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26th out of 301 books
—
152 voters
Frida
Narrated by Frida Kahlo's younger sister, Cristina, this haunting and powerful fictional account chronicles Kahlo's life, from a childhood shadowed by polio to the accident at eighteen that left her barren, from her marriage to larger-than-life muralist Diego Rivera through her tragic decline into alcoholism and drug abuse. Through it all, Cristina is her sister's intimate...more
Paperback, 368 pages
Published
January 29th 2002
by Plume
(first published January 1st 2000)
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di alismu langit berkabung
dengan jerit hitam
dua burung
di ragamu tiang patah
di kamar narkose, ampul tertebar :
rasa sakit dan sejarah
(Untuk Frida Kahlo - Goenawan Mohamad)
Siapakah Frida Kahlo, sehingga Goenawan Mohamad terinspirasi menulis puisi untuknya? Secantik apakah ia sampai-sampai ilham itu menyembul dari benak seorang penyair seperti Goenawan, menjelma dalam bait-bait puitis sajaknya? Padahal jarak waktu dan geografis memisahkan keduanya sedemikian jauh.
Frida Kahlo di kalangan seniman luk...more
dengan jerit hitam
dua burung
di ragamu tiang patah
di kamar narkose, ampul tertebar :
rasa sakit dan sejarah
(Untuk Frida Kahlo - Goenawan Mohamad)
Siapakah Frida Kahlo, sehingga Goenawan Mohamad terinspirasi menulis puisi untuknya? Secantik apakah ia sampai-sampai ilham itu menyembul dari benak seorang penyair seperti Goenawan, menjelma dalam bait-bait puitis sajaknya? Padahal jarak waktu dan geografis memisahkan keduanya sedemikian jauh.
Frida Kahlo di kalangan seniman luk...more
Dinarasikan dengan sangat menyentuh dan menggugah dari sudut pandang adik perempuannya, Cristina, karya fiksi yang menawan ini memotret sejarah kehidupan Frida Kahlo (1907-1954), seorang pelukis besar Meksiko yang kehidupan pribadinya kontroversial. Kisahnya merentang dari masa kanak-kanak, ketika ia dibayang-bayangi polio hingga kecelakaan yang menimpanya pada usia 13 tahun yang membuatnya sangat menderita, juga tentang lika-liku pernikahannya dengan muralis besar Diego Rivera. Melalui seluruh...more
view all 25 comments
Frida by Bárbara Mujica is a fascinating historical novel about a fascinating woman. Frida Kahlo was a Mexican painter born in 1907. She was firecracker of a woman who painted with gusto despite the fact that most of her life she was in great pain. At the age of six, she contracted polio which left one leg thinner than the other. When she was a teenager, she was on a bus when a trolley collided with it and Frida was impaled by an iron handrail through her pelvis. Throughout her life she had to e...more
Jan 20, 2013
Nancy McKibben
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
diehard Frida Kahlo fans
Recommended to Nancy by:
saw it at the library.
Shelves:
reviewed
Frida
By Bárbara Mujica
Frida Kahlo is an important artist in her own right, as well as a tragic figure crippled first by polio, then by a horrific traffic accident, and then by her own pain, both physical and emotional. And if that is not interesting enough, she was also married to painter Diego Rivera, and partied with the famous and infamous - Trotsky was a house guest, and Paulette Goddard was Diego’s lover.
Given all that material and the skill of the author, the book should be more compelling...more
By Bárbara Mujica
Frida Kahlo is an important artist in her own right, as well as a tragic figure crippled first by polio, then by a horrific traffic accident, and then by her own pain, both physical and emotional. And if that is not interesting enough, she was also married to painter Diego Rivera, and partied with the famous and infamous - Trotsky was a house guest, and Paulette Goddard was Diego’s lover.
Given all that material and the skill of the author, the book should be more compelling...more
1 like
·
like
· see review
This is a plausible explanation of Frida, her art, and her life.
Many artists have painted their emotional and physical pain, but no artist has painted pain like Frida Kahlo. What could be the experience that created the famous oeuvre of gory self portraits in ghoulish settings? What could a woman see in Diego Rivera - a whale of a man with a reptilian face? What of Frida and Diego - the separate houses - marriage, divorce and marriage again - were they really communists? What of Leon Trotsky?
Bar...more
Many artists have painted their emotional and physical pain, but no artist has painted pain like Frida Kahlo. What could be the experience that created the famous oeuvre of gory self portraits in ghoulish settings? What could a woman see in Diego Rivera - a whale of a man with a reptilian face? What of Frida and Diego - the separate houses - marriage, divorce and marriage again - were they really communists? What of Leon Trotsky?
