Spain Books

De los libros mas interesantes que he leido es para repetir lectura
contiene las costumbres y codigos de honor de los tuareg mezclado con la leyenda de una caravana con valiosas riquezas perdida en el desierto.

Este romance contrasta valores culturais distintos, éticas diferentes e paisagens diferenciadas no que pensamos ser apenas um deserto de dunas. Mas o romance Tuareg é muito mais.
Gacel aprendeu com seu pai a não matar mais do que uma gazela, mesmo que demore três dias para alcançá-la, pois ele se refaria depois destes três dias, mas nada devolveria a vida de uma gazela morta inutilmente.
Os "homens azuis" têm um significado muito profundo de hospitalidade. Aquele que é acolhido sob sua tenda tem a vida e a liberdade garantidas em todos os sentidos. E é exatamente por isso não ter acontecido que Gacel sai numa busca da recuperação de seu hóspede e da justiça do "olho por olho" para o outro hóspede que perdeu a vida. E ele vaga pelas mais diversas paisagens do deserto, aplicando a sua ira aos que lhe tiraram a honra da hospitalidade. O final, surpreendente, eu deixo para os futuros leitores. Mas o conhecimento minucioso do ambiente, a comparação de culturas tão diferentes, e o determinismo dos ocidentalizados em relação à vida da cultura tuareg traz à tona uma reflexão e um incômodo sobre o destino semelhante a outros povos de culturas tão diferentes. Toda a sabedoria acumulada por tantos séculos se esvai diante de riquezas no subsolo (ou na superfície).

Excelente obra literaria que lo llebara a conocer como vive la gente el descierto; y a comprender como pueden amar simplemnete ese mar de arena.

I read this book in German when I was living in Europe... it is a WONDERFUL story, and I shipped the book back to the States when I returned, and I still have it... I would so very much like to share it with other people but I can't because it's not available in English... WHY NOT????? You can't sell it if people can't read it... it truly DESERVES to be translated as have been other books by this author.

Tuareg is a really really well written story about a Tuareg inmouchar (venerable leader, somewhat below a Prince among the Tuareg) whose life is turned upside down as he sets out to avenge the abuse of his guests, protected by the millennia-old laws of hospitality and tradition of his people, when the world outside his desert comes to claim them back. With him we drink of the Sahara desert, "The land to be crossed". Together we surprise his enemies in his crusade to restore his honour. We learn to survive within ourselves in this beautiful, unforgiving and misunderstood expanse of the world.

I think Sabato is one of the best writers of our times. I'm reading his books again and again and this experience is always incredible.

I want to know if his last book was translated in English or in French...I can't wait to read it. I'm afraid, also, of what Ms. Sabato has to say in the end...Probabily I will rate it with 5 stars...

If you have informations about the translations of Antes del Fin, please contact me at: diana.lefter@flonetwork.com

Someone said here in Colombia that "Antes del Fin" bears witness to a century that is passing away. We've been told that ultimate realities are a sort of nonsensical by-product of the Western culture. Well, here is one of the greatest wise men of our century taking us back to ponder on ultimate realities. What is worth to live for? This type of questions (Hollywood hates them) led Sabato's life into the battlefield of authenticity and honesty. May the young people, especially of Latin America, be so sensible as to pay a serious attention to a voice that definitely is yelling in the desert.

He leido este libro y me gusta mucho, porque Sabato me parece muy sincero, habla de sus errores en su juventud, y de cambios en sus filosofias personales. En Buenos Aires en 2001, este libro fue tambien disponible en unas tiendas como un "audio libro," (libro para escuchar), leido por Ernesto Sabato. Despues de leerlo, tambien lo escucho. Es muy interesante de oir su voz. Frecuentemente escucho este libro (mas de 15 veces).
This is an excellent book in the form of an autobiography with a filosofical and humanistic pulse, describing his stormy moods, passions, ideals, and beliefs lived during his artistically inclined youth, and their changes from middleage to his old age.

