cui ancora aleggia la figura di Pablo Escobar.
Antonio e Rosario divideranno una raffica di pallottole mentre camminano su un marciapiede: entrambi cadranno ma solo uno si rialzer脿 e col tempo sar脿 perseguitato dal pensiero di voler capire.
Due lampi di luce, due colpi:
鈥� Laverde cadde a terra e io caddi con lui, i due corpi che cadevano senza far rumore, e la gente cominci貌 a gridare e nelle orecchie sentii improvvisamente un ronzio.鈥�
Un minuto prima ci muoviamo.
Siamo esseri verticali che la morte rende orizzontali con un tonfo.
Si pu貌 vivere senza pensare?
Antonio crede di s矛 anzi, s鈥檌llude, di potersi chiudere la porta alla spalle, crogiolarsi nelle sue paure e nelle sue ossessioni, salvo, poi, scoprire che dal passato non si pu貌 fuggire e che una volta ascoltato il rumore delle cose che cadono nulla sar脿 come prima:
鈥� C鈥櫭� un rumore, che non riesco, e non ci sono mai riuscito, a riconoscere: un rumore che non 猫 umano 猫 pi霉 che umano, il rumore delle vite che finiscono ma anche il rumore dei materiali che si rompono. 脠 il rumore delle cose che cadono da quell鈥檃ltezza, un rumore interrotto e dunque eterno, un rumore che non finisce pi霉, che continua a risuonarmi nella testa da quel pomeriggio e non accenna a voler andarsene, che 猫 sospeso per sempre nella mia memoria, appeso come un asciugamano al suo gancio.鈥�
Dolorosamente bello.
August 14, 2013
"There is a sound that I cannot or have never been able to identify: a sound that's not human or is more than human, the sound of lives being extinguished...the sound of things falling from on high...that is forever suspended in my memory, hanging in it like a towel on a hook."
In 1995, when Bogotonian Antonio Yammara was 26 and a few years out of law school, he met two significant people who would transform him, and in some ways, one would destroy him. A few years later, he met someone else that he hoped would help heal him. This is a story about the presence of the past, PTSD, grief, lives falling apart, bodies falling soundlessly. It is a story of love and hope from on high, and the crumbling and dissolution of that love and hope, the profanity of it when it runs out of fuel.
Narrated by Yammara, the story is set against the backdrop of Colombian history, from the sixties through the nineties, during the ruthless, violent years of drug trafficking and drug wars. The story focuses on Yammara and the people in his life, and one tragic event that made time stand still for him while the rest of the world moved on. He witnessed a casual friend, Ricardo Laverde, an ex-pilot and ex-convict, killed in the streets of Bogot谩. Antonio was also severely injured. This event consumed him, and he was unable to focus on his family--the woman, Aura, he had met and romanced during the same year as he met Laverde, and the baby they had together shortly afterward.
What happens next is a journey to the past--Laverde's past--one that Yammara is compelled to understand. He follows a cassette tape to the Magdelena Valley, to Laverde's daughter, another walking wounded of Colombia's history, who is also stuck in time by previous events. Together, they attempt to fill in the missing pieces of Laverde's history, with the hope of liberating them both from the prison of pain and trauma.
Narrated with eloquence, intimacy, and warmth, Vasquez' story resonates with a heartbreaking lyricism and poetry that captivated me from the opening pages. I am drawn to stories about time and memory, and about the past events that damage us and paradoxically heal us through our shared connections.
My hat's off to Annie McLean, who did a superb translation of Vasquez' novel.
In 1995, when Bogotonian Antonio Yammara was 26 and a few years out of law school, he met two significant people who would transform him, and in some ways, one would destroy him. A few years later, he met someone else that he hoped would help heal him. This is a story about the presence of the past, PTSD, grief, lives falling apart, bodies falling soundlessly. It is a story of love and hope from on high, and the crumbling and dissolution of that love and hope, the profanity of it when it runs out of fuel.
Narrated by Yammara, the story is set against the backdrop of Colombian history, from the sixties through the nineties, during the ruthless, violent years of drug trafficking and drug wars. The story focuses on Yammara and the people in his life, and one tragic event that made time stand still for him while the rest of the world moved on. He witnessed a casual friend, Ricardo Laverde, an ex-pilot and ex-convict, killed in the streets of Bogot谩. Antonio was also severely injured. This event consumed him, and he was unable to focus on his family--the woman, Aura, he had met and romanced during the same year as he met Laverde, and the baby they had together shortly afterward.
What happens next is a journey to the past--Laverde's past--one that Yammara is compelled to understand. He follows a cassette tape to the Magdelena Valley, to Laverde's daughter, another walking wounded of Colombia's history, who is also stuck in time by previous events. Together, they attempt to fill in the missing pieces of Laverde's history, with the hope of liberating them both from the prison of pain and trauma.
Narrated with eloquence, intimacy, and warmth, Vasquez' story resonates with a heartbreaking lyricism and poetry that captivated me from the opening pages. I am drawn to stories about time and memory, and about the past events that damage us and paradoxically heal us through our shared connections.
My hat's off to Annie McLean, who did a superb translation of Vasquez' novel.
April 26, 2021
4.5*
"...蟿伪 蟺蟻维纬渭伪蟿伪 蟽蟿伪 蟽魏慰蟿蔚喂谓维 蠁伪谓蟿维味慰蠀谓 蟺喂慰 渭蔚纬维位伪 萎 蟺喂慰 蟽慰尾伪蟻维, 慰喂 伪蟻蟻蠋蟽蟿喂蔚蟼 蟺喂慰 慰位苇胃蟻喂蔚蟼, 畏 蟺伪蟻慰蠀蟽委伪 蟿慰蠀 魏伪魏慰蠉 蟺喂慰 魏慰谓蟿喂谓萎, 畏 伪未喂伪蠁慰蟻委伪 蟺喂慰 苇谓蟿慰谓畏, 畏 渭慰谓伪尉喂维 蟺喂慰 尾伪胃喂维. 螕喂' 伪蠀蟿蠈 渭伪蟼 伪蟻苇蟽蔚喂 谓伪 魏慰喂渭蠈渭伪蟽蟿蔚 渭蔚 魏维蟺慰喂慰谓 蟽蠀谓蟿蟻慰蠁喂维..."
