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201st out of 681 books
—
2,748 voters
The Troublesome Offspring of Cardinal Guzman (Latin American Trilogy)
With the same ebullient storytelling, luxuriant prose, and irrepressible eroticism he brought to The War of Don Emmanuel s Nether Parts and Señor Vivo and the Coca Lord, Louis de Bernières continues his chronicle of Cochadebajo, the Andean village where macho philosophers, defrocked priests, and reformed (though hardly inactive) prostitutes cohabit in cheerful anarchy. But...more
Paperback, 480 pages
Published
September 1st 1998
by Vintage
(first published 1992)
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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 me...more
"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 me...more
Thus far, this is my third sampling of de Bernieres' genius, and I wish I had read THIS before Corelli and Partisan. While I am eager to dive into his Commonwealth Prize-winning works, Cardinal Guzman made me giggle, cry and love characters non-stop. Rollercoaster of emotions? Even that is pales in comparison.
While each character has a different set of values to bring to the story, each also have quirks which inexplicably draw them to each other or make them mortal enemies. And while part of th...more
While each character has a different set of values to bring to the story, each also have quirks which inexplicably draw them to each other or make them mortal enemies. And while part of th...more
The finale in this stupendous trilogy is not unlike the 3rd Batman/Dark Knight movie-- seriously complex and overblown. "Troublesome" is the longest of the three, and unfortunately for those who were devastated by the central love story in "Senor Vivo and the Coca Lord"-- calling it a quintessential love tragedy-- will recognize rather this type of "communicating vessel" plot system (more than 65 separate vignettes which are wisely intercut to make the story seem all too sprawling and incredibly...more
I recieved this book as a surprise gift and had never heard of it before receiving it but as I read and enjoyed Captain Corelli's Mandolin some years ago I expected it to be something along the same line just set in another continent. How very wrong was I? It turned out to be a rare gem.
The story is set about a small fictional town in some impoverished country in South America and is basically a tale of good overcoming evil but it is also a tale who are remote from the Central Government of thei...more
The story is set about a small fictional town in some impoverished country in South America and is basically a tale of good overcoming evil but it is also a tale who are remote from the Central Government of thei...more
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The ones we love never leave us, even if they die; the state is a burdensome bureaucracy rumbling somewhere in the distance; being ordained by the church does not a holy man make; there is a case to be made for spiritual sanity; de Bernieres explores these ideas in what I thought was the first of his South American books, but in fact is the second, or third. Senior Vivo and the Coca Lords is the first and I therefore already know the ending. I'm happy to read it, however, because if it's anythin...more
This book was very entertaining and probably made me laugh out loud more than any I've read in a while. However, the author seemed to lose focus from the previous two editions of this trilogy. I was confused for about the first three-fourths of the book as to where the author was taking the plot, or if there even was one. He seemed to be content to focus on using the dialogue and events to make fun of clergy, to shock the reader, to tell funny antecdotes, and to make veiled attacks on every form...more
What can I say? The books in this trilogy are astonishing. I came to discover them after reading Corelli's Mandolin, a great book in its own right, but I had no idea what I was in for here. First, I'd recommend that you begin with the first book, The War of Don Emanuel's Nether Parts, and work your way up to this last installment. Written in a somewhat nonlinear plot structure, the story jumps from one character interlocking with others, and there are a lot of characters being juggled at once. I...more
This is the fourth or fifth book I've read by this author and as usual, I enjoyed it.
He has a devilish sense of humor and it keeps erupting throughout the story of a small, fictional town hidden away in the hills of some South American country. The plot revolves around a fanatical, hypocritical zealot and his hideous modern-day inquisition, but the book is far more about some very distinctive and quirky characters and their interactions.
This book is a sequel of sorts to another book, but can be...more
He has a devilish sense of humor and it keeps erupting throughout the story of a small, fictional town hidden away in the hills of some South American country. The plot revolves around a fanatical, hypocritical zealot and his hideous modern-day inquisition, but the book is far more about some very distinctive and quirky characters and their interactions.
This book is a sequel of sorts to another book, but can be...more
Nobody expects the Spanish inquisition.
Especially not in a 20th century setting, but effecively that' where this story goes. In essence this is a plea for tolerance, mutual respect and open mindedness and an illustration of what it miht mean to think that you have god on your side, and that god wants you to kill heretics. Human history is full of such atrocities.
Exquisitely written, peppered with marvellous, unlikely and irresistable characters, full of warm humour and humanity, this book also h...more
Especially not in a 20th century setting, but effecively that' where this story goes. In essence this is a plea for tolerance, mutual respect and open mindedness and an illustration of what it miht mean to think that you have god on your side, and that god wants you to kill heretics. Human history is full of such atrocities.
Exquisitely written, peppered with marvellous, unlikely and irresistable characters, full of warm humour and humanity, this book also h...more
I know people hate LdB but I'm a fan. For a start, it's rare for me to find a word I've never seen before but his books usually have a handful. I like the way he structures his books too - how apparently disparate threads suddenly pull together into tight meaning. And I admire how unflinching he is about human cruelty and violence - even if those passages often make me throw the book into a wall.