Ernesto Sabato is one of the leading moral lights of the 20th century. His novels 'El tunel', 'Sobre heroes y tumbas', and 'Abaddon el exterminador' will stand as monuments to the pain of the searching soul. His essays, too, although oftentimes metaphisically obscure and highly idiosyncratic, are interesting and can generate considerable and fruitful debate. Now, with 'Antes del fin', Sabato offers us some ruminations from the perspective of a long life (he is close to his 89th birthday), a very personal testament to an age that appears to have lost perspective of the apocalypses that is bringing upon itself by promoting selfishness and wastefulness.

Although I agree with Sabato's indictment of the terrible things that are happening around us, I find his invocation of the 'Absolute' quite uncomfortable. It seems that, in his old age, Sabato is trying to look for a 'deity' that would save us all, that would give meaning to our lives, and he calls it the 'Absolute'. I would have thought that, after all these years of suffering and searching, Sabato would have found more answers, and hope, in simple human beings than in the highly questionable grail of the 'Absolute'. Evidently, however, I was mistaken. To me, as to many humanists, it's not a matter of an ultimate goal, of reaching the 'Absolute' in one's every action; it's, simply, a matter of realizing that we are all human beings with the same basic necessities, just one species among millions, and that we should respect everybody and the world around us just for that. No invocation of a deity is needed; no 'Absolutes' are required. Sabato is, I'm afraid, painfully wrong and dissapointing on that account.

Even though I enjoyed the book, with its gripping prose, I must admit that I didn't learn much about Sabato from it. To me, the powerful and real Sabato is in his novels, particularly in 'Sobre heroes y tumbas'. However, if you haven't been introduced to Sabato's world, 'Antes del fin' would be a good introduction. Only on that account I recommend this book.

Acabo de leerlo de una sentada y es quizá el mejor relato de una vida dedicada a la búsqueda del sentido de la vida misma que haya leído. La honestidad, la pasión, el amor, la amistad y la lealtad, el servicio a los demás. La búsqueda de la utopía, la denuncia de la realidad imperante y de la injusticia, venga de donde venga. Todo esto narrado por este gigante de las letras y de la humanidad de una manera enternecedora a veces, vigorosa en otras: Sabato, que sería de nosotros sin testimonios de luz como el tuyo!

This is probably, no is, the best book on regional cooking of Spain. Congratulations Mrs. Casas!

Penelope Casas is surely an authority on Spanish cusine. She has won numerous awards and The Spanish government has awarded her both the National Prize of Gastronomy and the Medal of Touristic Merit, naming her Dame of the Order of Civil Merit.

I own three of her books and have never come across any other Spanish cookbook that is as authentic and at the same time simple to follow as hers.

Delicioso is a collection of classic spanish recipes, but goes far beyond that. If you are interested in learning some of the history behind what the Spaniards eat depending on their region this is the perfect book for you. There are no glossy pictures here but the detailed explanations make up for that.

One thing that is missing here is a reference of where to find some of the ingredients utilized in Spanish cuisine. "Cesar" by Olivier Said and James Mellgren offers such a reference (the best one in my opinion is tienda.com) and I stongly advise using authentic ingredients and not the chorizo from your local grocery store. Trust me it is worth the expense!

`Delicioso!' and `Paella!' are leading Spanish cuisine writer Penelope Casas' latest books, following her similar pair, `Tapas' and `The Food and Wine of Spain'. In many ways, the later books are more similar to one another than they are to the earlier books. Both concentrate on regional cuisines. While the paella is certainly made throughout Spain, the dish originated in Valencia with many other rice dishes, described in `Delicioso!' as `region of the rices'.

Similarly, while `Delicioso!' covers all of Spain, it is not, like `The Food and Wine of Spain', a work which is intended to touch all aspects of the country's cuisine, although it is an excellent supplement to the earlier work. Since `Delicioso!' is organized by region and `The Food...' is organized by type of dish, they are like the warp and weft of the same piece of cloth. While the latter book provides the support and strength, giving us all the details about technique, ingredients, and wines, the former book enlivens the discussion by going into depth on selected regional specialities such as four different Tortilla Espanola recipes from Andalucia (Sevilla, Granada, Cadiz, Cordoba, Gibraltar) on the southwestern corner of Spain, which Casas baptizes as `The Region of Fried Foods & Gazpachos'. This chapter may give the historically naïve a notion that the Spanish Celts somehow brought a love of potatoes to Spain. The fact is exactly the opposite, as it was the Spanish who introduced the potato to Europe, specifically through the ports of Cadiz and Granada rather than the spud's coming from Ireland into northern Celtic Spain of Galicia.