螤慰位蠉 渭慰蠀 维蟻蔚蟽蔚 伪蠀蟿蠈 蟿慰 尾喂尾位委慰. 螕位蠀魏蠈, 渭蔚位伪纬蠂慰位喂魏蠈, 纬蔚渭维蟿慰 伪魏蠀蟻蠅渭苇谓蔚蟼 味蠅苇蟼 魏伪喂 蠈谓蔚喂蟻伪 蟺慰蠀 苇蟽尾畏蟽伪谓.
"...蟿伪 蟺蟻维纬渭伪蟿伪 蟽蟿伪 蟽魏慰蟿蔚喂谓维 蠁伪谓蟿维味慰蠀谓 蟺喂慰 渭蔚纬维位伪 萎 蟺喂慰 蟽慰尾伪蟻维, 慰喂 伪蟻蟻蠋蟽蟿喂蔚蟼 蟺喂慰 慰位苇胃蟻喂蔚蟼, 畏 蟺伪蟻慰蠀蟽委伪 蟿慰蠀 魏伪魏慰蠉 蟺喂慰 魏慰谓蟿喂谓萎, 畏 伪未喂伪蠁慰蟻委伪 蟺喂慰 苇谓蟿慰谓畏, 畏 渭慰谓伪尉喂维 蟺喂慰 尾伪胃喂维. 螕喂' 伪蠀蟿蠈 渭伪蟼 伪蟻苇蟽蔚喂 谓伪 魏慰喂渭蠈渭伪蟽蟿蔚 渭蔚 魏维蟺慰喂慰谓 蟽蠀谓蟿蟻慰蠁喂维..."
螤慰位蠉 渭慰蠀 维蟻蔚蟽蔚 伪蠀蟿蠈 蟿慰 尾喂尾位委慰. 螕位蠀魏蠈, 渭蔚位伪纬蠂慰位喂魏蠈, 纬蔚渭维蟿慰 伪魏蠀蟻蠅渭苇谓蔚蟼 味蠅苇蟼 魏伪喂 蠈谓蔚喂蟻伪 蟺慰蠀 苇蟽尾畏蟽伪谓.
September 22, 2016
螘谓蟿维尉蔚喂! 螤慰位蠉 蠂伪委蟻慰渭伪喂 蟺慰蠀 未蔚谓 蟿慰 蟺伪蟻维蟿畏蟽伪 蟿慰 尾喂尾位委慰! 螘谓蠋 渭蔚 魏慰蠉蟻伪蟽蔚 蟺慰位蠉 蟽蟿畏谓 伪蟻蠂萎, 蟽蟿畏谓 蟺慰蟻蔚委伪 蟽蠀谓萎胃喂蟽伪 蟿慰谓 蟿蟻蠈蟺慰 纬蟻伪蠁萎蟼 魏伪喂 伪蟺慰纬蔚喂蠋胃畏魏伪 纬喂伪 苇谓伪 蟿伪尉喂未维魏喂 渭苇蠂蟻喂 蟿畏谓 螝慰位慰渭尾委伪. 螔喂尾位委慰 纬蔚渭维蟿慰 蔚喂魏蠈谓蔚蟼 魏伪胃畏渭蔚蟻喂谓蠈蟿畏蟿伪蟼 蟽蟿畏 渭伪魏蟻喂谓萎 蠂蠋蟻伪 蟺慰蠀 蟽蠀谓未喂维味慰谓蟿伪喂 魏伪喂 渭蔚 魏伪蟿伪蟽蟿维蟽蔚喂蟼 魏伪喂 纬蔚纬慰谓蠈蟿伪 蟿蠅谓 蟺蟻蠅蟿伪纬蠅谓喂蟽蟿蠋谓. 螡伪 蟺慰蠀 渭蔚蟻喂魏苇蟼 蠁慰蟻苇蟼 慰 蠄蠀蠂伪谓伪纬魏伪蟽渭蠈蟼 蟺慰蠀 渭蔚 未喂伪魏蟻委谓蔚喂 谓伪 渭畏谓 伪谓蟿苇蠂蠅 谓伪 伪蠁萎蟽蠅 尾喂尾位委慰 伪蟿蔚位蔚委蠅蟿慰, 渭慰蠀 尾纬萎魏蔚 蟽蔚 魏伪位蠈!
July 25, 2013
My, oh my 鈥� what an incredible novel. This is the kind of novel that made me brush everything aside and read voraciously, devouring every single word and dreading arriving at the end. Yes, it鈥檚 that good!
Set in Bogota, Colombia, our narrator, Antonio, becomes twinned to an enigmatic and shadowy ex-pilot named Ricardo Laverde, whom he meets in a Bogota billiard hall. Ricardo has been imprisoned for many years for unknown reasons. (The refrain is: 鈥淗e must have done something.鈥�) Antonio is with Ricardo during a drive-by motorbike shooting that ends one life and destroys the other.
What follows is one of the most harrowing descriptions of PTSD I鈥檝e read as Antonio lives in terror of everything. The only salvation for him is to uncover the facts behind the life of the mysterious 鈥済hosted鈥� Ricardo and Colombia鈥檚 ignoble past.
That is only the early foundation of this book. It touches on many themes: the tentacles of the drug business in Colombia and how one person鈥檚 actions have a boomerang effect on so many others. How it feels to live with a 鈥渢errible awareness of my vulnerability鈥� 鈥� where planes fall from the sky, where bullets fell the innocent, where memories burst out of nowhere to transform and paralyze those who live through it.
As Antonio reflects on the unsuspected intensity of his memories, which are 鈥渏ust now beginning to emerge like an object falling from the sky鈥�, he thinks: 鈥淢y contaminated life was mine alone: my family was still safe: safe from the plague of my country, from its afflicted recent history: safe from what had hunted me down along with so many of my generation (and others, too, yes, but most of all mine, the generation that was born with planes, with the flights full of bags and the bags of marijuana, the generation that was born with the War on Drugs and later experienced the consequence).鈥�
I must note that Mr. Vasquez does not place the drug war as front-and-center of his book; rather, his purpose is to display how things fall apart in a world that forces good people to relinquish their own power. As we fall out of the sky, only redemptive love can save us. By the end of the book, I had tears in my eyes from the sheer power of the writing. Kudos to Anne McLean for a beautiful translation of a must-read book.