Bar...more
Mar 15, 2012
Diann Blakely
added it
Probably worth a look for those who want to know more about Kahlo, Mujica’s fictional biography, is narrated by the painter’s sister, Cristina. The affair between Cristina and Rivera was followed, perhaps inevitably, by the final series of health crises that led to Kahlo’s death, and the relationship between the two sisters would seem to provide an excellent source of material. But the story is clumsily told, and its choice of narrative context—a monologue told to an American psychoanalyst—seems...more
FRIDA
Penulis : Barbara Mujica
Penerjemah : Nuraini Juliastuti
Penyunting : M. Mushthafa
Penerbit : PT. Bentang Pustaka
Cetakan : Pertama, Juni 2004
Tebal : xxviii + 795 hal
Frida adalah novel semi biografi seorang pelukis legendaris bernama Frida Kahlo. Ia adalah pelukis besar Meksiko hidup pada tahun 1907 – 1954 yang kehidupan pribadinya sangat kontroversional. Dari beberapa sumber yang aku peroleh dari mesin pencari Google, mengatakan bahwa Frida adalah seorang seniman yang karya-karyanya sangat rev...more
Penulis : Barbara Mujica
Penerjemah : Nuraini Juliastuti
Penyunting : M. Mushthafa
Penerbit : PT. Bentang Pustaka
Cetakan : Pertama, Juni 2004
Tebal : xxviii + 795 hal
Frida adalah novel semi biografi seorang pelukis legendaris bernama Frida Kahlo. Ia adalah pelukis besar Meksiko hidup pada tahun 1907 – 1954 yang kehidupan pribadinya sangat kontroversional. Dari beberapa sumber yang aku peroleh dari mesin pencari Google, mengatakan bahwa Frida adalah seorang seniman yang karya-karyanya sangat rev...more
Ihan kohtuullisen viihdyttävä fiktiivinen kuvaus Frida Kahlosta - mutta Fridan sisaren silmin. Kirjailijaa ei voi kiittää siitä, että Frida on ollut niin mielenkiintoinen ja vaikuttava persoona, mutta arvostettavaa on se, miten teos sekoittaa todellisuutta ja täydellistä fiktiota. Se, mitä Fridasta ei tiedetä, täytetään keksityillä kertomuksilla.
Se, ettei tarina tapahdu Fridan itsensä kertomana, tuo kirjaan toisen ulottuvuuden. Päähenkilöksi Fridan rinnalle nousee myös hänen sisarensa Cristi. Fr...more
Se, ettei tarina tapahdu Fridan itsensä kertomana, tuo kirjaan toisen ulottuvuuden. Päähenkilöksi Fridan rinnalle nousee myös hänen sisarensa Cristi. Fr...more
It is a difficult book to rate. I was captivated by the multitude of emotions displayed within and yet at the same time oddly distanced from the characters and how they hurt each other and still be together.
I wasn't all that drawn to the book when I started reading this, but then I gave it my attention and the telling pulled me in. No matter the degree of realism and accuracy to what truly happened between the characters, it's an intense journey. It was told in such a way that it really felt lik...more
I wasn't all that drawn to the book when I started reading this, but then I gave it my attention and the telling pulled me in. No matter the degree of realism and accuracy to what truly happened between the characters, it's an intense journey. It was told in such a way that it really felt lik...more
As someone who avidly read the "Dear America" series of historical fiction diaries as a kid, I loved this book. Told from the perspective of Cristina, Frida's younger sister, as she sits with a psychologist, it tells the story of the two girls life from childhood, through Frida's unstable marriage to Diego Rivera, through sickness, until Frida's death. It offers a unique and interesting twist on the traditional biography, and the passion that Cristina has--both loving and spiteful--towards Frida...more
I had been looking for this book for awhile and finally came across it at BMV for $1 and took it on my trip through NY, Portugal, France & Spain. But I never found enough time to read it until I came back. It was an interesting book and I had thought at first it was non-fiction until after many chapters when I realized it wasn't. ;) I had mixed feelings about the book at some points I really enjoyed reading about the culture, or the ideas behind the paintings. At other parts there was just t...more
Frida Kahlo was an influential Mexican artist as well as a colorful(literally!)character. Her marriage to Diego Rivera as well as her many famous lovers has been documented by many authors, playwrights and screenwriters.
Barbara Mujica must hate Frida, however. This book had an interesting twist- it was narrated by Frida's younger sister, Cristina- but I found it full of hatred and spite for the main character. I've always liked Kahlo's art and her life story, but this was uncomfortable to read....more
Barbara Mujica must hate Frida, however. This book had an interesting twist- it was narrated by Frida's younger sister, Cristina- but I found it full of hatred and spite for the main character. I've always liked Kahlo's art and her life story, but this was uncomfortable to read....more
I enjoyed reading this and have to say that the description was often so vivid and so full that I felt I was in the scene. It was a book very rich in detail and emotion. And I like the idea of writing it from her sister's perspective. Some readers complain about repetition, and this was a bit trying at times, however, the life she was describing was also repetitious and trying, so it worked for me.
