I really enjoyed the situational comedy aspects mixed with the pretty dark drama. The ever compounding escalation of a situation can really make for an enthralling read. I would definitely read again and now I know it is part of a trilogy I will look to read the other two.

3.5

Writing in the mystical style of South American novelists, Louis de Bernieres creates a story that is hilarious and horrific, sadistic and sad, colorful, fantastic, illuminating, beautiful, mythical and brutal, tragi-comedy and allegorical love story of Columbia.

Senor Vivo, professor of philosophy, unlikely adversary, and Everyman, finds himself the target of retaliation by the brutish drug lord, El Jerarca, who has moved into the area. Vivo's audacious acts of heroism, in the form of anonymous letters to the editor of the newspaper calling for the expulsion of the drug trade, have been exposed--by his own father. Such is life in this lawless South American country.

His friend, policeman Ramon Dario, who invokes an ongoing series of philosophical commentaries on Dionisio's quest, urges him to save himself, but to no avail. Infused with myth and magic, the story of Lazaro moves in parallel toward each man's confrontation with El Jerarca.

In this imaginary country, inept, corrupt government, debauched leaders, tangled bureaucracy, and ridiculous laws all fail the People. Women are routinely violated and gangsters lauded for their "good works." Within the descriptive narration de Bernieres also comments on: the impact of American trash on ocean pollution, the vagaries of direct translation of slang, the corruption of Catholicism, patterns of promiscuity, and the impact of language on the social history of a country.

Can this nation be saved? Dionisio and his female followers believe it can. If, as a reporter quotes at the end of the book, "Journalism is to a large extent responsible for the formation of our National Being," then de Bernieres' is writing to us all.

Will make you wish that Vivo were a real person that you could go visit in Columbia. Magical.

Beautifully written and amazingly vivid, this is a book that covers a great swathe of narrative, and human experience. Sometimes it made me laugh out loud. One chapter prevented me from sleeping, and still haunts me. When de Berniers is playful, he is charming. When he plunges into the darkest aspects of human nature and behaviour, he is shocking. Through the contrasts, the dramatic shifts betwen light and dark, compassion and horror, he weaves a complex story. There is romance, tragedy, magical realism, comedy, and a fine story threading it all together.

I've considered trying to write a plot summary, but I don't like doing spoilers. So, let's limit it to 20th Century, South American, and about the consequences for a man who is brave enough to try and fight injustice and barbarity. Good people die, but ultimately this is a hopeful sort of tale.

Proti Válce o zadnici to bylo pro mě přehlednější díky menšímu množství postav. Jinak je to stejná kruťárna jako první díl.

I recently reread this book. I was looking for a dose of some of Louis De Bernieres' humour and magical realism. But I had forgotten how gruesome and violent this book is. I still loved it on a second reading though. It's a much more melancholy, contemplative novel than I remembered.

Truly excellent. Bernières is a beautiful writer; I struggle to find an author who can compare with his perfect delivery and his raw talent for making you fall utterly in love with his characters. Bravo yet again.

I really enjoyed this quite bizarre story. It reminded me somewhat of the style of Ernest Hemingway's "For Whom the Bell Tolls" in that the author captured the essence of the landscape and the people with vivid flavour and texture, and gave us a wonderful hero in Senor Vivo. The slightly paranormal experiences of the jungle cats and the ability of the natives in the mountains to astral travel and assume the identities of various deities is partly I suspect due to some hallucinogenic experiences with local herbal consumption, and partly paranormal/spiritual divination. Either way, it all goes hand - in -hand anyway doesn't it?

If you liked "The Teachings of Don Juan" by Carlos Castenada, anything by Ernest Hemingway, and "The Motorcycle Diaries" then you will like this, as I see this story as a blending of those three treats.

Enjoyed reading this. Great story, funny, surreal.

Only negatives i can think of is that the title of chapter 7 completely spoiled it and it is a bit slow in places.

An enjoyable read, along the lines of Gabriel Garcia Marquez and also an interesting satirical take on the coca trade.

Dionisio Vivo is a philosophy teacher in Ipasueño, who begins writing letters to the national newspaper about the effects of the coca trade on the people of this unnamed South American country (though, presumably Columbia). He’s a young man, given to idealism, and his letters are full of outrage and obvious concern for the poor of his country. And then corpses begin turning up on his front lawn. His friend, Ramon, an honest (!) policeman finds the message all too clear: the drug lords want Dionisio to stop his tirades against them in the press. A series of assassination attempts fail, leading to speculation that Dionisio is a powerful brujo (witch or wizard). But if his life is somehow charmed, that protection doesn’t necessarily extend to those he loves.

What a fun romp of a satire, full of magical realism and totally outrageous scenarios, one more fantastical than the next. I laughed aloud in many places, and cried out in dismay in others.

This is the second in de Bernières “Latin American Trilogy,” after The War of Don Emmanuel's Nether Parts. While it can be read as a stand-alone novel, the reader who has read the first book will have the background story that explains – if such supernatural elements can be explained – some of the more fantastical plot points and characters.

The language de Bernières employs is nothing short of delightful. Colorful phrases abound, and lend an air of fantasy and mysticism that just tickles my fancy. The story shifts perspective from chapter to chapter, sometimes leaving the reader feeling dizzy and disoriented. But as is true of many novels of this genre, the reader who can suspend disbelief and just go along for the ride will find much to enjoy.