Casas dubs Galicia as `The Region of the Sauces', which is entirely appropriate as it is very close culinarily and geographically to France. The other most important aspect of Galician cuisine is its seafood. Aside from being a coastal province, it benefits from deep fjord which harbor a much wider variety of species than can be found on less variegated coasts. It also shares with close neighbor Portugal a tradition of sailing far afield, as far as the Grand Banks off Newfoundland to fish for cod and trade in bacalao (salted, dried cod).

The provinces of Aragon and Navarra in the interior border with France in the northeast (location of Pamplona and Zaragoza) are named `Region of the Peppers'. But, one thing that strikes me as I go through this book is how pervasive certain foods are throughout Spanish cuisine. Every region makes heavy use of sweet peppers, especially in the form of pimiento and paprika. While Aragon is `...Peppers', the recipe for stuffed pepper is in the chapter on `...Sauces'. As of this reading, I have not yet sensed a great divide as there is between northern and southern Italy. I do not hold this against Casas' culinary expertise of against this book, as I am entranced by the variety of the recipes within the world of important Spanish products.

The most interesting aspect of the `Region of the Casseroles', Spain's southeastern Mediterranean coast of Catalunya (including major port Barcelona) is in the cooking in Spanish earthenware. This is the point at which I regret that Ms. Casas was not more photographically oriented, as a book based on location would be well served by a decent number of photographs, including some nice snaps of these earthenware cookpots. As the region closest to Provence and Northern Italy, I sense a lot of similarity in the use of garlic, greens, bread, and thick soups. In fact, I am constantly amazed by how much garlic shows up in Spanish recipes. The eight (8) to sixteen (16) cloves specified for some recipes would make a Sicilian blanche.

Landlocked central Spain of Castilla, Extremadura, and Castilla-La Mancha (including Madrid, Salamanca, Segovia, and Guadalupe) is baptized as the `Region of the Roasts'. I am quite surprised, after seeing recipe after recipe and paean after paean to tapas, Tortilla Espanola, and paella, to find this chapter identifying the Cocido, `a meal-in-a-pot' based on chickpeas, vegetables, and meats, that has been praised in poetry and lauded in popular song...' as the `National Dish' of Spain. This in spite of the fact that the recipes look remarkably like the French Cassolet, with a few changes in ingredients. But then, this is why we don't limit our culinary reading to `The Joy of Cooking'. Having said that, I am surprised that Casas gives us but a single recipe for cocido. What I do see is more recipes for potatoes, eggs, leafy green vegetables, and asparagus. The roasts of the region are primarily lamb, pig, and chicken, heavy on braising and marinading.

The southeastern Spain of Valencia is, obviously, `The Region of the Rices', the home of the paella and saffron. Amazingly, it was not the Romans (who introduced olives and grapes to Hispania) but the Moors who introduced rice and the irrigation techniques needed to cultivate it to Valencia. I will say much more about paella in my review of the book `Paella!' but I do note that Casas does not duplicate any specific recipes across the two books, although there are many similar recipes, as seafood, game, meat, and mixed paella recipes appear in both books.

The previously mentioned `Region of Fried Foods' also happens to be the region of Sherry and Sherry vinegar. This means that sherry vinegar is a much more important ingredient in Andalucia than in most other parts of Spain.

The last region and the one closest to the New World is the Canary Islands, fittingly entitled `The Region of the Mojos'. This is appropriate as it gives a subtle link to the cuisine of Mexico. Casas and other writers often point out that there are few similarities between the cuisines of Spain and Mexico, but there are some, and the spicy dipping sauces of the Canaries are one hint of the overlap.

If your cookbook shelf is limited, get `Delicioso!'. If you are a paella fanatic, get `Paella!', but consider both.

I was first introduced to Penelope Casas' books several years back when a friend gave me "The Foods and Wine of Spain". I have been hooked since. Her recipes are always on target and delicious. A particular focus of this book is the regional differences in Spanish cuisine. From the Moorish influenced lamb and melon stew to the Catalan garlic chicken, Casas covers the cuisine deliciously. I use this book regularly and have followed its suggestions on restaurants and tapas bars when visiting Spain.