Set in Bogota, Colombia, our narrator, Antonio, becomes twinned to an enigmatic and shadowy ex-pilot named Ricardo Laverde, whom he meets in a Bogota billiard hall. Ricardo has been imprisoned for many years for unknown reasons. (The refrain is: 鈥淗e must have done something.鈥�) Antonio is with Ricardo during a drive-by motorbike shooting that ends one life and destroys the other.
What follows is one of the most harrowing descriptions of PTSD I鈥檝e read as Antonio lives in terror of everything. The only salvation for him is to uncover the facts behind the life of the mysterious 鈥済hosted鈥� Ricardo and Colombia鈥檚 ignoble past.
That is only the early foundation of this book. It touches on many themes: the tentacles of the drug business in Colombia and how one person鈥檚 actions have a boomerang effect on so many others. How it feels to live with a 鈥渢errible awareness of my vulnerability鈥� 鈥� where planes fall from the sky, where bullets fell the innocent, where memories burst out of nowhere to transform and paralyze those who live through it.
As Antonio reflects on the unsuspected intensity of his memories, which are 鈥渏ust now beginning to emerge like an object falling from the sky鈥�, he thinks: 鈥淢y contaminated life was mine alone: my family was still safe: safe from the plague of my country, from its afflicted recent history: safe from what had hunted me down along with so many of my generation (and others, too, yes, but most of all mine, the generation that was born with planes, with the flights full of bags and the bags of marijuana, the generation that was born with the War on Drugs and later experienced the consequence).鈥�
I must note that Mr. Vasquez does not place the drug war as front-and-center of his book; rather, his purpose is to display how things fall apart in a world that forces good people to relinquish their own power. As we fall out of the sky, only redemptive love can save us. By the end of the book, I had tears in my eyes from the sheer power of the writing. Kudos to Anne McLean for a beautiful translation of a must-read book.
December 12, 2016
螘委蠂伪 魏伪喂蟻蠈 谓伪 蟺伪蟻伪蟽蠀蟻胃蠋 蟿蠈蟽慰 蠈渭慰蟻蠁伪, 蟽蠂蔚未蠈谓 谓慰蟽蟿伪位纬喂魏维 伪蟺蠈 渭委伪 伪蠁萎纬畏蟽畏...畏 伪谓维纬谓蠅蟽畏 魏蠀位维蔚喂 蔚蠉魏慰位伪, 慰渭伪位维 魏伪喂 蔚蠀蠂维蟻喂蟽蟿伪. 螚 纬蟻伪蠁萎 蟿慰蠀 Vasquez 蟽蔚 渭蔚蟿伪蠁苇蟻蔚喂 伪蟺蠈 蟿喂蟼 蟺蟻蠋蟿蔚蟼 蟽蔚位委未蔚蟼 蟽蟿慰 魏位委渭伪 蟿畏蟼 螝慰位慰渭尾委伪蟼, 蟽蟿慰 渭蔚纬维位慰 蠀蠄蠈渭蔚蟿蟻慰 渭蔚 蟿畏谓 苇位位蔚喂蠄畏 慰尉蠀纬蠈谓慰蠀 魏伪喂 蟿畏谓 伪蟺慰蟺谓喂魏蟿喂魏萎 伪蟿渭蠈蟽蠁伪喂蟻伪, 蔚谓蠋 畏 喂蟽蟿慰蟻委伪 蔚魏蟿蠀位委蟽蟽蔚蟿伪喂 渭蔚 蠁蠈谓蟿慰 蟿慰谓 渭蠈谓喂渭伪 渭慰蠀谓蟿蠈 魏伪喂 纬魏蟻委味慰 慰蠀蟻伪谓蠈 蟿畏蟼 螠蟺慰纬魏慰蟿维. 螠苇蟽伪 伪蟺蠈 蟿畏谓 伪蠁萎纬畏蟽畏 蟿畏蟼 味蠅萎蟼 蟿慰蠀 蟺蟻蠅蟿伪纬蠅谓喂蟽蟿萎 蠁伪谓蔚蟻蠋谓慰谓蟿伪喂 蟽蟿慰谓 伪谓伪纬谓蠋蟽蟿畏 蟽畏渭伪谓蟿喂魏苇蟼 蟽蟿喂纬渭苇蟼 蟿畏蟼 魏慰位慰渭尾喂伪谓萎蟼 喂蟽蟿慰蟻委伪蟼 魏伪喂 蟺伪蟻维位位畏位伪 渭蔚蟿伪蠁苇蟻蔚蟿伪喂 蟻蔚伪位喂蟽蟿喂魏维 蟿慰 蟽魏畏谓喂魏蠈 魏伪喂 畏 蔚蟺喂魏蟻伪蟿慰蠉蟽伪 伪蟿渭蠈蟽蠁伪喂蟻伪 渭蔚 蟿伪 伪蟺慰蟿蠀蟺蠋渭伪蟿伪 蟿慰蠀 蟺慰位苇渭慰蠀 魏伪喂 蟿畏蟼 蟿蟻慰渭慰魏蟻伪蟿委伪蟼 蠂伪蟻伪纬渭苇谓伪 蟽蟿慰蠀蟼 未蟻蠈渭慰蠀蟼 蟿畏蟼 蠂蠋蟻伪蟼. 螆谓伪 尾喂尾位委慰 蟺慰蠀 蟽蠀谓蔚谓蠋谓蔚喂 蟽蔚 渭委伪 渭蠈谓慰 蟽蟿喂纬渭萎 蟺伪蟻蔚位胃蠈谓, 蟺伪蟻蠈谓 魏伪喂 渭苇位位慰谓...伪谓伪渭谓萎蟽蔚喂蟼, 纬蔚纬慰谓蠈蟿伪 魏伪喂 蠈谓蔚喂蟻伪.
