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64th out of 72 books
—
50 voters
The Lazarus Rumba: A Novel
This extraordinarily ambitious novel sets out to portray the spiritual landscape of the Cuban people in the wake of Castro's revolutionary upheaval. Like Cervantes' Don Quixote, The Lazarus Rumba describes a country beset by social dislocation and personal confusion, a country whose soul is best captured by a lush magic realism woven from innumerable tales told in voices b
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Paperback, 512 pages
Published
July 14th 2000
by Picador
(first published 1999)
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I admit, when it comes to magical realism, I can be somewhat of a snob. I compare everything to Marquez, which makes everything fail. I try not to do this, but I can't help it. Aside from Allende, this is the first book I've read that can be placed on the same level as One Hundred Years of Solitude. It's like a rich fabric of history; a tapestry that alternates between the truth of things that really happen and a flowing, magical perspective that navigates through the tragic stories of the peopl...more
I wanted to like this book more... I just couldn't past the disgusting nature of many of the scenes. I don't do well with large quantities of flies, let's just say. Yeccch. And pedophilia is not my thing, either. I understand that all sorts of weird can happen in the name of magical realism, but, eew, I just couldn't keep going after a while. Sorry, Mestre-Reed.
I've spent the last 15 minutes trying to find a way to accurately describe this book. Everytime I cracked open this book I felt like I was stepping into Cuba in the 50's. This is by far the best book I have read since Huckleberry Finn. If you liked Water for Chocolate you will be enthralled by "The Lazarus Rumba".
Richly detailed and intense, the book presents a stunningly large-scale narrative of the Cuban experience, in a uniquely surreal style.
The story occasionally drags under its own (admittedly hefty) weight, and knowledge of at least rudimentary Spanish is a must, as well as some basic Caribbean culture lessons.
Given the requisite background, the intense story and unique flavor make the investment that it takes to this read novel a rewarding endeavor.
The story occasionally drags under its own (admittedly hefty) weight, and knowledge of at least rudimentary Spanish is a must, as well as some basic Caribbean culture lessons.
Given the requisite background, the intense story and unique flavor make the investment that it takes to this read novel a rewarding endeavor.
I enjoyed this kind of but I was relieved when it ended- it's long and unrelentingly sorrowful.
If you read this make sure you have a Spanish/English dictionary handy at all times- there is a lot of Spanish, especially curse words (which are fun to look up)
If you read this make sure you have a Spanish/English dictionary handy at all times- there is a lot of Spanish, especially curse words (which are fun to look up)
I wanted to read this book, I started it and then felt no desire to continue reading it... This seems like a summer time book to me. To bulky for the winter
The best novel about Cuba after the revolution that I've ever read!
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I've read it twice, and I thought it was absolutely fabulous!
May 21, 2013
Paris Chanel
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