I would have liked to see the disclaimer at the front. This was a novel and key elements were made...more
I would have liked to see the disclaimer at the front. This was a novel and key elements were made...more
A fictitious story that weaves all of Frida's life as seen through the eyes of her sister Cristina. It portrayals Frida as self-involved, hard-driven and uncaring. It is a harsh criticism of a woman that struggled through life with little control over most of her important matters, yet it might be a truthful and insightful story. It is full of great details previously unknown to me about her life, her relationships, her work and her love for Diego the Toad. It was interesting to read this after...more
Honestly, I'm not even sure I liked this book.
The book tells the story of the life of Frida Khalo, her tumultuous relationship with Diego Rivera and the even more tumultuous relationship between her and her sister Cristina, whose narrative we follow throughout the book, in the form of her confession to her psychiatrist, following the "death" of her sister.
I believe that my main problem was with the writing of this novel. In general I thoroughly enjoy first person narratives, but this particula...more
The book tells the story of the life of Frida Khalo, her tumultuous relationship with Diego Rivera and the even more tumultuous relationship between her and her sister Cristina, whose narrative we follow throughout the book, in the form of her confession to her psychiatrist, following the "death" of her sister.
I believe that my main problem was with the writing of this novel. In general I thoroughly enjoy first person narratives, but this particula...more
This is a fictional account of the life of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo as narrated by her younger sister Cristina who both loved and resented her. It takes place during the first half of the 20th century amid the political turmoil in Mexico. While fascinated with the art and politics of the era, it was hard for me to get beyond the immorality and crude language of the characters. I just didn’t like Frida Kahlo, not even as a child. She had a foul mouth, was self-centered and demanding. It was als...more
di alismu langit berkabung
dengan jerit hitam
dua burung
di ragamu tiang patah
di kamar narkose, ampul tertebar :
rasa sakit dan sejarah
(Untuk Frida Kahlo - Goenawan Mohamad)
Siapakah Frida Kahlo, sehingga Goenawan Mohamad terinspirasi menulis puisi untuknya? Secantik apakah ia sampai-sampai ilham itu menyembul dari benak seorang penyair seperti Goenawan, menjelma dalam bait-bait puitis sajaknya? Padahal jarak waktu dan geografis memisahkan keduanya sedemikian jauh.
Frida Kahlo di kalangan seniman luk...more
dengan jerit hitam
dua burung
di ragamu tiang patah
di kamar narkose, ampul tertebar :
rasa sakit dan sejarah
(Untuk Frida Kahlo - Goenawan Mohamad)
Siapakah Frida Kahlo, sehingga Goenawan Mohamad terinspirasi menulis puisi untuknya? Secantik apakah ia sampai-sampai ilham itu menyembul dari benak seorang penyair seperti Goenawan, menjelma dalam bait-bait puitis sajaknya? Padahal jarak waktu dan geografis memisahkan keduanya sedemikian jauh.
Frida Kahlo di kalangan seniman luk...more
Apr 07, 2008
Jennifer
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Fridos
Recommended to Jennifer by:
Jaymi, in her love of Friducha!
Shelves:
biographies
This book was a work of fiction based on the life of Frida kahlo. It was told from the point of view of Cristina Kahlo, Frida's youngest sister and constant companion. The author speculates what it must have been like for Cristi to live in the shadow of her famous sister. The tale of Frida, entwined with the rich history of the Mexican Revolution and the Mexican Art Movement, is a fsacinating, rich and scandalous story. There is no denying the fact tha Frida lived a life rich in interesting expe...more
1 like
·
like
· see review
The life of Frida Kahlo has always seemed interesting to me, although I know very little about her. And although I was tempted to rent the film, Salma Hayek annoys the hell out of me so I opted to read the book instead. The author does a satisfactory job of narrating Frida's life from the perspective of her completely ignored, younger sister, taking her from a pain-wracked childhood to a whirlwind relationship with Diego Rivera and on to her own successful exhibitions, and I think the element of...more
I like to read artist biographies. I think that is like the least popular form of studying art history because it's too easy or too much focused on the 'history' part or something. I read this years ago and it was pretty decent. It is the standard Frida Kahlo story told from her sister's perspective. I remember liking it but I mostly remember that I was reading it when I met my husband. Like, literally. I was eating pizza and reading this book and he came over and talked to me. Irrelevant but tr...more
Utter drivel. The narrative is tricksy and too clever for its own good. Check the author's notes to discover just how much she made up. Clearly a poor novelist riding on the coat tails of the far more talented Frida Kahlo. Novelizations of real people are always slightly dodgy if not done correctly. This one is not done well and is clearly trying to appeal to the masses. I felt like I was reading a book by Judy Bloom, she probably would've done a better job!