"魏伪喂 位苇蠅 渭苇蟽伪 渭慰蠀 蟺蠅蟼 蔚委渭伪蟽蟿蔚 蟺喂蠈谓喂伪 蟿畏蟼 蟺伪蟻慰蠉蟽伪蟼 蟽蟿喂纬渭萎蟼, 委蟽蠅蟼 纬喂伪蟿委 蟿慰 蟺伪蟻蠈谓 未蔚谓 蠀蟺维蟻蠂蔚喂 蟺蟻伪纬渭伪蟿喂魏维...蠈位伪 蔚委谓伪喂 伪谓维渭谓畏蟽畏..."
"魏伪喂 位苇蠅 渭苇蟽伪 渭慰蠀 蟺蠅蟼 蔚委渭伪蟽蟿蔚 蟺喂蠈谓喂伪 蟿畏蟼 蟺伪蟻慰蠉蟽伪蟼 蟽蟿喂纬渭萎蟼, 委蟽蠅蟼 纬喂伪蟿委 蟿慰 蟺伪蟻蠈谓 未蔚谓 蠀蟺维蟻蠂蔚喂 蟺蟻伪纬渭伪蟿喂魏维...蠈位伪 蔚委谓伪喂 伪谓维渭谓畏蟽畏..."
December 15, 2020
鬲丕夭诏蹖 讴卮賮 讴乇丿賲 趩賯丿乇 丕夭 賯賱賲 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 賴丕蹖 丌賲乇蹖讴丕蹖 噩賳賵亘蹖 賱匕鬲 賲蹖亘乇賲 賵 噩匕丕亘賳 亘乇丕賲.
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April 11, 2019A history of Colombia in plane crashes
Please don't try to nail me down on this one, because I read it in a complete fug, brought on by a combination of over-indulgence and lack of sleep (the changeover to Summer Time). But as a book to read under such circumstances, it was perfect. Fast-paced, intriguing, frequent changes of scene to prevent boredom, but not so many as to cause confusion, and all combined with a feeling that you were actually learning something, something really quite worthwhile, some history, some insights into love and relationships and a drug economy. I really enjoyed it.
Keep it handy for your next hungover Sunday.
Please don't try to nail me down on this one, because I read it in a complete fug, brought on by a combination of over-indulgence and lack of sleep (the changeover to Summer Time). But as a book to read under such circumstances, it was perfect. Fast-paced, intriguing, frequent changes of scene to prevent boredom, but not so many as to cause confusion, and all combined with a feeling that you were actually learning something, something really quite worthwhile, some history, some insights into love and relationships and a drug economy. I really enjoyed it.
Keep it handy for your next hungover Sunday.
April 11, 2021
"螘蟿蟽喂 苇尾伪位伪 渭蟺蟻慰蟼 伪蠀蟿萎 蟿畏谓 伪蠁萎纬畏蟽畏. 螖蔚谓 尉苇蟻蠅 蟽蔚 蟿喂 渭伪蟼 蠂蟻畏蟽喂渭蔚蠉蔚喂 蟿慰 谓伪 胃蠀渭蠈渭伪蟽蟿蔚, 蟿喂 魏伪位蠈 渭伪蟼 魏维谓蔚喂 萎 蟺蠋蟼 渭蟺慰蟻蔚委 谓伪 渭伪蟼 尾伪蟽伪谓委味蔚喂, 慰蠉蟿蔚 蟺蠅蟼 纬委谓蔚蟿伪喂 谓 伪位位维尉慰蠀谓 蠈蟽伪 苇蠂慰蠀渭蔚 味萎蟽蔚喂 渭蔚 蟿慰 谓伪 蟿伪 胃蠀渭蠈渭伪蟽蟿蔚, 伪位位维 畏 伪谓维渭谓畏蟽萎 蟿慰蠀 蟺萎蟻蔚 纬喂伪 渭苇谓伪 蟿慰谓 蠂伪蟻伪魏蟿萎蟻伪 蟿慰蠀 蔚蟺蔚委纬慰谓蟿慰蟼"
螛伪 蟽蠀渭蠁蠅谓萎蟽蠅: 螔喂尾位喂维蟻伪, 蠈蟺蠅蟼 渭蔚 蟺蟻慰喂未苇伪蟽蔚 魏喂 慰 蠁委位慰蟼 渭慰蠀 慰 桅慰喂尾慰蟼.
螣喂 螞伪蟿喂谓慰伪渭蔚蟻喂魏维谓慰喂 苇蠂慰蠀谓 伪蠀蟿萎 蟿畏 尾伪蟻喂维 位慰纬慰蟿蔚蠂谓喂魏萎 魏位畏蟻慰谓慰渭喂维, 畏 慰蟺慰委伪 蔚委谓伪喂 魏伪喂 渭蔚蟿维位位喂慰 魏伪喂 尾维蟻慰蟼. 螘委谓伪喂 未蠉蟽魏慰位慰 谓伪 '蟽伪喂 蟽蠀纬纬蟻伪蠁苇伪蟼 螝慰位慰渭尾喂伪谓蠈蟼, 纬喂伪蟿委 伪谓伪渭蔚蟿蟻喂苇蟽伪喂 渭蔚 螜蔚蟻维 韦苇蟻伪蟿伪.
螒蠀蟿蠈, 渭蟺慰蟻蔚委 谓伪 蔚委谓伪喂 魏喂 伪蟺慰胃伪蟻蟻蠀谓蟿喂魏蠈, 伪位位维 渭蟺慰蟻蔚委 魏伪喂 谓伪 蟽蔚 蟺蔚喂蟽渭蠋蟽蔚喂.
韦慰 蔚蟺喂蠂蔚委蟻畏渭伪 蟿慰蠀 螔维蟽魏蔚蟼 蔚未蠅 蠁伪委谓蔚蟿伪喂 谓伪 蟺蔚蟿蠀蠂伪委谓蔚喂.
