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Loving Pablo, Hating Escobar
VIRGINIA VALLEJO:
Top Colombian television journalist, cover model and socialite
PABLO ESCOBAR:
Head of the Medellin cartel, the founder of the global cocaine industry and one of the most ambitious - and brutal - criminals in history
Over the course of their tempestuous love affair, Vallejo witnessed first-hand the bloodshed, fear and corruption that accompanied the rise of Escobar's crime empire. In this explosive tale of drugs, sex, wealth and violence, Vallejo describes the man she knew and loved. But, increasingly plagued by threats of kidnap and death for her knowledge on Escobar's ties to the political establishment, Vallejo sought extradition to the United States. Her testimony would reopen one of the most important criminal cases in Colombian history.
Top Colombian television journalist, cover model and socialite
PABLO ESCOBAR:
Head of the Medellin cartel, the founder of the global cocaine industry and one of the most ambitious - and brutal - criminals in history
Over the course of their tempestuous love affair, Vallejo witnessed first-hand the bloodshed, fear and corruption that accompanied the rise of Escobar's crime empire. In this explosive tale of drugs, sex, wealth and violence, Vallejo describes the man she knew and loved. But, increasingly plagued by threats of kidnap and death for her knowledge on Escobar's ties to the political establishment, Vallejo sought extradition to the United States. Her testimony would reopen one of the most important criminal cases in Colombian history.
480 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
237 people are currently reading
2342 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 157 reviews
December 12, 2018
The topic is interesting but I expected more. I was annoyed how Virginia wrote about herself as a perfect person who guessed correctly everything that was going to happen but no one listened. Also yes, she was extremely beautiful but I don't need this book to tell me every 10 pages or so that she was a sex symbol, what was her weight and how tiny her waist was.
August 23, 2018
All I can say even a couple of days after finishing this book is wow, this one is lingering. Soon to be a major motion picture starring Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz and I can’t wait to see it. The story of Pablo Escobar told from the viewpoint of his former girlfriend, television journalist Virginia Vallejo. She met Pablo while dating someone else and invited as guests for a few weekends to Escobar’s ranch. At one point he ended up saving her from nearly drowning when no one else even noticed she was caught in a sudden whirlpool in the water. She told him that from that point on he was responsible for her life. Not long after, she broke up with her drug-addicted boyfriend and began spending time with Pablo. They each found that they had much to teach the other. She taught him how to be more media savvy with the press, and he taught her about the other side of life that she was mostly unaware of. Before long they each fell in love and spoiled one another and things were good for some time.
But it seemed before many months had passed with Pablo sending his plane for her frequently to spend time with him, she also started seeing another side of Escobar. Along with the good Pablo who helped many poor Columbians with food and housing from the profits of his empire, she learned that there was also a dark side. One who craved fame and political appeal and infamy. Also, one who liked violence and revenge on his enemies. She also found that he enjoyed flings with young women of little intellect, buying their favors for a weekend during times they were apart despite having her love and loyalty to him too. This caused her much anguish not so much from jealousy, but because it showed he was greedy and would never be satisfied and this foretold a very dangerous future. An advance digital copy was provided by NetGalley, author Virginia Vallejo, and the publisher for my unbiased review.
Vintage
Published: May 29, 2018
My Bookzone blog at Wordpress: https://wordpress.com/post/bookblog20...
But it seemed before many months had passed with Pablo sending his plane for her frequently to spend time with him, she also started seeing another side of Escobar. Along with the good Pablo who helped many poor Columbians with food and housing from the profits of his empire, she learned that there was also a dark side. One who craved fame and political appeal and infamy. Also, one who liked violence and revenge on his enemies. She also found that he enjoyed flings with young women of little intellect, buying their favors for a weekend during times they were apart despite having her love and loyalty to him too. This caused her much anguish not so much from jealousy, but because it showed he was greedy and would never be satisfied and this foretold a very dangerous future. An advance digital copy was provided by NetGalley, author Virginia Vallejo, and the publisher for my unbiased review.
Vintage
Published: May 29, 2018
My Bookzone blog at Wordpress: https://wordpress.com/post/bookblog20...
October 6, 2021
Virginia Vallejo, celebra prezentatoare columbiană de știri, 1981, îl cunoaște pe Pablo la o petrecere. Un bărbat aparent simplu și manierat, dar cu o avere imensă și influență obținută de pe marginea traficului de droguri.
Întâmplarea face să o salveze de la înec, și din acel moment viața ei se schimbă radical, vine un opus de pasiune, frică, admirație și dependență, combinație perfectă pentru a trezi o femeie aflată de ani de zile într-o relație amorfă.