This book is very similar to Captain Corelli's Mandolin (which I also really like) - in its approach...more
This book is very similar to Captain Corelli's Mandolin (which I also really like) - in its approach...more
As with the other books in this trilogy, this one is great. DeBernieres combines comedy, satire magic realism and pathos in a way that few can. The characters are nicely drawn. The book is told ina interesting way - some chapters are told in the first person by one particular character - a Mexican musicologist caught up by the charm ( and charms ) of the locals. The restof the book is told in the conventional third person impersonal. I found that this book didn't move along quite as well as Seno...more
Blurb on the back: While the economy of his small South American country collapses, President Veracruz joins his improbable populace of ex-soldiers, former guerrillas, unfrocked priests and reformed - though by no means inactive - whores, in a bizarre search for sexual fulfillment.
But for Cardinal Guzman, a man tormented by his own private daemons, their stupendous, hedonistic fiestas represent the epicentre of all heresies. Heresies that must be challenged with a horrifying new inquisition des...more
But for Cardinal Guzman, a man tormented by his own private daemons, their stupendous, hedonistic fiestas represent the epicentre of all heresies. Heresies that must be challenged with a horrifying new inquisition des...more
Jun 27, 2008
Wendy
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
anyone
Shelves:
humour
The Troublesome Offspring of Cardinal Guzman is the hilarous sequel to The War of Don Emmanuels Nether Parts and continues the history of the surreal South American country which de Bernieres created in that book.
The president is still undertaking his bizarre search for sexual fulfilment with his ex-stripper wife, this time travelling to Paris for the fitting of a mechanical device to extend the length of his erections.
The government continue with their unbelievable corruption to govern the coun...more
The president is still undertaking his bizarre search for sexual fulfilment with his ex-stripper wife, this time travelling to Paris for the fitting of a mechanical device to extend the length of his erections.
The government continue with their unbelievable corruption to govern the coun...more
Quick glance through the most recent reviews and I'm surprised at the lack of love for this book. It was a book I took from the library when I was 15 and even for a girl who loved books, I was in love at first read. I've read it a bunch of times since (along with the others in the trilogy) and it's only better with age. Simply my favourite book in the world ever - clever and funny and devastatingly sad and fairly gruesome and magical and a whole bunch of other things that are completely marvello...more
This was my second de Bernières book after about 11 years or so. I found the book too crowded by people and sub stories. At the end it's quite difficult to get attached to two or three characters only. The story is full of happenings which is good but the rule "less is more" works well in a book too.
Too long, too crowded, bit too messy, but I guess totally enjoyable for someone who's also previously read The War of Don Emmanuel's Nether Parts and Senor Vivo and the Coca Lord.
Too long, too crowded, bit too messy, but I guess totally enjoyable for someone who's also previously read The War of Don Emmanuel's Nether Parts and Senor Vivo and the Coca Lord.
This was yet another heavenly book, and a very suitable end to the trilogy. I loved all of these books so much that some day I'd like to own a first edition of them. Just owning them in regular editions would be nice too, because I will grow tired of ordering them from the library. Since I rarely run across a book that I actually want to own these days, this is a huge deal.
Also, I wish I knew how to pronounce "de Bernieres."
Also, I wish I knew how to pronounce "de Bernieres."
Perhaps it would have been best not to have started immediately after falling in love with Captain Corelli's Mandolin. The first few pages were disappointing, as I wondered where all the romance and longing was. However, a few more pages in and I was engrossed in this mysterious tale. Another beautiful story, full of magic realism.
De Bernieres has a gift for writing characters into a tale and never losing track of the intricate threads he weaves throughout the tale. The peculiarities of his characters give his stories grit, emotion, humor and make them all the easier to relate to. Although at times his descriptions got a bit grim, he would bring it about through another tale and he finished the book in a way that even with so many different tales they were all resolved in a way that left the reader with a smile on their l...more
"Bought this at a thrift store in Seaside Valley, CA for a dollar and it was way worth it." - Jesse, Marketing Assistant
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What a great book! Took me a little while to get used to the narrative style, it's unlike anything I've read before. At the beginning I thought it was difficult to follow and a little dry, but once I got used to it, it was full of fun and laughs. I'll definitely be checking out more by this author.
I really enjoyed this book - it was a lot of fun. That said, it was a guilty pleasure - kind of like an Alexander McCall Smith take on South American magical realism that reduces many of its characters to caricatures.
This book started off a little slow but once I got going the story was a real hoot. This Cardinal beds the maid, has a child and he tries to hide the child. Eventually all hell breaks loose in this story set in a mythical Latin American place ( but really sounds like Peru). The cast of characters come alive and de Bernieres almost creates a parody of Garcia Marquez but the story never looses steam. Fun ending.
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.
Give it to your doubting Catholic friends and people moving to Latin America for the first time. In fact, give them the whole trilogy.
a fitting end to the trilogy all becomes a tad too magical but the three books are so much fun it's hard to be critical
Apr 28, 2010
Barbara Lockhart
is currently reading it
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.
What a miss-match of a story. Some chapters stood alone as a peice of fine writing, but others failed.
Bought this at a thrift store in Seaside Valley, CA for a dollar and it was way worth it.
A captivating tale of wonderful characters. De Bernieres rarely if ever disappoints.
Last part of the South American trilogy ... another gem.
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Novelist Louis de Bernières was born in London in 1954. He joined the army at 18 but left after spending four months at Sandhurst. After graduating from the Victoria University of Manchester, he took a postgraduate certificate in Education at Leicester Polytechnic and obtained his MA at the University of London.
Before writing full-time, he held many varied jobs including landscape gardener, motor...more
More about Louis de Bernières...
Before writing full-time, he held many varied jobs including landscape gardener, motor...more
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