A wonderful story that困扰s me but I can't name it: The separation of technology from the story

In a story like "One Hundred Years of Solitude", the story is the technology... and after you finish the story, you don't think about it except its technology... and the effort of technology is not obvious... because the technology was not completely satisfied with its function

Similarly, in the story "Pedro Páramo" by the Mexican writer Juan Rulfo

As for "Artemio Cruz", the technology of its voice is loud and clear: the narrator is divided within himself and the story is divided into 3 narrative branches: the first begins with "I" written in faint ink and it is a meditation of the narrator's thoughts in the first person and he is on his deathbed, the second begins with "you" in faint ink... in the second person, the narrator talks to himself and tells about what was lost and the wrong path that he could see in it... and this was the lightest narrative branch relatively because it reminded me of the meditation with a heavy shadow in Tahar Ben Jelloun's stories which he wrote the most important parts of in the first person with signs of sarcasm and interrogation

The third branch, which is the most important and longest one, begins with "he".. It tells about events from his past such that each chapter talks about a specific event with a focus on all its details without the general meditation in the second two narrative branches. It was possible to shorten the 3 branches but because the difference between the branches of "I" and "you" is not significant, I see that there is an elongation in some passages, 3 pages in the description and analysis of the body, and about 5 in imagining the movement of the asteroids and the stars and all in a very centralized way in the last ten pages where their deaths occur

When you think about the story, you will think of its beautiful chapters... and when you say that it is a magical realism story, your intention will be on its structure and its unique style of description

It was a personal reading experience... and despite everything, it may be one of the important readings that will affect my style.

The plot seemed full of promise. Right from the start, the reader encounters a dying Artemio Cruz. He is encircled by his wife Catalina, their daughter Teresa, a priest, and a doctor. However, inside, Cruz curses them. All he desires is to see his assistant Padilla and ensure that Padilla is safeguarding the audio recordings of his business transactions and the money. Then, with each successive chapter, we witness flashbacks of Cruz's life. As a poor, young soldier during the Mexican Revolution, his one true love affair with Regina during the Revolution, how he betrayed Catalina's brother and pursued Catalina to marry and obtain the land she would inherit...finally, the book concludes with Cruz's childhood.

Perhaps it is because I have limited knowledge of the Mexican Revolution. Maybe the English translation of the book fails to convey what the original Spanish version intended to express. Or perhaps I simply lost the thread somewhere in the middle. The narrator's voice constantly changes, from first to second to third person. I never truly understood why Artemio Cruz turned evil. Why he harbored such bitter sentiments towards his wife. Why he was so dissatisfied with life that he didn't care that he was acting contrary to the ideals he fought for during the Revolution. The author Carlos Fuentes aimed to depict this hypocrisy and how little things change. Every generation has its own bad apples.

"That's the drama. They're all there is. I don't know if you remember the beginning. It was only a short time ago, but it seems so far away... When the leaders didn't matter. When we weren't doing this to exalt one man but to exalt all men.

[...] Before it deteriorated into factions. Whenever the Revolution passed through a village, the peasants' debts were erased, the moneylender's property was seized, the political prisoners were released from jail, and the old bosses were driven out. But just look at how those who believed the Revolution was not to inflate leaders but to liberate the people are being left behind.

[...] A revolution commences on the battlefields, but once it becomes corrupted, even though military battles are still won, it is lost. And we are all to blame. We have allowed ourselves to be divided and manipulated by the lustful, the ambitious, the mediocre. Those who desire a real, radical, uncompromising revolution are, unfortunately, ignorant, bloody men. And the educated ones only want a half-revolution, compatible with the only thing they truly desire: to succeed, to live well, to replace Don Porfirio's elite. That's Mexico's drama."

The narrative begins with Artemio Cruz's reflections on his life in his final hours.

Focusing on the memories of this fragmented personality, it reveals the painful and tumultuous recent history of an entire country's social and political classes.

Some parts are truly astonishing, but the continuous allusions throughout the book make it extremely difficult and tiring to read.

It is a powerful book that, however, also demands effort from the reader.