I originally stumbled across this book looking for some variety. Having ancestors from Spain, I thought this would be an interesting adventure. Delicioso has surpassed my expectations. I have made several dishes and all have been quite excellent and easy to prepare with American ingredients. I also enjoy the commentary and education on the regional differences and origins of items. It is well worth it - we love it!

I picked this book by using the "pick a random book with your eyes closed" method at the library.

For an American this book can be tough to start. The "poor talk" that Lovelace used throughout the book can be a little tough to get through, but don't give up! It is too good of a book to let one minor flaw stop you. (And a little secret: As the book progresses, Lovelace seems to have trouble keeping up the "poor talk" and becomes a lot smoother to read).

Lovelace's use of description is almost without comparison. He has Hugo's gift of description without having to use chapters to describe a building, person, or general area. His one line descriptions hit so dead on that you almost feel as if you are standing in "the Hill".

The story itself is also an amazing read, but most reviewers seemed to have missed the biggest purpose behind this book (whether Lovelace intended it or not, it is the overall theme). The major theme is that we all judge people without knowing them fully. We hold people back because we don't like the partial picture we are presented. We never take the time to learn the whole story. As you read the book, you think to yourself how you want to be better. You don't want to judge. You vow to yourself that you will stop, when suddenly the last paragraph hits and you realize, "Wow, I am STILL judging without the whole story, maybe it's not possible to stop." If the last paragraph did not make you think this, I suggest you reread the book and think about each character and how you feel about them.

Overall, an amazing read. Lovelace writes an amazing book, with the only flaw being that the "poor talk" seems a little forced. As the book progressed, he seemed to get into a more comfortable area.

Definitely Recommended!

Don't get me wrong I enjoyed this story but in all honesty I thought it was a GOOD but not GREAT story. A little too stiff for me. I did like the characters but at times the reading got a little too much like work just trying to get to another part of the story that was a little more fun and not as much work. [I think I said that right], nothing personal just one reader's opinion.

The "double vision" of Caribbean life is portrayed in the life of Aldrick who is caught between generational and cultural conflicts. And all of this during Carnival! The Dragon Can't Dance was almost prophetic in the depiction of the commercialization of Mas. Change always brings choice and Lovelace's characters highlight the necessary pain that comes with any decision.

In Earl Lovelace, without exception, we have the Master Storyteller of the Caribbean. Even years after its publication (1979 and 1998), "Dragon" remains peerless as an authentic, forceful voice of postcolonial Trinidadian society. Nowhere else have the intricacies of carnival been more profoundly explored and dissected than here by the artful mastery of prose in this defining portrait. Lovelace's stinging critique of race and politics is poignant and luminously presented. With heavy symbolism and sensitivity, the story reaches successfully beyond Caribbean life to touch the larger human condition itself. The central figure of Aldrick (whose "mission" is to performa the Dragon dance during carnival) embodies a entire people's frustrations and aspirations. This is an unexaggerated powerful tale by one my absolute favorite Caribbean writers. This story is timeless and one of Lovelace's best creations, far surpassing, in my opinion, his other wonderful novels like "The Wine of Astonishment", "The Schoolmaster", or even "Salt." Anyone sincerely interested in Caribbean culture and literature will find this novel indispensable reading.

Alan Cambeira
Author of AZUCAR! The Story of Sugar (a novel)

I loved this book so much that I recommended it to all my family and friends. Earl Lovelace captured everything that Carnival means for Trini people. The characters are so real that the faces that I chose to see them as, were faces of people that I actaully knew in my family. LOL. This novel will make all readers want to take a trip to Trinidad and experience life there. This book is just too sweet for words!!!!

Es un libro interesantísimo que nos da un recorrido por las diferentes rutas que han llevado a latinoamerica a la decadencia de hoy en dia.
Le recomiendo este libro a todo aquel interesado en saber mas allá de lo obvio sobre el origen del subdesarrollo y la miseria en nuestros paises.

I know a lot of intelligent people whose ideas never change and think that determinate regimen is the solution to sweep away poverty. But they never attend the facts in their effort to maintain their beliefs. If you think you are a smart person you must agreed William Blake's quotation "The man who never alters his opinions is like standing water, and breeds reptiles of the mind". No matter what kind of ideas you profess about underdevelopment, this book surely is going to confront a lot of them and will provide you with a wider view. Give it a change to understand why Latin America is so poor.

