Never too Late to Read Classics discussion

Our read for the months of Oct-Dec is Conversation in The Cathedral. (Note: Cathedral refers to a bar not a church.) GR describes it as:

A haunting tale of power, corruption, and the complex search for identity, taking place in 1950s Peru during the dictatorship of Manuel Apolinario Odría Amoretti. Over beers and a sea of freely spoken words, the conversation flows between two individuals, Santiago and Ambrosia, who talk of their tormented lives and of the overall degradation and frustration that has slowly taken over their town. Through a complicated web of secrets and historical references, the author analyzes the mental and moral mechanisms that govern power and the people behind it. More than a historic analysis, it is a groundbreaking novel that tackles identity as well as the role of a citizen and how a lack of personal freedom can forever scar a people and a nation.

Mario Vargas Llosa is a Peruvian novelist, journalist, essayist and former politician. He is one of Latin America's most significant novelists and essayists and one of the leading writers of his generation. Some critics consider him to have had a larger international impact and worldwide audience than any other writer of the Latin American Boom. He's won an impressive number of literary prizes including the 2010 Nobel Prize in Literature, the 1967 Rómulo Gallegos Prize, the 1986 Prince of Asturias Award, the 1994 Miguel de Cervantes Prize, the 1995 Jerusalem Prize, the 2012 Carlos Fuentes International Prize, and the 2018 Pablo Neruda Order of Artistic and Cultural Merit. In 2021, he was elected to the Académie française. Source: Wikipedia

This book is just over 600 pages, which is why it is scheduled as a quarterly read. The group will not be continuing a Latin American Reads in 2025 but the 2024 threads will remain open for comment. Please feel free to suggest a Buddy Read if there is a book you really want to read! I hope that members have enjoyed the books we've read and that you will continue searching out Latin American authors!

Aw. Well that's a bit sad to hear the Latin American focus is being dropped but as you said, we can always do buddy reads.

Well I read the first chapter of this book. And then I really had to read some reviews for help because the writing style is really unconventional. Honestly this one feels like work. I don't think that is bad. I trust it pays off but at the moment I don't have the energy for it cuz I have stressful family stuff going on. I need reading that feels more like an escape than a project at the moment... But hopefully that's going to subside and I'll have the capacity for this one in the coming weeks.

And FYI, I found our group member Luis' review to be a good brief description. And another very good and more explanatory review is this one https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I hope to start it this week. Jen - I hope you are able to get back into it. I’ve been struggling to get into and finish anything the last few weeks.

Started this book today...writing is atmospheric, authentic and caters to the readers senses. Writing is art, and art has to make you feel something. We feel the jostling, sweat, smells of the working class in The Cathedral, the bar-restaurant.

by Mario Vargas Llosa

Nancy wrote: "Started this book today...writing is atmospheric, authentic and caters to the readers senses. Writing is art, and art has to make you feel something. We feel the jostling, sweat, smells of the work..."

Mmm yes, that first scene in the Cathedral was atmospheric and sensual and the characters quickly grew on me there too. I struggled after that, when the text became more, as Luis described, Cubist- an interesting idea as I'd only ever thought of visual art in this term but I see what he means.

Pam, have you gotten into this one too?

Jen - No, I haven’t started it yet. After the 17th, my reading time frees up and I plan to start it!

Nancy - I’m glad to see you are joining in the group read!

Just finished this extraordinary novel!
I have to gather my thoughts and will
post my review tomorrow.
Vargas Llosa is a superb writer!

by Mario Vargas Llosa

by Mario Vargas Llosa

Finish date: 15.11.2024
Genre: novel (600 pg)
Rating: A+++++
#Nobel Prize 2010

Good News: This was an extraordinary reading experience! Vargas Llosa won the Noble Prize 2010 and he deserves this prestigious award!

Good News The meeting of Santiago and Ambrosio initiates a four-hour conversation in The Cathedral, the bar-restaurant-brothel ( = 600 pg!) where Santiago and Ambrosio go to drink and reminisce. The "hook" draws the reader into the story on the first pages: the writing is atmospheric, authentic and caters to the readers senses. Writing is art, and art has to make you feel something. We feel the jostling, sweat, smells of the working class in the bar-restaurant.

Bad News: Style: Once you leave chapter one...be prepared to concentrate on the reading 100%. The dialogue contains another dialogue that contains another dialogue, and so on.
Each dialogue involves different characters speaking at different times and different spaces.
#MajorReadingChallenge

Good News: I found the first 25% of the book difficult to read (overlapping dialogues). It takes time to get used it. Do not let that discourage your reading. The book only gets better and better. Perservere and you will not be disappointed.

Good News Knowing the structure of the book will make the reading easier. The book would linger in my mind while I tried to put the puzzle pieces together. There are four parts and they do NOT follow chronologically:
Part 4|1|3|2...so Vargas Llosa begins the book with the ending!

Personal: I stumbled upon this book by chance b/c it was a recommendation in the Goodreads group: Never Too Late To Read Classic. So glad I finally read this classic. Vargas Llosa is a superb writer but the reader must be up for the challenge!
Reading time: 19 hours
#MustReadClassic

Nancy - Wow! That was a quick read for such a long book! I’m glad to hear how much you enjoyed it. Looking forward to your review! I just finished up a library book club read and am now able to focus 100% on this book.

Pam wrote: "Nancy - Wow! That was a quick read for such a long book! I’m glad to hear how much you enjoyed it. Looking forward to your review! I just finished up a library book club read and am now able to foc..."

Book review: see message #8
Read-a-thon: I just sat down and eat, read, sleep and repeat for 2-3 days!

Nancy wrote: " by Mario Vargas Llosa

Finish date: 15.11.2024
Genre: novel (600 pg)
Rating: A+++++
#Nobel Prize..."

That's encouraging. Appreciate your take.

Jen wrote: "Nancy wrote: " by Mario Vargas Llosa

Finish date: 15.11.2024
Genre: novel (600 pg)
Rating: A++++..."
Another book I liked by Vargas Llosa was Feast of the Goat…lots of action!

Nancy wrote: " by Mario Vargas Llosa

Finish date: 15.11.2024
"
Thank you Nancy for your comments! I agree with Jen - I'm encouraged. The structure sounds interesting but possibly challenging. It's helpful to know ahead of time what to expect.

I was on the App and couldn't see your review, until I got on the website. All I saw was the book cover! Do you plan to read any other books by Llosa? I have 2 others to read, maybe next year.

If it took you 19 hours, it will probably take me at least 3 weeks! I am easily distracted, and my eyes get tired. I can't do 19 hrs in 3 days.

Pam wrote: "Nancy wrote: " by Mario Vargas Llosa

Finish date: 15.11.2024
"
Thank you Nancy for your comments..."
I took breaks…and use a very ‘easy on the eyes’ Kindle screen. Since I swore off ALL social media after the election I have so many more hours to read. It is amazing how much time is wasted “doom-scrolling”. I ‘ll read any book by Vargas Llosa, count me in!

I have Feast of the Goat at home and have heard good things, so that one is also on my TBR...

Jen wrote: "I have Feast of the Goat at home and have heard good things, so that one is also on my TBR..."

Central Latin America dictators…always interesting!

I read the first chapter but struggled with the second one because of the writing tyle. I will probably pick it up again in 2025 and give it another try.