Awesome for the authenticity of its vernacular style and the incandescence of its lyricism, One Day of Life depicts a typical day in the life of a ...
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Oct 22, 2009
Adrianna
rated it: 
One Day of Life
Manlio Argueta
Reviewed by: Adrianna Frazier
6 October 2009
The book that I read and am now reviewing is One Day of Life. This book takes places in El Salvador during the El Salvadorian Civil War. During this time it shows the oppressive environment created by the authorities who invaded a small village. The atmosphere is very chaotic and is enveloped in a cloud of fear. The novel is set up in chapters that are specific times. The entire book takes plac More...
Manlio Argueta
Reviewed by: Adrianna Frazier
6 October 2009
The book that I read and am now reviewing is One Day of Life. This book takes places in El Salvador during the El Salvadorian Civil War. During this time it shows the oppressive environment created by the authorities who invaded a small village. The atmosphere is very chaotic and is enveloped in a cloud of fear. The novel is set up in chapters that are specific times. The entire book takes plac More...
Dec 05, 2009
Alexndra
rated it:
One Day Of Life
Manlio Argueta
Reviewed by Alexandra Chenelle
Word Count: 570
War is difficult; there are many sides to it, many stories to tell, and more to it than just the physical battles. This concept is expressed very deeply and descriptively in Manilo Argueta’s novel One Day of Life. The book illustrates one day of a brutal civil war in El Salvador, told from many perspectives from innocent bystanders, to direct victims, to the ones causing all t More...
Manlio Argueta
Reviewed by Alexandra Chenelle
Word Count: 570
War is difficult; there are many sides to it, many stories to tell, and more to it than just the physical battles. This concept is expressed very deeply and descriptively in Manilo Argueta’s novel One Day of Life. The book illustrates one day of a brutal civil war in El Salvador, told from many perspectives from innocent bystanders, to direct victims, to the ones causing all t More...
Jan 24, 2012
Michaela
rated it: 
Though I usually don't re-read books, I would maybe like to go back and read this book in the Spanish someday. I enjoyed it in English, however, I felt I was missing out on something--the lyricism and poetic word choice would, I think, be even better in Spanish.
I thought this book was very interesting and informative--it gives an accurate-feeling sense of the worldview of the primary characters in the book who represent the farm workers under the oppressive government rule in El Sal More...
I thought this book was very interesting and informative--it gives an accurate-feeling sense of the worldview of the primary characters in the book who represent the farm workers under the oppressive government rule in El Sal More...
Oct 23, 2011
Mia
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Jan 18, 2009
Tony
rated it:
Argueta, Manlio. ONE DAY OF LIFE. (1980; U.S. 1983). ****. The author, primarily known as a poet in his country of El Salvador, is known in this country for this novel. It is a powerful novel focused on the repression of the common people by “the Authorities.” The writer was forced into exile by his government as a result of this book. The story takes place all in one day, and is told, primarily, by Lupe, the wife of Jose. They and their children are farm laborers in a small town. As Lu
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Sep 02, 2010
Giuseppe
rated it: 
This book with its lyrical, raw, angry and jubilant writing style follows the extended family and community of an El Salvadorian town which has been repressed by the state and helped by the church during El Salvador's brutal civil war, made famous by figures such as Archbishop Romero.
In the story the peasants of El Salvador have organized into the National Federation of Christian Cooperatives (F.N.C.C.) and in doing so they have become regularly terrorized by the Salvadorian Nationa More...
In the story the peasants of El Salvador have organized into the National Federation of Christian Cooperatives (F.N.C.C.) and in doing so they have become regularly terrorized by the Salvadorian Nationa More...
Sep 26, 2010
Héctor
rated it:
A moving novel based on the events that took place during 1 day in the life of a peasant salvadoran woman; it depicts the human tragic story of salvadoran or rather Central American life in the 1980's. a must read for every Latin American or anyone interested in feeling and sharing the pain of our sad history in Latin America. I just read somewhere that this book was placed 5th among the most recognized books written in Spanish in this century. Well done Manlio!