Frida offers a first hand account of the life of Mexican artist, Frida Kahlo. Born to a semi-affluent household, Frida suffers a horrible bus accident and finds herself with a broken spinal column, a broken collarbone, broken ribs, a broken pelvis, eleven fractures in her right leg, a crushed and dislocated right foot, and a dislocated shoulder. She also suffers some trama to her abdomen and uterus, seriously infringing upon her future of ever having children. Broken, Frida finds her voice throu...more
Oct 18, 2009
Deandra
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Art Admirers
Recommended to Deandra by:
The Shelf
I found this book very interesting and exciting. Throughout the book each character that was help relevance to Frida's life was explained. My favorite character was Frida herself for the fact that although she lived in traditional times (early 1900's) she didn't seem compelled to do things of tradition and I feel that is why she found success. Her art is something to be admired for generation to come and this book (although fictional in some elements) shows that.
Saya menganggap diriku beruntung menemukan buku ini. Ini buku lama yg sdh sulit menemukannya. Membaca kisah frida kahlo dr sudut pandang adikx,christina,secara fiksi biografis kt akan terbawa untk menyelami suasana psikologis karakter tokohx.frida bkn hy ikon seni dan feminis tp bagi sy dia jg ikon pemberontak.ditulis dgn latar belakang politik dan sejarah meksiko karya ini sgt mengesankan. Tuturannya penuh dgn kisah dramatik tth percintaan, kecemburuan, pengkhianatan dan permusuhan. Tak salah k...more
Enlightening. My favorite part: "Most people saw Frida's work as surrealist. She never agreed. The after-life and life on earth were inseparable in Mexican culture, folklore and tradition. Seperating the two just didn't make sense. But for every time she attempted to persuade European's or American's that, in fact, her work was of a different nature, the more it egged them on."
Because this is a fictional biography, it means it was more fun to read than a real bio, but you can't be sure what you can quote to people. Frida is a spicy lady! I'm interested enough to check out a real bio soon. I can't imagine my sister having an multiple-year affair with my husband (along with hundreds of others) and forgiving her. Whoa.
Novel biografi pertama yang saya baca.
Meski telah bertahun-tahun, tapi kesan setelah saya membaca buku ini masih belum hilang. Masih meradang meski samar. Penuh dengan warna - bukan hanya merah dari semangat hidup tapi juga biru pilu, tapi juga hitam dari bayang-bayang yang selalu berusaha ditutupi tapi selalu menampakkan diri.
Meski telah bertahun-tahun, tapi kesan setelah saya membaca buku ini masih belum hilang. Masih meradang meski samar. Penuh dengan warna - bukan hanya merah dari semangat hidup tapi juga biru pilu, tapi juga hitam dari bayang-bayang yang selalu berusaha ditutupi tapi selalu menampakkan diri.
I liked this work of fiction about Frida. The author used her sister as someone telling the story of what went on in Frida's life & her relationships. A lot of it is made up, speculated, based on true events. This makes me want to read a nonfiction book on Frida & to find a book of her paintings & Diego's.
This is December's reading group selection. I was tentative about the book at first because I thought that any time I invested reading about Kahlo should be a non-fiction biography. Nonetheless, I found this work of fiction to be engrossing and absolutely worth my time.
berupa novel fiksi-biografi tentang pelukis besar Meksiko - Frida Kahlo (1907-1954) - yang bercerita tentang kehidupan wanita ini dari masa kanak-kanak - kehidupan pribadinya yang kontroversial.
lahir di tengah latar sosial politik Meksiko yang sedang bergejolak, penyakit polio yang diderita sejak kecil (membuatnya agak pincang), dan kecelakaan bus pada tahun 1925 (yang membuatnya tidak bisa melahirkan).
dinarasikan dari sudut pandang Christina - adik Frida yang cantik. ironisnya di antara pukulan...more
lahir di tengah latar sosial politik Meksiko yang sedang bergejolak, penyakit polio yang diderita sejak kecil (membuatnya agak pincang), dan kecelakaan bus pada tahun 1925 (yang membuatnya tidak bisa melahirkan).
dinarasikan dari sudut pandang Christina - adik Frida yang cantik. ironisnya di antara pukulan...more
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American novelist, short story writer and critic. Her latest novels are Sister Teresa (2007), based on the life of Saint Teresa of Avila, and Frida, (2001) based on the life of Frida Kahlo. The latter was an international bestseller that was translated into seventeen languages. Barbara Mujica’s other book-length fiction includes The Deaths of Don Bernardo (novel, 1990), Sanchez across the Street (...more
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“I know what you want to hear, doctor, but I'm sorry, you're not going to pry some sordid confession out of me.”
—
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