This novel offers a unique perspective on a nation's past, delving into the complex web of personal and collective experiences.

The use of allusions adds depth and layers to the story, but it requires the reader to have a certain level of knowledge and understanding.

Overall, it is a challenging yet rewarding read for those who are willing to invest the time and effort to explore its rich themes and ideas.

What a wonderful book! I didn't expect that another book by Carlos Fuentes could give me goosebumps.

The book is not only valuable for its historical content of extremely important dates for Mexico, but also for the narration. God, the narration was simply perfect from beginning to end. Although there was an obvious ending, the stories that were complementing the life of Artemio Cruz make the ending seem even something unexpected, as if suddenly the detestable being that is presented to you from the first page finally gives you the ability to feel empathy.

I read this book for a school assignment, but truly I got much more than the obvious. Bravo, Carlos Fuentes, simply bravo.

«The Death of Artemio Cruz»

Finishing this book, I feel a kind of daze! The truth is that I didn't know what to say. Do I have the right to comment on this book? I feel very small... I feel that what I will say will surely seem a bit insignificant.

The writing of Fuentes is difficult, demanding, and elaborate. From the very first pages, you know that you will struggle, but in a way, which is called craftsmanship, you get hooked with it. You don't want to let it go. This difficulty of the writing magnetizes you... you want to play with his own terms.

I felt tired from reading. Unable to read many pages at once. But when I put it down, after a while, the desire to continue would be created in me.

The last page is hair-raising! This man, in essence, tells his life using all three persons (I, you, he), describes his last scenes in the operating room before he dies. You are shocked by the brutality of his words and descriptions. A brutality of a man who knows what is coming and is aware of it. This shocks you... the acceptance of the truth... the acceptance of death... the anticipation of death...

Despite all the difficulties for the reader, in the end, it is rewarding because its hard labor tears your heart and soul!

It is not easy to read. Literally speaking: the alternation among three grammatical persons, fragmentation and temporal disorder, the stream of consciousness/interior monologue of the most cryptic order (as in the chapter of the disabled boy in The Sound and the Fury, but almost the entire novel). The poetic impact is undeniable. On the one hand, the chaotic and sensory style makes us feel and suffer firsthand what is described. On the other hand, it does not stop stringing together lucid messages and scathing critiques.

The complex narrative structure and the use of experimental literary techniques in this work pose a great challenge to the reader. However, it is precisely through this difficult reading experience that we can gain a deeper understanding of the author's profound thoughts and unique artistic expression. The alternation of different narrative perspectives and the fragmentation of the story make the reader constantly jump between different time and space, which requires us to have a high degree of concentration and imagination to piece together the complete picture of the story.

Although the reading process may be difficult, the rewards are also great. The scathing critiques and lucid messages hidden in the chaotic narrative make us reflect on various aspects of society and human nature. This work is not only a literary masterpiece but also a mirror that reflects the real world.

I regret that I have been caught up in reading during a new and stressful stage of my life and have not been able to give it all the attention it deserves. Perhaps it will be worth rereading it in the future.

Through a dynamic and original narrative, the author tells us the life of the protagonist from different perspectives, running parallel to the contemporary history of Mexico (and with a timely nod to the Spanish Civil War). In addition to the reflection on universal themes such as love or death, there is a profound social criticism of the PRI elite born after the Mexican Revolution and of the economic domination of the great northern neighbor.

The story seems to offer a rich tapestry of experiences and ideas, making it a potentially engaging read. It would be interesting to explore further how the different elements interact and contribute to the overall message.

However, due to my current circumstances, I was unable to fully immerse myself in the text. I look forward to the opportunity to revisit it and gain a deeper understanding of its nuances.

Unfortunately, I obtained very little from this book.

At times, it is almost completely impenetrable, which is truly disappointing. This is because I had a great affection for the premise. The idea of a dying man looking back at the significant moments of his long life was extremely appealing.

However, I simply did not possess the necessary tools to fully engage with this book. The content related to Mexican history and other aspects was too complex for me to understand.

I found myself struggling to make sense of the various events and concepts presented. It felt as if I was missing a crucial piece of the puzzle that would have allowed me to better appreciate and comprehend the story.

