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120th out of 232 books
—
293 voters
Tinisima
For this fictionalized account of the life of Tina Modotti (1896-1942), Elena Poniatowska devoted ten years of research to fully understand the woman who was so caught up in the social and political turbulence of the pre-World War II decades.
At different times in her life, Modotti was a silent screen actress, a model for Diego Rivera's murals, and a lover of photographer E...more
At different times in her life, Modotti was a silent screen actress, a model for Diego Rivera's murals, and a lover of photographer E...more
Paperback, 357 pages
Published
September 1st 2006
by University of New Mexico Press
(first published September 1st 1993)
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Before reading this novel, what I knew of Tina Modotti came from a single Edward Weston photograph. A beautiful woman with penetrating eyes.
Once I began to read "TINISIMA", I became utterly captivated with the life of Tina Modotti. Elena Poniatowska has a way of making the narrative read as if Tina Modotti herself were relating various happenings from her life to the reader, while the author adds her own commentaries as a supplement.
The more I read of this novel, the more I found myself curiou...more
Once I began to read "TINISIMA", I became utterly captivated with the life of Tina Modotti. Elena Poniatowska has a way of making the narrative read as if Tina Modotti herself were relating various happenings from her life to the reader, while the author adds her own commentaries as a supplement.
The more I read of this novel, the more I found myself curiou...more
I tried to read this in Spanish but Poniatowska's writing is too disjointed, each scene based on dialog or imagery rather than a narrative line, and it was too much of a struggle. The English translation took such liberties, not only leaving out large chunks (which is to be expected if the book is being somewhat abridged) but also rearranging what was there so completely (paragraph by paragraph, line by line, image by image) that it was no help for me as a guide for the Spanish. About halfway th...more
Una biograf'ía muy al estilo de Elena Poniatowska. La vida de Tina Modotti, una mujer que siguió sus instintos, al amor, a las desventuras. Con una forma de ver la vida muy especial, y que se refleja en sus fotografías. A pesar del mundo tan turbulento que le tocó vivir, ve la belleza en las pequeñas y sencillas cosas a su alrededor. Eso es lo que más me gustó de esta novela - biografía - obra. Pero también me quedó el dolor de la desilusión, la impotencia, la desesperanza y la rabia que sintió...more
Mexico is like a noisy neighbor you do your best to avoid. A lot of the noise is unintelligible; in a different language.
Politicians want to build a wall to keep Mexican migrants out physically, but they might feel differently about our neighbors if language and culture were not the real barriers to that which might bridge the distance between us.
Understanding.
Mexican authoress Elena Poniatowska, for example, needs a translator. Barring calls from some important New York publisher seeking to...more
Politicians want to build a wall to keep Mexican migrants out physically, but they might feel differently about our neighbors if language and culture were not the real barriers to that which might bridge the distance between us.
Understanding.
Mexican authoress Elena Poniatowska, for example, needs a translator. Barring calls from some important New York publisher seeking to...more
Fascinating novel about the life of photographer Tina Modotti in Mexico, Germany, and Russia. She lived in Mexico and interacted with Frida and Diego. She was implicated in the assassination of her Cuban lover. Ashley Judd played her in the movie Frida, in which Salma Hayek played Frida and Alfred Molina was Diego. Modotti was also the protege and lover of Edward Weston. Poniatowska is a fabulous writer.
One of my favorite books of all time -- combination of a great, true story of a woman revolutionary/artist, who was present at great moments in time (Mexican revolution and Bolshevik revolution), written by a brilliant author and journalist. I should read this book again... who knows if I'd love it 8 years after I read it the first time.
i got this book because i wanted to read something by elena poniatowska & i thought i might read it in english first & then read it in spanish. but it was WAY too depressing to read a second time. it's an interesting glimpse into the lives of communist activists in the 30's and 40's, but be ready that life kicks the crap out of tina modotti & she goes progressively downhill.
Hasta que leí Tinísima entendí la canción Spanish Bombs de The Clash. Lo que me quedó grabado, incluso más que el retrato de la vida en México, los artistas, activismo, etc. fue la Guerra Civil española. Excelente historia.
Jul 30, 2011
Linda
added it
Although I enjoyed reading this fictional biography about Tina Modotti, I would have enjoyed reading more about her photography, her life with Edward Weston and relationships with Diego Rivera & Freida.
I started reading this book more or less by accident, and was surprised how quickly i was drawn into it. The author really brings to life the story of a woman who i wish i'd learned about in history class. It was also a really compelling rendition of the Spanish Revolution, a subject i always enjoy reading about. I liked reading about these events throgh Tinisima's eyes, she was kind of the zealot i would have rolled my eyes at, and i was impressed to what extent Poniatowska helped me to walk in...more
This is not exactly a biography, but it's a beautiful work based on the life of Tina Modotti, one of my favorite photographers. I read this while I was in Nicaragua and it was part of what inspired me to study Nicaraguan photographers. Very, very cool. Also kind of sexy. After reading this, I was in Cuba and saw Julio Antonio Mella's death mask (he was Tina's lover and a Cuban Communist revolutionary in Mexico. The book talks about how he was murdered while Tina was with him, so I already had a...more
I read this book several years ago and loved the dramatic rendering of Tina Modetti's life of political, artistic and romantic passions. Elena Poniatowska brought Modetti's life into sharp focus with her usual compassion and honesty. I recommend it to Ponnniatowska fains, as well as readers who want to understand the worlds that Modetti and fellow political artists lived in Mexico in the early 20th century.
Poniatowska retraces, reimagines Italian photographer Tina Modotti's life. In doing so, Poniatowska also paints the political turmoil of 20s, 30s Mexico, the communist struggle in Spain and mainly how those who fought for the Republic became disillusioned with the movement's waivering and waning ideals.
However, the prose --though brilliant at times-- seems to fall trap of a writer's self-indulgence.
However, the prose --though brilliant at times-- seems to fall trap of a writer's self-indulgence.
Normalmente Poniatowska me encanta, pero éste la verdad, no me gustó nada. ¿Será que por andar en política ya perdió el toque la señora? Aburrido, repetitivo, parece más un reportaje que un relato o una biografía.
One of the best books I have ever read. I love reads like this one- going into the heart and mind of revolutionaries and written in a super-poetic and awesome way.
I loved this book. Tells all about revolutionaries in Mexico and Spain. With a realistic edge because it is historical fiction.
Áparte de ser uno de mis libros favoritos es una de mis fotógrafas preferidas.... que combinación!!
Jan 22, 2009
Kelly
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
absolute-faves,
historical-fiction
The story of this photographer completely fascinated me.
Fantastic biography of a brilliant woman.
i love this book! passionate
May 19, 2013
Pips
marked it as to-read
May 10, 2013
Isay Martinez
marked it as to-read
Apr 29, 2013
Jo
marked it as to-read
Apr 28, 2013
Adriana Hernandez
added it
Apr 19, 2013
Héctor Edición heymag
added it
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Elena Poniatowska was born on May 19, 1933, in Paris, France. Her father was French of Polish ancestry and her mother a Mexican who was raised in France. When she was nine Poniatowska's family moved to Mexico City. She grew up speaking French and learned English in a private British school. However, her knowledge of Spanish came from talking with the maids, so her written Spanish was largely collo...more
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Feb 04, 2010 06:54pm