💌Este o confesiune, o justificare, de ce a fost alături de Escobar atâția ani. A vrut să îl cunoaștem, cealaltă latură, cea presupusă a fi umană care o iubea pe Virginia.
Am apreciat unele pasaje unde i'am simțit sinceritatea. Pablo o întreabă, îl mai iubea dacă el era să fie sărac? Ea a răspuns fără ezitare că nu, ea se învârte în cercuri mult prea bogate și importante, și n'are nici o legătură cu cei săraci.
În micile escapade de dragoste și fericire ale celor doi, apar clipe când îmi aduceam aminte că sunt 2 oameni adevărați, am ajuns să nu empatizez deloc. În lumea paralelă mureau mii, și sufereau milioane din cauza dorințelor și a râvnei pentru putere a celui idolatrizat de Virginia.
☝️Nu este o lectură obligatorie, dar nici de ignorat, ușor de lecturat, a fost o provocare sa memorizez numele unor persoane.
⭐Lecția domnișoarei: o dată ce intri în dans, dansezi până dimineața!
#hailacitit #citimpentruschimbare
#VirginiaVallejo #PabloEscobar
Întâmplarea face să o salveze de la înec, și din acel moment viața ei se schimbă radical, vine un opus de pasiune, frică, admirație și dependență, combinație perfectă pentru a trezi o femeie aflată de ani de zile într-o relație amorfă.
💌Este o confesiune, o justificare, de ce a fost alături de Escobar atâția ani. A vrut să îl cunoaștem, cealaltă latură, cea presupusă a fi umană care o iubea pe Virginia.
Am apreciat unele pasaje unde i'am simțit sinceritatea. Pablo o întreabă, îl mai iubea dacă el era să fie sărac? Ea a răspuns fără ezitare că nu, ea se învârte în cercuri mult prea bogate și importante, și n'are nici o legătură cu cei săraci.
În micile escapade de dragoste și fericire ale celor doi, apar clipe când îmi aduceam aminte că sunt 2 oameni adevărați, am ajuns să nu empatizez deloc. În lumea paralelă mureau mii, și sufereau milioane din cauza dorințelor și a râvnei pentru putere a celui idolatrizat de Virginia.
☝️Nu este o lectură obligatorie, dar nici de ignorat, ușor de lecturat, a fost o provocare sa memorizez numele unor persoane.
⭐Lecția domnișoarei: o dată ce intri în dans, dansezi până dimineața!
#hailacitit #citimpentruschimbare
#VirginiaVallejo #PabloEscobar
March 8, 2019
Am citit-o fila cu fila pana la jumătate. Apoi mi-am pierdut răbdarea, asa ca restul cărții am frunzarit-o. Tipa este de o aroganta crasa și ma scoate din sărite?
September 24, 2018
This woman is a delusionnal narcissist. Complete passages have been devoted to the adoration of herself. Either she lets other people speak highly of her, mainly about her beauty, her expensive clothing and how many rich men she has slept with, or she tells you this herself. It is a constant name dropping of nouveau riche or royalty, people who have absolutely nothing to do with Pablo Escobar. A constant bragging about trips here and there, shopping sprees in New York or Miami while she also writes about the extreme poverty in Colombia, in such a way that she come across as a vile and shallow person. If you are interested in Escobar or Columbia, I’m sure there are other books.
February 8, 2019
Daissy Blanco This lady has a big ego, she mentions the same Valentino, Gucci, LV dresses over an over which makes me think she has no idea about writing and did not have any good style reviewers, however, I don't think she has a reason to lie, interesting to know that the politicians mentioned in the book still a major headache in the county and not much has been done about it and it won't change in the near future. Bad effort, but managed to finish the whole thing, this is not an Escobar Biography as intended, but a story about a very vain media character that happens to socialize with the scum of society and survives to tell.
April 22, 2019
This books was only written so that Virginia Vallejo can boost her own ego...she praises herself and her beauty and I question her reliability. The book bored me. It's more about her than pablo.
November 13, 2016
A socialite with a succesful career in modeling and newscasting reaches a turning point in her life and finds herself as Escobar's mistress but just as easy as she rose she fell in a nasty fall that shattered her life for something as worthless as love for money and status.
She lets us into her world even giving us the inventory of her millionaire ex boyfriends; she wasn't afraid of portraying herself for what she was: conceited, vain, bigheaded, among many other adjectives I could use, walks us through how her world is turned upside down for the worst when she meets Escobar and how she payed for her mistake.