螚 喂蟽蟿慰蟻喂伪 蔚喂谓伪喂 渭喂伪 蟺位蔚尉慰蠉未伪 蟿畏蟼 螜蟽蟿慰蟻喂伪蟼 蟿畏蟼 螠蟺慰纬慰蟿维 蟽蠀谓蠀蠁伪蟽渭苇谓畏 渭蔚 蟿畏谓 喂蟽蟿慰蟻委伪 蟿蠅谓 伪谓胃蟻蠋蟺蠅谓 蟿畏蟼 螠蟺慰纬魏慰蟿维. 螚 喂蟽蟿慰蟻喂伪 蟿畏蟼 蟺慰位畏蟼 魏伪喂 慰 伪谓蟿喂魏蟿蠀蟺慰蟼 蟿畏蟼 蔚蟺伪谓蠅 蟽蟿喂蟼 味蠅苇蟼 蟿蠅谓 魏伪胃畏渭蔚蟻喂谓蠅谓 伪谓胃蟻蠅蟺蠅谓, 慰 伪蟺蠈畏蠂慰蟼 锟斤拷蠅谓 伪谓胃蟻蠅蟺蠅谓 蠈蟿伪谓 蟽畏魏蠅谓慰谓蟿伪喂 魏喂 蠈蟿伪谓 蟺苇蠁蟿慰蠀谓 - 蟿慰 蟺蠅蟼 渭喂伪 蟿伪蟻伪蠂蠋未畏蟼 蠂蠅蟻伪, 渭喂伪 蟿伪蟻伪蠂蠅未畏蟼 蟺慰位畏 蟺蟻慰魏伪位蔚喂 魏伪喂 蟽蠀谓蔚蟺伪纬蔚蟿伪喂 渭喂伪 蟿伪蟻伪蠂蠅未畏 味蠅萎 蟽蟿慰 魏维胃蔚 individual.
螣喂 喂蟽蟿慰蟻喂蔚蟼 蟿蠅谓 伪谓胃蟻蠅蟺蠅谓 蟺蔚蟻喂蟺位蔚魏慰谓蟿伪喂 蟽蠀渭蟺蟿蠅渭伪蟿喂魏维 萎 魏伪喂 渭慰喂蟻伪委伪, 渭' 蔚谓伪谓 蟿蟻蠈蟺慰 蠀蟺苇蟻慰蠂伪 蠁蠀蟽喂魏蠈 魏伪喂 伪蟺慰位蠉蟿蠅蟼 蟺喂蟽蟿蔚蠀蟿蠈, 魏伪胃蠅蟼 畏 味蠅萎 蠁蟿喂维蠂谓蔚喂 蟿伪 蟺喂慰 慰渭慰蟻蠁伪 蟽蔚谓伪蟻喂伪.
螚 纬蟻伪蠁萎 蟿慰蠀 螔维蟽魏蔚蟼 蟽蔚 蟺伪蟻伪蟽苇蟻谓蔚喂, 蔚位伪蠁蟻喂伪 蟽伪谓 伪蔚蟻伪蟼 伪位位慰蟿蔚, 魏伪喂 尾伪蟻喂维 魏伪喂 未蠉蟽魏慰位畏 蟽伪谓 谓伪 尾蟻喂蟽魏蔚蟽伪喂 尉伪蠁谓喂魏维 蟽蟿慰 渭维蟿喂 魏伪蟿伪喂纬委未伪蟼. 螒位位维 未蔚 胃蔚位蔚喂蟼 魏伪喂 谓伪 尾纬蔚委蟼. 螛伪 蔚蟻胃蔚喂 渭慰谓畏 蟿畏蟼 畏 位喂伪魏维未伪 魏伪喂 胃伪 蠄喂蠀胃蟻委蟽蔚喂 尉伪谓维 位慰纬喂伪 位慰纬慰蟿蔚蠂谓委伪蟼, 蠀蟺苇蟻慰蠂蔚蟼 位苇尉蔚喂蟼 蟽蟿畏 蟽蔚喂蟻维 蟺慰蠀 蠁蟿喂维蠂谓慰蠀谓 蔚喂魏蠈谓蔚蟼, 魏蠈蟽渭慰蠀蟼 慰位慰魏位畏蟻蠅渭苇谓慰蠀蟼, 伪蟺慰 蟿畏谓 伪蟽蟿喂魏萎 蟽伪蟻未蔚位慰蟺慰委畏蟽畏 渭喂伪蟼 胃慰蟻蠀尾蠅未慰蠀蟼 蟺蠈位畏蟼 蔚蠅蟼 蟿慰谓 尾慰蠀魏慰位喂魏蠈 蟺伪蟻维未蔚喂蟽慰 蟿畏蟼 蠀蟺伪喂胃蟻喂伪蟼 蠂伪蟽喂苇谓蟿伪蟼, 渭蔚 蟿慰谓 蟿蟻蠈蟺慰 蟺慰蠀 渭伪蟼 蟿 伪蠁畏纬萎胃畏魏蔚 畏 螒位喂苇谓蟿蔚 蟽蟿慰 螘蟺慰蠀蟻伪谓喂慰 危蠂苇未喂慰 魏喂 蠈蟺蠅蟼 渭伪蟼 蟺伪蟻伪渭蠉胃喂伪蟽蔚 慰 螠维蟻魏蔚蟼.
螒蟺慰 渭苇谓伪 蔚喂谓伪喂 谓伪喂.
'螒位位畏 渭喂伪 蔚尉伪喂蟻蔚蟿喂魏萎 蟽蟿喂纬渭萎 蟿畏蟼 螞伪蟿喂谓慰伪渭蔚蟻喂魏维谓喂魏畏蟼 螝慰蠀位蟿慰蠀蟻伪蟼 魏伪喂 畏 蟽畏渭伪谓蟿喂魏萎 蟽蠀渭尾慰位萎 蟿畏蟼 蟽蟿慰谓 魏蠈蟽渭慰.