Jan 28, 2009
Ronny
rated it: 
tidak seperti sastra amerika latin kebanyakan, novel ini begitu realisnya sampe rada bikin sakit perut. bagus, tapi terasa ada yg kurang. mungkin karena saking realisnya jadi aspek kontemplatifnya kurang. mungkin juga karena terjemahan inggrisnya rada kaku. konon novel ini ditulis dg bahasa yg sangat khas pedesaan El Salvador
tapi mungkin harus baca ulang karena kesan pertama bisa salah
tapi mungkin harus baca ulang karena kesan pertama bisa salah
May 20, 2011
A heart-wrenching, realisitc account of the origins of the Salvadoran Civil War. Argueta utilizes multiple voices within the same family to show how each generation of women coped with the horror and violence of the secret police.
Mar 11, 2011
Josh
rated it:
It makes more sense if you know what was happening in El Salvador at the time. I read half of it, didn't enjoy it, went to class, learned about what was happening in El Salvador throughout the twentieth century, and enjoyed the last half.
Aug 08, 2009
John
rated it:
A fiction book about what life was like for "campesinos" or peasants in the lead up to the Salvadoran Civil War. Told through the eyes of 45 year old Guadalupe, who struggles with her household work while her husband is forced to flee to the hills from the violence-prone authorities. Also, her 15-year old grand daughter is being pursued by the same authorities when she too becomes involved in grassroots efforts to support the campesinos. This book is both an account of Guadalupe´s per
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Jul 25, 2008
David
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From the unassailable heights of the MORAL HIGH GROUND, the author manipulates the reader from the very first sentence. Though I have no doubt that atrocities were committed in El Salvador, it seems entirely probable that this happened on both sides, a complication that this book never even contemplates. I despise this kind of agitprop masquerading as literature, wherein the reader is manipulated to feel badly for not having the appropriate reaction to the author's button-pushing.
If More...
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7 comments
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(6 people liked it)
Sep 03, 2011
Robert
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An exceptional book. From the first rays of the sun coming through the thatch to the end of the day it takes you through the raw life of an El Salvadoran family.
Jun 14, 2010
Karra
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While this is an important story, I suspect the translation sucks, because it has been so highly recommended to me by spanish speakers.......
Oct 11, 2007
it's crazy to read this - in the 80s i would be in el salvador and even though i knew certain things - such as never go out at night, never look at the guerilleros and police directly, or talk back when they started saying something to you... it's crazy to read anothers perspective of what was going on in those times. someone that really lived it day by day
Oct 21, 2008
Kristen
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A powerful book that represents an ordinary day for a peasant family in the 70s / early 80s in El Salvador. As I read it I couldn't even imagine living under that kind of constant fear and oppression and found it difficult to stomach the extent of the US' and churches' involvement.
I'd like to re-read this book someday.
I'd like to re-read this book someday.
Jan 03, 2009
Michelle
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Through a fictionalized account, this book chronicles the soical activism of the poor in Central America. A true call to arms. Beautifully told. Horrific in its depictions of a real life wartorn country.
Apr 28, 2008
Behrang
rated it:
دراهمیت فوق العاده رمان روزی از روزهای زندگی
همین نکته بس که از انتشارش تا به امروز جزو متون معتبر درسی آکادمیک در کشورهای آمریکای لاتین می باشد
همین نکته بس که از انتشارش تا به امروز جزو متون معتبر درسی آکادمیک در کشورهای آمریکای لاتین می باشد
Sep 14, 2008
Teresa
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Bleak. cut off too soon yet was happy it didn't continue? does that make sense? the whole day was imbued with hopelessness that it was a bit of a relief that the horrible event was actually not depicted.
Dec 17, 2009
Lauren
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Great and heart wrenching! It takes you through a day of life in El Salvador during the high of the war. Amazing way to tell the history and get a feel of what it is like to live in fear. Quick read too.
Aug 17, 2010
tENTATIVELY, a cONVENIENCE
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A grim fictional look at El Salvador. Good reading for those of us who want to understand further what people in the US, like members of CISPES, were protesting about in the 1980s & beyond.
May 04, 2008
Shelly
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I read this book 20 years ago but remember it as a very moving personal account of the Salvadoran civil war. Things are heating up in El Salvador again . . .
Sep 29, 2008
Ryan
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Any book that looks at the way that the world puts power into the hands of a great family matriarch . . . Lupe is like Ma and Tom Joad combined.
Dec 24, 2007
Yasmin
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A gripping story poetically told. I tried really hard to find a copy of this in the original Spanish, with no luck so far.
Apr 04, 2008
Marlina
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Completely depressing, graphic, and violent this is a super realistic account of life under severe oppression.
Jun 20, 2009
Rebecca
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El Salvador. I find it interesting when a male author does such a good job of giving a woman's account.
