This is a magical realism book. I never know what to say about those.

"It was strange but I enjoyed." is the most accurate. . . but doesn't really tell you anything useful at all. De Bernieres is an amazing writer, if only because of the number of plots and sub-plots he can weave into a whole. Then there is his combining of the magical and the actual -- done in such a was as to make you feel that there is not any tangible difference between the two and our perceptions of said difference are a mere product of a mutually agreed upon reality. He doesn't seem to always agree with that reality.

I liked re-meeting the characters from Don Emmanuel. Especially Remedios. She's my favorite. Sometimes the descriptions of violence and gore hurt me. But De Bernieres always makes up for that with equal (or better) descriptions of beauty and wonderful comedic bits. It's a good balance, but I don't think I could read more than one or two of his books each year.

This was definitely my least favourite of the Latin American Trilogy. I struggled to get through the first two-thirds of the book. I found a lot of the subject matter a little boring and too lengthy (and I hate to say this as I really do love de Bernières' writing style). There weren't as many laugh out loud moments in this one for me. It's a bit darker that the other two. But I am very glad I persevered with it; the trilogy is wrapped up so beautifully. To avoid spoilers that is all I'll say!

Okay. After a while (this is a trilogy) the magical realism gets old, and the great little stories are not enough to keep me slogging through.

I tried twice to get into this, but it turned out to one of those books you think is going well, but you put it down one day and just never return.

I have been trying to read this book for over a year. The writer's style is very hard for me to follow...but I am determined.

DNF

A riotous final book to the trilogy, the story lurches from the sublime to the ridiculous, form great joy to complete evil but all gets rather nicely tied together at the end. One of my favourite series/books to which I am sure I will return again.

A great conclusion to the trilogy. I actually read this one first before realizing it was part of trilogy, and you can really enjoy each of these books on its own.

Third instalment of de Bernières’ highly imaginative and magically real South American Trilogy. Must-read if you like Gabriel García-Márquez, Günter Grass et al.

2.5 STARS

"The third part of a trilogy, following "The War of Don Emmanuel's Nether Parts", which won the Commonwealth Writers Prize for Best First Fiction. The author expands his panorama of South American life with a story full of quizzical events, where farce and tragedy interbreed." (From Amazon)

What you may need to read this trilogy of fantastic fiction;

. A knowledge of Greek mythology,
. A smattering of tourist Spanish,
. A complete disdain of organised religion,
. A suspension of any disbelief of the metaphysical,
. Time.

If someone had told me this before I considered reading any of these novels, I probably wouldn’t have bothered, but boy...... I’m glad I did.

I haven’t read all three parts of a trilogy consecutively since I devoured “A Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy “ (yes, I know, that was a trilogy of four, err, nope, actually five.....ahh, just bought the sixth)
Curiously, this collection did in fact bring to mind Douglas Adams, along with Christopher Hitchens, Tom Sharpe And a smidge of David Mitchell.

Superbly written, I can’t believe that De Bernieres has evaded my attention for roughly thirty years.
The three books are an incredible maelstrom of comedic nonsense, sex, poverty and horrific barbarity in the name of politics and religion.

There are plenty of people who have not enjoyed De Bernieres, but if you’ve not tried him and you were a friend of mine I would insist you give him a go.

Part of his triology.
Like GG Marguez, magical realism, lovely writing, amazing details, very magical and wonderful.