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Luna Chica
Joined: 04 Sep 2005 Posts: 177 Location: Trujillo, Peru
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Posted: Sat Nov 11, 2006 12:24 am Post subject: Good Reading |
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I still have a little bit of time before I leave for Peru. To get myself in the zone I would like to have a nice relaxing read about Peru specifically or South Amercia in General. The problem is I have read a few books and they have been absolute c**p. Any recommendations? |
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nineisone
Joined: 23 Jun 2006 Posts: 187
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Posted: Sun Nov 12, 2006 12:50 am Post subject: |
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For Fiction, give a look see at anything by Mario Vargas Llosa. Even more magic realism can be found with Garcia Marquez, and his non fiction works are cant miss. |
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denise
Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish
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Posted: Sun Nov 12, 2006 3:13 am Post subject: |
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I'm reading Mario Vargas Llosa at the moment--"Travesuras de la nina mala". Not quite as moving as Gabriel Garcia Marquez (ok, not NEARLY as moving!), but still enjoyable. Another author that was recommended by some of my students is Alfredo Bryce Echenique.
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Aramas
Joined: 13 Feb 2004 Posts: 874 Location: Slightly left of Centre
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Posted: Sun Nov 12, 2006 3:39 am Post subject: |
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From my "extensive research" (*ahem* wiki *ahem*), it seems that the ones to keep an eye out for are Ciro Alegr�a, Eduardo Gonzalez Via�a, Jos� Mar�a Arguedas, Clorinda Matto de Turner, Beto Ortiz, and of course, Mario Vargas Llosa. |
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nineisone
Joined: 23 Jun 2006 Posts: 187
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Posted: Sun Nov 12, 2006 5:17 pm Post subject: |
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I recommend that you seek out the older works of Vargas Llosa. Nothing he has written in the last 15 years measures up to his prior works, IMHO. He also has some interesting takes on the Trujillo of yesteryear. He reads a lot different that Garcia Marquez, and is more of an acquired taste for those not familiar with Latin Amer. lit. |
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denise
Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish
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Posted: Sun Nov 12, 2006 8:13 pm Post subject: |
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nineisone wrote: |
I recommend that you seek out the older works of Vargas Llosa. Nothing he has written in the last 15 years measures up to his prior works, IMHO. He also has some interesting takes on the Trujillo of yesteryear. He reads a lot different that Garcia Marquez, and is more of an acquired taste for those not familiar with Latin Amer. lit. |
Aaaah, is that what the problem is? The one that I'm reading now was just published a few months ago.
I actually noticed the same thing with Gabriel Garcia Marquez. I think I would rank 100 Years of Solitude and Love in the Time of Cholera among some of the best books I've read, but his other stuff... while still good, I don't think it lives up to the standard that he set for himself. I don't know if it's chronological or not, though, because I don't know the order in which his books were written. |
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Luna Chica
Joined: 04 Sep 2005 Posts: 177 Location: Trujillo, Peru
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Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 11:56 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for your responses. What about non-fiction? |
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keepwalking
Joined: 17 Feb 2005 Posts: 194 Location: Peru, at last
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Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2006 2:43 pm Post subject: |
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The Peru Reader is a collection of articles, essays and speeches from throughout Peru's history - last updated in 2004 I think. It is a pretty good introduction to the country.
Eduardo Gallerno is a Marxist historian who gives a pretty savage review of life in Latin America since independence.
Travel writing - can't beat Morris Thompson, The Saddest Pleasure. It is his account of a journey through Brazil and his reflections on his life in Ecuador. Stunning stuff.
There's also Inca Kola by Matthew Paris, an amusing account of his trip through Peru. Lighter than Thompson.
All the fiction recommendations above are great reads. Ciro Alegria is a local boy and his book The Golden Serpent is a beautiful account of life in the more remote river communities east of Huamachuco.
Enjoy! |
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