This book shows everything that has gone wrong n latinamerica and it not only shows one side. It talks about the bad things that corporations, unions, dictators, politicians etc. have done and why thanks to all of them and also the peole latin america is as bad as it is today.

Brilliant! An excellent book for those really concerned about the social and economical future of Latin America...For those who want to make a change.

excelent book, I really enjoy it because tell the true history of Latin America

Me gusto mucho el libro al punto que no queria que se me acabara y no lo podia soltar

Isabel Allende siempre ofrece un deleite literario, este libro es la continuación de "Paula", que pasó despues y como sigue la Familia que Pula dejó,,, o ¿sigue con ellos?. Una novela entre la realidad y el toque ficticio de la escritora. MUY RECOMENDABLE

As much as I like (actually adore) Isabel Allende's writings and style, La Suma de los Días is not in my opinion up to Isabel's standards. It felt weak and repetitive. But at the same time maybe that it is exactly what she was aiming for. Inner family matters and things of the heart and emotions tend to be weak and repetitive with a twist of hope and eternity. Having said that, I read the book in 3 days hoping until the very end that the next line would become the starting point for the ususally turn-page reading Isabel always brings to her readers. But this is not a worry at all. I consider myself the most common and ordinary of all her fans. Likely one that she will never meet but always will be with her waiting for her next master piece.

If you dreamt about meeting Isabel, look no further! Her book is warm and realistic. There is no need to try to imagine how she is in real life because the book allows you to meet her in the most profound way. With her extraordinary writing Isabel becomes your best friend, mother, daughter, son, or as she calls it "a member of her tribe". I am looking forward to her next book and wonder, what could be better than, La Suma de los Dias!

I have read every single book written by Isabel Allende who is one of my favorite authors. This new book is wonderful, as usual.

I have read this book and i think its just one of the greatest stories of all times. It describes the life of a girl, Andrea, who moves to Barcelona to study in a post-war society. She lives in her grandmother's house with her aunt Angustias, her uncles Juan and Roman, Juan's wife, Gloria, their son, and the maid, Antonia. Carmen Laforet perfectly describes every situation, like the impression she got when she first walked into her new home, or her fragile relationship with Ena, the beautiful girl in college, who becomes her best friend, an who also is strangely attracted to Roman. This is the circle of situations in qhich the story develops. I highly recommend it.

I have read this book and i think its just one of the greatest stories of all times. It describes the life of a girl, Andrea, who moves to Barcelona to study in a post-war society. She lives in her grandmother's house with her aunt Angustias, her uncles Juan and Roman, Juan's wife, Gloria, their son, and the maid, Antonia. Carmen Laforet perfectly describes every situation, like the impression she got when she first walked into her new home, or her fragile relationship with Ena, the beautiful girl in college, who becomes her best friend, an who also is strangely attracted to Roman. This is the circle of situations in which the story develops. I highly recommend it.

I had to read this book first for a class but loved it so much I wanted a copy of my own. Carmen Laforet is an extremely talented author and a great read if you enjoy works from the posguerra period in Spain. I found it easier to read than some works by other posguerra authors (Spanish is my second language so I sometimes struggle with some vocabulary).

"Nada" es el encanto original de Barcelona, la tenebrosa antigüedad de algunas calles, la noche como un compendio de aventuras confusas. Su virtud reside más en la rebuscada sicología de Andrea y sus congéneres que en la eficiente escritura de Carmen Laforet. Más que cualquier otra cosa, la casa de la calle Aribau es el logro mayor del libro, quedando para siempre su decadente y asfixiante impronta en el imaginario colectivo, un espacio habitualmente esquivo a las construcciones literarias.

This is an excellent novel. From the very beginning Carmen Laforet manages to create a very interesting and convincing atmosphere, the characters are full and the plot does not stagnate. I have read it several times and always enjoyed it.

I bought this copy of the book after having lost my original. I felt that I needed to read this book again, after meeting El Cordobes in Benidorm many years ago when Benidorn was still a small towm.
Well worth reading a second time.