+苇尉蟿蟻伪 蔚喂未喂魏萎 蟽蠀纬蠂伪蟻畏蟿畏蟻喂伪 渭谓蔚喂伪 蟽蟿畏谓 蔚尉伪喂蟻蔚蟿喂魏萎 渭蔚蟿维蠁蟻伪蟽畏 蟿慰蠀 螒蠂喂位位苇伪 螝蠀蟻喂伪魏委未畏 蟺慰蠀 魏维谓蔚喂 蟿慰 魏蔚委渭蔚谓慰 谓伪 魏蠀位维蔚喂 蟽伪谓 蟺蟻蠅蟿蠈蟿蠀蟺慰, 魏伪喂 谓伪 渭畏 蟽魏慰蟿谓维蠁蟿蔚喂 蟺慰蠀胃蔚谓维. 螘喂渭伪蟽蟿蔚 蟿蠀蠂蔚蟻慰喂 蟽蟿畏谓 螘位位维未伪 谓伪 蔚蠂慰蠀渭蔚 蟿苇蟿慰喂慰蠀蟼 蠀蟺苇蟻慰蠂慰蠀蟼 渭蔚蟿伪蠁蟻伪蟽蟿苇蟼.
________________________
"A魏慰蠉纬蔚蟿伪喂 渭喂伪 魏慰蠁蟿萎 魏蟻伪蠀纬萎 萎 魏维蟿喂 蟺慰蠀 渭慰喂维味蔚喂 渭蔚 魏蟻伪蠀纬萎.
螒魏慰蠉纬蔚蟿伪喂 苇谓伪蟼 萎蠂慰蟼 蟺慰蠀 未蔚谓 渭蟺慰蟻蠋, 蟺慰蠀 蟺慰蟿苇 未蔚谓 渭蟺蠈蟻蔚蟽伪 谓伪 蟿伪蠀蟿慰蟺慰喂萎蟽蠅: 苇谓伪蟼 萎蠂慰蟼 蟺慰蠀 未蔚谓 蔚委谓伪喂 伪谓胃蟻蠋蟺喂谓慰蟼, 慰 萎蠂慰蟼 伪蟺蠈 味蠅苇蟼 蟺慰蠀 蠂维谓慰谓蟿伪喂, 伪位位维 魏伪喂 慰 萎蠂慰蟼 伪蟺蠈 蠀位喂魏维 蟺慰蠀 蟽蟺维谓蔚. 螘委谓伪喂 慰 萎蠂慰蟼 蟿蠅谓 蟺蟻伪纬渭维蟿蠅谓 蠈蟿伪谓 蟺苇蠁蟿慰蠀谓 伪蟺蠈 蠄畏位维, 苇谓伪蟼 萎蠂慰蟼 未喂伪魏蔚魏慰渭渭苇谓慰蟼 魏伪喂 蔚尉 伪蠀蟿慰蠉 伪苇谓伪慰蟼, 苇谓伪蟼 萎蠂慰蟼 蟺慰蠀 未蔚谓 蟿蔚位蔚喂蠋谓蔚喂 蟺慰蟿苇, 蟺慰蠀 蟽蠀谓蔚蠂委味蔚喂 谓伪 尾慰维 蟽蟿慰 魏蔚蠁维位喂 渭慰蠀 伪蟺蠈 蔚魏蔚委谓慰 蟿慰 伪蟺蠈纬蔚蠀渭伪 魏伪喂 未蔚 位苇蔚喂 谓伪 蠁蠉纬蔚喂, 蟺慰蠀 伪喂蠅蟻蔚委蟿伪喂 蟽蟿畏 渭谓萎渭畏 渭慰蠀 纬喂伪 蟺维谓蟿伪, 魏蟻蔚渭伪蟽渭苇谓慰蟼 蟺维谓蠅 蟿畏蟼 蟽伪谓 蟺蔚蟿蟽苇蟿伪 蟽蟿畏谓 魏蟻蔚渭维蟽蟿蟻伪"
September 12, 2013
Interesting and engaging. Here the theme is the violence and fear that permeated all Colombian life in the 80s and 90s when the Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar held sway. Who wasn't affected? How did this play out in the lives of Colombians, children and adults?
Fear. This is a book about fear. It is about secrets. What is it like to discover your father is not who you thought he was? It is about how all families were caught up in the violence of those times. Arguments between husband and wife are pitch-perfect. It is about how the life of the country seeps into the lives of two families and irrevocably changes them.
Good writing that grabs you. You never feel that the text is translated.
It is interesting to see the role the Peace Corps plays in the events. I am wondering to what extent this is true and I wish there had been an author's note to clarify the veracity of the events.
Mike Vendetti does the narration of the audiobook. Yeah, it was good.
Fear. This is a book about fear. It is about secrets. What is it like to discover your father is not who you thought he was? It is about how all families were caught up in the violence of those times. Arguments between husband and wife are pitch-perfect. It is about how the life of the country seeps into the lives of two families and irrevocably changes them.
Good writing that grabs you. You never feel that the text is translated.
It is interesting to see the role the Peace Corps plays in the events. I am wondering to what extent this is true and I wish there had been an author's note to clarify the veracity of the events.
Mike Vendetti does the narration of the audiobook. Yeah, it was good.
August 17, 2013
Against the backdrop of an explosive and defining period in history -- Pablo Escobar and the powerful Columbian drug cartels, the declaration of the War on Drugs, the growing cocaine epidemic following the Viet Nam war -- Vasquez has set an amazing story that is immediately gripping. With only his words, Vasquez is a sculptor, a painter, a master story teller; talking to our senses, filling our heads with journals and scrapbooks, maps taped to newspaper articles, the recollections of smugglers flying their illegal cargo, broken hearted confessionals, drug fueled delusions, doomed hopes and loves,...and hippos. An intricate story of the interconnectedness of different people and different times, seamlessly flowing through a world of paradoxical beauty.