Despite my initial interest, I was left feeling somewhat frustrated and unfulfilled by the end of the book.

Artemio Cruz, the protagonist, lies on his deathbed.

From a series of flashbacks, he recalls some significant passages of his life.

As we journey through his memory, we witness Artemio's beginnings in the Mexican revolution movement. He was once a young man fighting for his ideals. However, he later deviated from his path and became a rich and powerful man. He resorted to stealing, abusing others, and even killing to achieve his goals.

The protagonist is in the hospital, surrounded by several people, including his wife Catalina and his daughter. They have no respect for him and are only interested in his will.

This book has a captivating plot, but it also requires careful reading. The non-linear narrative and Fuentes' play with time and different types of narrators can lead to confusion. Nevertheless, it demonstrates why Fuentes is one of the icons, not only of our literature but also of Latin America.

This is unquestionably a great novel about the upwardly mobile middle classes under the PRI (Partido Revolucionario Institucional) during the period from roughly 1900 to 1962.

Our protagonist, Artemio Cruz, is on his death bed, stubbornly refusing to make a confession to his priest. The Catholic Church is one enemy he absolutely refuses to pardon.

Cruz was born into a family of very modest means. The Mexican revolutionary wars from 1911 to 1920 set him on a path that would enable him to become extremely rich. He ascended through the ranks of the army that would ultimately emerge victorious. In the process, he cultivated contacts in government and developed the ruthlessness necessary to amass great wealth. As he lies dying, he is aware that his wife and children view him as a brutal thug. In turn, he despises them for their hypocrisy. They desire to inherit his money while simultaneously claiming to have clean hands.

This is an excellent book for anyone who wishes to understand how Mexicans perceive themselves and their history in the first half of the 20th century. It delves into the complex web of power, wealth, and morality, offering a profound and thought-provoking exploration of the human condition.

In my opinion, apart from the translation of Mehdi Sahabi and the pen of Carlos Fuentes, and the fact that Artemio Cruz's name also appears in the book "One Hundred Years of Solitude"! Another thing that makes us read this book is Fuentes' dedication to Charles Wright Mills, a professor at the university and a sociology teacher at Columbia University in the United States.

"Mills put forward the idea that social scientists should not simply be passive observers who are active in the field of research and theory, but should also fulfill their social responsibilities.

He believed that when they do not pay attention to their social responsibilities, they are at the mercy of special interests or incompetent individuals, allowing them to seize leadership positions.

He published books such as "The New Men of Power" - "The American Labor Leaders" - "The White Collar" to put forward his ideas, but Mills' most prominent work is "The Power Elite."

A historical fiction novel with a plot that I find quite believable, written in a chaotic yet very original way, in three time periods and with a non-linear temporal structure that somehow gains some relevance with the change of power and the arrival of new "caudillos".

The story focuses on Artemio Cruz who, on his deathbed, recalls how he went from being an official of the Mexican Revolution to a powerful entrepreneur and who sold his ideals in order to acquire power and fortune. But it's not just about that, it also touches on themes such as betrayal, unrequited loves, and historical themes of revolutionary and post-revolutionary Mexico. I think the novel is very well researched and the atmosphere the author gives it seems very good to me, although he abuses Mexicanidad a bit in that need to emphasize that it is a Mexican novel set in Mexico.

Regarding the way it is written, I think it is both its greatest virtue and weakness. What Fuentes achieves in this novel seems extraordinary to me, and that is that the story of a character (Artemio Cruz) takes on three different shades without losing continuity, which he achieves by changing time periods and creating a non-linear structure, mixing the present with the past almost simultaneously. This structure can be quite confusing and sometimes I lost the thread of the story, but once hooked, I found it natural to read.

I don't know if it's because I've recently read many essays and few novels, but I really enjoyed this book, and it's hard for me not to compare it with the current situation of the country, where the "change" of regime brings the misfortune of old oligarchs and elevates new caudillos, and if this novel leaves us something about that aspect, it's that revolutions are lost not in battles, but when ideals are corrupted. I think it's worth reading, even now that it has been written for more than fifty years.