Dominique Lapierre and Larry Collins have written a great book. "Or I'll Dress You In Mourning" is a powerful account of the life and times of "El Cordobes", which I had the good fortune of watching him fight a bull in the 60's in a black and white footage. His lack of fear and proximity to the bull while making his "passes" can only be described as exceptional courage! Regardless wether a person likes or does not like bullfighting as a sport or as an art, the fact remains that these particular kind of bulls are a breed that can quite easily kill a person with just one gore of their deadly horns. These are no friendly, peaceful animals. Some of them are amazing sights. Just to imagine one charging at you knowing their split second reactions allows them to turn on a dime, sort of speak, makes a person appreciate the drama involved in a "corrida". The story of "El Cordobes" and the period of time in which it took place in Spain makes for great reading. This "Matador's" poverty and desire to become the best is nothing short of exceptional. Dominique Lapierre is a great writer. Another great book by him is "City of Joy". A book of such spiritual force that leaves the reader helpless with awareness. I like the fact that this kind of writing is non fictional. Larry Colling has collaborated with Lapierre and must take equal amounts of credit for this book. 5 stars for this great book, a proud inclusion in anyone's library.

Perhaps one of the best biographies I have ever read, this book tells the story of the fabled Spanish bullfighter Manuel Benitez "El Cordobes"!

Born in strict poverty, this youngser defied all the odds in becoming perhaps the most famous modern day "toreador"! His phenominal rise to fame is truly something out of a novel! El Cordobes, desperate, illiterate, starving had one dream, to become a bullfighter. And the odds were stacked heavily against him. This noble profession certainly had no room for such a peasant! But the heavens were looking out for him and rise he did. With the help of an influential patron, El Cordobes succeeded, and with a fervor almost unparalleled. This is no "dull biography" but a gripping one, complete with all the ingredients of a first-rate novel! (Billyjhobbs@tyler.net)

This is my favourite book of all times. I have read it at least seven or eight times and every time, it never fails to excite me. The story is well told and animated and as well as understanding the life of El Cordobes, you also learn so much about the history of Spain, the era of Franco and the impact his tyranny had on the country. If you read this book, I guarantee you will not be disappointed.

I've read this book twice now. Never fails to enthrall me. It is great on 3 levels. One, a spellbinding plot that can keep you up all night. Two, it teaches some Spanish history and bullfighting lore. Three, it makes you grateful for what you have and shows that with perseverance your dreams can come true. A good book for a teenager. One of the best I've read in a long time.

This is one of the best books of nonfiction I've read. Not only does it function as a primary-source document for study, but it is genuinely good reading. Subcomandante Insurgente Marcos is a powerful writer, and this book documents a selection of his poems, letters, communiqués and even fables for young children. Marcos, the most wanted man in Mexico, will go down as a major figure in Latin American Literature.

Since reading this book (actually, before I was even halfway finished) I had decided I needed to buy copies for family and friends as gifts and recommend it to pretty much everyone. Marcos is an amazing writer, and the story of the Zapatistas is extremely relevant and intriguing for anyone interested in modern society, politics, Latin America, social movements, civil wars, literature and poetry, what "integrity" means in such troubled times, and so much more. No matter your interest, you will not be dissapointed by this purchase.

Too often those of us who seek social justice for people who have been traditionally oppressed tend to just reminisce on the past.

However, this book proves that there is a great social movement that ordinary people CAN , RIGHT NOW make a diffrence about

The history of Mexico, like the history of Latin America, is a history of pain, struggle, and exploitation.

Marcos shows us a movement that seeks to right some of the wrong, and leads a movement of the oldest of the old, the oppressed of the oppressed: Indigenous campesinos (farmers) of Southern Mexico. Where pictures of Jesus Christ stand right there alongside of.....Che Guevara.

A people that have been traditionally been treated like dirt, for lack of a better word, now taking an inspirational and highly moving stand and demand an end to exploitation and a better way of life.

Through their charismatic and briliant leader, Marcos, he tells us the story of the people known as Zapatistas and their struggle for dignity.

The dignity of a people no longer willing to tolerate centuries of injustice.

What human being cannot be moved by such extroadinary courage?