.....In 1981, drug lord Pablo Escobar, the seemingly omnipotent and vicious head of the Madellin cartel, imported 4 African hippos from New Orleans to be exhibits in his extravagant private zoo. After he was gunned down in '93, the government took possession of most of the animals, leaving just a few of the heavy, and difficult to transport, hippos behind. The remaining hippos, which multiplied to a sizeable herd, basked in the lakes Escobar had also constructed, while the once resplendent zoo around them fell into disrepair. In 2006, a pair of those hippos, Pepe and Matilda, wandered away from the derelict zoo and into local legendom. The corpulent mates seemed to have disappeared until 2009 when they were photographed, just 63 miles from the zoo site, pastorally grazing in tall river grass with a small calf by their sides(dubbed Pepito). The photos sparked stories of marauding hippos terrorizing villagers, stampeding and devouring crops, killing livestock. (You might even remember the NY Times articles on the hippos, or the coverage on TV nightly news.) The government, who had many years earlier created a small panic by doing hippo-breeding-math and predicting a problematic hippo invasion, responded by circulating stories of the diseases the *Artiodactyla* carried. Soon,*WANTED: HIPPOS* posters went up throughout Columbia giving rise to the opposing game hunters and the *Save the Hippos* factions.....
Antonio Yammara has just finished reading about the final chapter of PePe's life in a newsmagazine. He examines a photo of the *hunters* standing over the corpse of the nearly 2 ton black hippo [a squad described by the NY Times, Sept. 10, '09: "Even in Colombia, a country known for its paramilitary death squads, this hunting party stood out: more than a dozen soldiers from a Colombian Army battalion, two Porsche salesmen armed with long-range rifles, their assistant, and a taxidermist." the article and picture is archived and can be looked up]. Included in the article was a procedural description of the dismemberment, and the necessary on-site burial of parts of the giant animal, as well as plans to continue the hunt for the remaining members of this hippo family that fled stealthily (as hippos are wont to do) away as the larger hippo was being taken down. Beyond and expected sadness to the article, a familiar sense of melancholy spreads through Antonio. Even after his death on the Medellin rooftops, the echoes of Escobar's greed and violence echo from his grave...
But, this is not the story of Escobar, or his drug cartel, or of hippos.
...The memories unlock in Antonio an emotional link to an old mysterious friend, and Antonio fades away again into dark memories, recalling the series of events that seemed to fall out of the sky when that friend entered his life, and lay before him his own tragic path.
Unable to thrust himself out from a crippling cycle of PTSD [Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder], Antonio is obsessed with connecting the events and people, and with answering some tenacious existential questions that have plagued him. The story begins *in medias res* -- Antonio at a point in his life where the past compels him to find answers in the future, and at all costs. The title is a metaphorical reference to 2 airplane disasters that tightly connect one time to another, and align the characters. And it references the global dissonance of values, cultures, and hopes colliding with failure. A tumultuous time in history, but as Antonio says, the grievous story is not exclusive to him or the times, "It has happened before and it will happen again."
It is in a smaller sense, a story of the effects of the war on drugs and the people involved; the fruits of violence, greed, and poverty; and an era where the hopes of peace and love proved flawed and crashed and burned. On a larger scale, there is the universal theme of connection -- that the dissonance of the past reverberates throughout time and people. The human lives pinned against the "tide of historical events," are the carriers of the psychic wounds, and very often, the price of keeping the meticulous balance of the scales of justice unjustly falls on the fragile shoulders of the innocent... even the hippos.
Vasquez burrows deep into a tormented soul and takes the reader along, then leaves us with this thought, ..."who worries about us when we don't show up, and who can go out and look for us." Throughout this forceful novel I subconsciously resisted associating with such heavy pain, both physical and existentially. Even days after I finished, I was discouraged, trying to organize my feelings and find footage. It wasn't until I got the rebound whack to the head from this boomerang of a book that I realized that I was so blindly affected by the book and was still crawling out of dark places... that's what I call being lost in a book.
.....In 1981, drug lord Pablo Escobar, the seemingly omnipotent and vicious head of the Madellin cartel, imported 4 African hippos from New Orleans to be exhibits in his extravagant private zoo. After he was gunned down in '93, the government took possession of most of the animals, leaving just a few of the heavy, and difficult to transport, hippos behind. The remaining hippos, which multiplied to a sizeable herd, basked in the lakes Escobar had also constructed, while the once resplendent zoo around them fell into disrepair. In 2006, a pair of those hippos, Pepe and Matilda, wandered away from the derelict zoo and into local legendom. The corpulent mates seemed to have disappeared until 2009 when they were photographed, just 63 miles from the zoo site, pastorally grazing in tall river grass with a small calf by their sides(dubbed Pepito). The photos sparked stories of marauding hippos terrorizing villagers, stampeding and devouring crops, killing livestock. (You might even remember the NY Times articles on the hippos, or the coverage on TV nightly news.) The government, who had many years earlier created a small panic by doing hippo-breeding-math and predicting a problematic hippo invasion, responded by circulating stories of the diseases the *Artiodactyla* carried. Soon,*WANTED: HIPPOS* posters went up throughout Columbia giving rise to the opposing game hunters and the *Save the Hippos* factions.....
Antonio Yammara has just finished reading about the final chapter of PePe's life in a newsmagazine. He examines a photo of the *hunters* standing over the corpse of the nearly 2 ton black hippo [a squad described by the NY Times, Sept. 10, '09: "Even in Colombia, a country known for its paramilitary death squads, this hunting party stood out: more than a dozen soldiers from a Colombian Army battalion, two Porsche salesmen armed with long-range rifles, their assistant, and a taxidermist." the article and picture is archived and can be looked up]. Included in the article was a procedural description of the dismemberment, and the necessary on-site burial of parts of the giant animal, as well as plans to continue the hunt for the remaining members of this hippo family that fled stealthily (as hippos are wont to do) away as the larger hippo was being taken down. Beyond and expected sadness to the article, a familiar sense of melancholy spreads through Antonio. Even after his death on the Medellin rooftops, the echoes of Escobar's greed and violence echo from his grave...
But, this is not the story of Escobar, or his drug cartel, or of hippos.
...The memories unlock in Antonio an emotional link to an old mysterious friend, and Antonio fades away again into dark memories, recalling the series of events that seemed to fall out of the sky when that friend entered his life, and lay before him his own tragic path.
Unable to thrust himself out from a crippling cycle of PTSD [Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder], Antonio is obsessed with connecting the events and people, and with answering some tenacious existential questions that have plagued him. The story begins *in medias res* -- Antonio at a point in his life where the past compels him to find answers in the future, and at all costs. The title is a metaphorical reference to 2 airplane disasters that tightly connect one time to another, and align the characters. And it references the global dissonance of values, cultures, and hopes colliding with failure. A tumultuous time in history, but as Antonio says, the grievous story is not exclusive to him or the times, "It has happened before and it will happen again."
