Carlos Fuentes Books

Ese libro nos muestra las cuantiosas maneras en que lo norteamericano diferencia con lo mexicano. Siendo norteamericano, me identifico con Ambrose Bierce y Harriet que llevan sus costumbres y modales en todo momento. "La búsqueda" que efectúa el Gringo Viejo es algo que va en contra de las normas de la sociedad y me parece un poco tabú. La forma en que Fuentes escribe no añade nada al contenido ya que sus historias no parecen auténticas. Realmente no recomiendo el libro a los que buscan una diversión; pero sería aconsejable leer el libro si sea un estudiante de la revolución mexicana.

Gringo Viejo no tiene el mismo estilo de La Muerte de Artemio Cruz, es más ligero. El libro nos lleva a conocer las fronteras u obstaculos que tiene cada uno de los personajes y las de ambas culturas: Norteamericana y Mexicana. En lo personal me gustaría un final distinto. Si alguien quisiera comentarlo personalmente mande un mail.

This book is the catalogue for a huge exhibition held in 2007 at the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico organized as a celebration for the centennial of Frida Kahlo's birth. Self-proclaimed "the most important devoted to the artist in recent decades", the book starts with an introduction by Carlos Fuentes which can be read like a poetical biography of the artist, with vivid descriptions of the various influences, whether literary or political, that shaped her art (an interesting parallel is made by the writer at the end between Kafka and Kahlo, who shared their initials, and their relationship to their native cities, Prague and Mexico City).

After that introduction come the numerous colorplates of the works (many paintings, portraits, landscapes, self-portraits, still-lifes), each one accompanied by an essay written by a different personality (writer, art historian, critic, essayist)who gives his or her own personal views on the particular work he or she was assigned to comment and describe. This choice of making this book a literary study of Frida Kahlo's paintings,more than a mere exhibition catalogue based on art historical references, undoubtedly makes for good reading and sheds a different light on the works. Unfortunately, the quality of the reproductions is poor, which is why I only give it three stars.

The talented author seems to be a latino James Joyce wanabee. OK, but so much time on men's genitals? Excellent images of culture and the times are wasted on sexual rehash, etc.

When Carlos Fuentes writes well, he is a joy to read. When, however, he wants to demonstrate how learned he is, his writing is insufferable. This novel falls into the latter category. It is ostentatiously erudite and belches Fuentes' obsessions with highly esoteric questions. It is a cold, inhuman novel, devoid of warmth, fascinated by the process of narration itself and ultimately overly intellectual. If one had to create a list of works that exemplify the death of literature, "Una Familia Lejana"would have a well deserved spot on the list...