Without a doubt, Subcomandante Marcos is one of the most important present day writers and activists in the Americas. "Our Word is Our Weapon" is a huge collection of his essays and short stories about the Zapatista rebellion in Chiapas.As such, I highly recommend it for peace and justice activists engaged in Latin American solidarity work, the anti-corporate globalization movement and indigenous struggles. Moreover, it is an interesting study of grassroots participatory democracy in action. Read it and be inspired!

Subcomandante Marcos is not just a man, he is a myth in his own lifetime. The cult of personality that surrounds him is completely deserved. His poetic voice is so sharp and poignant you can not help but feel sympathetic for his Zapatistan cause.

The highlight of the book is the last third which features primarily his writing. The stories and poetry he shares are accessible to almost anyone. He is the antithesis of stuffy. His anecdotes and points are so simple yet so perplexing you wonder how he does it.

Summary:
Based on a true story, Captain Pantoja is transferred to Iquitos, Peru, an obscure town in Peru's Amazon, to set up a prostitution service for the Peruvian Armed Forces due to the influx of rapes caused by soldiers' pent up sexual frustrations. Dressed as a civilian, the service must be kept secret to all including his wife as this would cause a scandal for the Peruvian Army. Along with the prostitution service's great rise success and fame, a religious sect is building up in magnitude, as they leave behind them a trail of crucified animals bodies and people. Although a seemingly dark story, this book is a humorous look (presented as official army documents and conversations) at the absurdity behind the army and religious sects as both clash in the end for a dramatic result.

My thoughts:
I loved this book! I could not stop laughing for the entire first half of the novel and then couldn't put it down afterwards as I was entranced by the dramatic (yet expected) crash and burn of the service and sect.
Some criticize that this was a weak effort on Llosa's part but what they miss is the fact that Llosa himself knew that the book was going to be absurd and admits that this was the easiest book for him to write and the most fun. It was not meant to be serious and philosophical.
The idea of a prostitution service in the army screams absurdity and can only be met by laughter and hilarity especially with a character such as Captain Pantoja. The style of the book enhances the plot as you see how the captain's obsessive nature for perfection meets the world of prostitution.
A wonderful book with high high recomendations to others. If you've been reading serious novels lately, this is definitely a good way to relax and laugh.

Vargas Llosa es sin duda alguna uno de los mejores escritores latinoamericanos. Su novela Pantaleón y las visitadoras es de una prosa sencilla y agradable, su contenido es mejor aún. Vale la pena deleitarse y reirse leyendo este gran libro.

Vargas Llosa is without any doubt one of the best latin writers. His novel, Pantaleón y las visitadoras has an easy and pleasant prose, the content is even better. It is worthy to enjoy and laugh reading this great book.

the whole trama keeps the reader'smind focus on it. You will enjoy the beauty of the play and will get to know the intrincated-simple life of a small town nearby the amazona region in peru. You will be enchanted by this book. read it.

Vargas Llosa lo dice y aqui esta la prueba. Una historia sobre la obediencia militar, los conflictos del ser humano y los trajines de un recto oficial para organizar un servicio de prostitutas con caracter militar para los soldados asignados en la Selva Peruana. Excelente novela.

Vargas Llosa gives us in this story a view of what can REALLY happen in the institutions of our countries and to what length one of them (the Peruvian army) would go to try to solve an internal affair. At first, when reading the reviews of "Pantaleón y las visitadoras" I thought it was all fiction, big was my surprise when the author tells the readers that this is a true story...

I absolutely loved this book; it mixes humor with something so serious as the Peruvian Army. The characters, especially "Pantita" y "Pochita", were great... It is incredible how Vargas Llosa wrote this particular novel, at first it was very difficult to read, the story jumps to different locations and times from one paragraph to the other and until I got accustomed to that writing it was hard to comprehend.

Captain Pantoja was send to the Amazon region to solve a "BIG" problem: the men serving there were out of control, their sexual desire was extremely high and because of that rapes and the pregnancies increased. He was order to create a "visitors program". This was a group of prostitutes which only purpose was to sexually serve the army station there, the mission was supposed to be "top secret", but when Pantoja organized the funeral of one the girls, everyone finds out, including his superiors, and that gets him transferred to another location.

I absolutely recommend this book, it is funny and unpredictable. One could learn a lot about how our countries work and the weird things that happen in them.