It is in a smaller sense, a story of the effects of the war on drugs and the people involved; the fruits of violence, greed, and poverty; and an era where the hopes of peace and love proved flawed and crashed and burned. On a larger scale, there is the universal theme of connection -- that the dissonance of the past reverberates throughout time and people. The human lives pinned against the "tide of historical events," are the carriers of the psychic wounds, and very often, the price of keeping the meticulous balance of the scales of justice unjustly falls on the fragile shoulders of the innocent... even the hippos.
Vasquez burrows deep into a tormented soul and takes the reader along, then leaves us with this thought, ..."who worries about us when we don't show up, and who can go out and look for us." Throughout this forceful novel I subconsciously resisted associating with such heavy pain, both physical and existentially. Even days after I finished, I was discouraged, trying to organize my feelings and find footage. It wasn't until I got the rebound whack to the head from this boomerang of a book that I realized that I was so blindly affected by the book and was still crawling out of dark places... that's what I call being lost in a book.
May 6, 2020
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亘毓賱丕賵賴 賴賲蹖賳 丕蹖丿賴 禺賱丕賯丕賳賴 賵 賲賱賲賵爻蹖 讴賴 丕夭 诏賮鬲賳卮 氐乇賮賳馗乇 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁� 鬲丕 賱匕鬲 賵 賴蹖噩丕賳賽 禺賵丕賳丿賳卮 乇丕 亘丕胤賱 賳讴賳賲貨 倬賵卮卮 丿丕丿賳 亘禺卮 賲賴賲蹖 丕夭 鬲丕乇蹖禺 讴賱賲亘蹖丕 賵 丕孬乇丕鬲 丕噩鬲賲丕毓蹖 丿賵乇賴 賳亘乇丿 賯丕趩丕賯趩蹖丕賳 賲賵丕丿 賲禺丿乇 亘乇 爻乇 倬賵賱 賵 賯丿乇鬲貙 乇賵蹖 乇賵夭賲乇诏蹖 賵 夭蹖爻鬲 亘賵賲蹖丕賳貙 賯爻賲鬲鈥屬囏й屰� 亘賵丿 讴賴 亘丕毓孬 卮丿 丕夭 賲胤丕賱毓賴 讴鬲丕亘 禺賵卮丨丕賱 亘丕卮賲.
"氐丿丕蹖 丕賮鬲丕丿賳 丕卮蹖丕亍" 禺賵亘 亘賵丿 賵 丿乇 丕蹖賳 賴賲 卮讴蹖 賳蹖爻鬲貙 丕賲丕 亘乇丕蹖 賲賳 讴賲蹖 丕夭 丨丕賱 賵 賴賵丕蹖 蹖讴 卮丕賴讴丕乇 鬲丨爻蹖賳 亘乇丕賳诏蹖夭 丿賵乇 亘賵丿.
亘毓賱丕賵賴 賴賲蹖賳 丕蹖丿賴 禺賱丕賯丕賳賴 賵 賲賱賲賵爻蹖 讴賴 丕夭 诏賮鬲賳卮 氐乇賮賳馗乇 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁� 鬲丕 賱匕鬲 賵 賴蹖噩丕賳賽 禺賵丕賳丿賳卮 乇丕 亘丕胤賱 賳讴賳賲貨 倬賵卮卮 丿丕丿賳 亘禺卮 賲賴賲蹖 丕夭 鬲丕乇蹖禺 讴賱賲亘蹖丕 賵 丕孬乇丕鬲 丕噩鬲賲丕毓蹖 丿賵乇賴 賳亘乇丿 賯丕趩丕賯趩蹖丕賳 賲賵丕丿 賲禺丿乇 亘乇 爻乇 倬賵賱 賵 賯丿乇鬲貙 乇賵蹖 乇賵夭賲乇诏蹖 賵 夭蹖爻鬲 亘賵賲蹖丕賳貙 賯爻賲鬲鈥屬囏й屰� 亘賵丿 讴賴 亘丕毓孬 卮丿 丕夭 賲胤丕賱毓賴 讴鬲丕亘 禺賵卮丨丕賱 亘丕卮賲.
"氐丿丕蹖 丕賮鬲丕丿賳 丕卮蹖丕亍" 禺賵亘 亘賵丿 賵 丿乇 丕蹖賳 賴賲 卮讴蹖 賳蹖爻鬲貙 丕賲丕 亘乇丕蹖 賲賳 讴賲蹖 丕夭 丨丕賱 賵 賴賵丕蹖 蹖讴 卮丕賴讴丕乇 鬲丨爻蹖賳 亘乇丕賳诏蹖夭 丿賵乇 亘賵丿.
February 7, 2014
Me qued茅 con sentimientos encontrados. Por un lado, V谩squez parece escribir sin esfuerzo, cosa que hace que me encante, y me envuelva con lo que sea, le creo y no hay mucho m谩s que decir cuando eso sucede con un autor. Porque hay muchos autores a los que lees, y casi puedes escuchar el esfuerzo, las ideas saliendo a cuenta gotas, las p谩ginas que se quedan a medias porque tuvo que empezar otra vez. Pero con el no se siente as铆, parece flotar por encima de los esfuerzos que se sienten en un primer o segundo libro, de un escritor buscando su voz. Pero por otro lado hay cosas que me parecen medio clich茅s, digo, en serio? una gringa que trabaja en peace corps? Eso no me convenci贸 mucho, todo un personaje que ademas es importante en la historia. Pero todo lo dem谩s s铆 me gust贸 mucho. La historia de la huella que deja algo como el narcotr谩fico, del miedo, porque es mucho sobre el miedo esta historia, y eso es algo con lo que m谩s de uno, ya seamos colombianos, o mexicanos, o venezolanos, nos podemos entender. As铆 que aunque cojea por algunos detalles de la historia, para mi, igual es un libro con momentos hermosos, con un narrador que claramente tiene una voz propia, al que s铆 pienso seguir leyendo.
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