The story is quite captivating and gives us a quick glimpse of the darkest moments Colombians had to suffer; the best we could do is teach generations to come to never forget so this never happens again.
She lets us into her world even giving us the inventory of her millionaire ex boyfriends; she wasn't afraid of portraying herself for what she was: conceited, vain, bigheaded, among many other adjectives I could use, walks us through how her world is turned upside down for the worst when she meets Escobar and how she payed for her mistake.
The story is quite captivating and gives us a quick glimpse of the darkest moments Colombians had to suffer; the best we could do is teach generations to come to never forget so this never happens again.
May 10, 2020
Este destul de dificil de parcurs si de inteles increngatura politica si mafiota daca nu stii mai nimic despre istoria Columbiei. Apar enumerate multe nume de pe scena politica si situatii de care habar n-aveam. Unele nici nu mi-au trezit interesul atat de tare incat sa caut detalii online.
Cartea este jurnalul unei iubiri cu final urat. De pe culmile extazului pe culmile disperarii. De la veneratie si pasiune la ura si amenintari. Dragostea dintre un lord al drogurilor si o vedeta de televiziune. Virginia nu este genul de femeie pe care pot spune ca o inteleg. Insista sa specifice ca relatia ei cu Escobar n-a avut nicio legatura cu situatia lui materiala. Eu sunt mai carcotasa si imi vine greu sa cred asta. Nu e genul de relatie pe care il aprob. Nici macar la inceput cand curgea numai lapte si miere.
E mai bine sa plangi intr-un Mercedes decat intr-un autobuz.
Cartea incearca sa demonteze imaginea pe care presa a creat-o despre ei: o diva burgheza si un bandit miliardar..dar mie n-a reusit sa-mi inspire altceva. Exact asa i-am vazut doar ca la sfarsit ea a ramas fara niciun ban, iar el fara suflare. S-au sfasiat reciproc pe ideea ca de la dragoste la ura nu-i decat un pas. El a urmarit-o in stil mafiot, iar ea i-a rasplatit atentiile batandu-i ultimul cui la cosciug.
Probabil este genul de femeie care traieste pentru adrenalina, pentru a fi admirata, rasfatata si apreciata, care iubeste sa fie in centrul atentiei. Exagerat de plina de ea si increzuta. Pentru mine au fost cam multe senzatii tari. Gen: iubitul tau mafiot iti preda lectii de sinucidere cu pistolul la tampla sau in gura pentru eventualitatea foarte probabila ca va trebui sa dispari. Asta pentru a evita incidentele stupide: sa ramai desfigurata si in viata sau sa fii dezarmata inainte sa sfarsesti treaba. Romantic ce sa zic. Sau in secret tu te-ai instruit singura cum sa-l impusti in cazul in care este prins. Dusmanii lui sunt dusmanii tai si trebuie sa fii intotdeauna gata sa-i ucizi. Deoarece trebuie intotdeauna sa te gandesti la varianta ca ei te vor cauta pe tine ca sa-i faca lui rau.
Sub nicio forma nu incerc sa spun chestii de genul ca si-a meritat-o sau ca si-a facut-o cu mana ei. Din contra, cred ca ar fi trebuit sa puna capat relatiei de la primul abuz si ar fi avut dreptul sa fie lasata in pace.
Cartea este jurnalul unei iubiri cu final urat. De pe culmile extazului pe culmile disperarii. De la veneratie si pasiune la ura si amenintari. Dragostea dintre un lord al drogurilor si o vedeta de televiziune. Virginia nu este genul de femeie pe care pot spune ca o inteleg. Insista sa specifice ca relatia ei cu Escobar n-a avut nicio legatura cu situatia lui materiala. Eu sunt mai carcotasa si imi vine greu sa cred asta. Nu e genul de relatie pe care il aprob. Nici macar la inceput cand curgea numai lapte si miere.
E mai bine sa plangi intr-un Mercedes decat intr-un autobuz.
Cartea incearca sa demonteze imaginea pe care presa a creat-o despre ei: o diva burgheza si un bandit miliardar..dar mie n-a reusit sa-mi inspire altceva. Exact asa i-am vazut doar ca la sfarsit ea a ramas fara niciun ban, iar el fara suflare. S-au sfasiat reciproc pe ideea ca de la dragoste la ura nu-i decat un pas. El a urmarit-o in stil mafiot, iar ea i-a rasplatit atentiile batandu-i ultimul cui la cosciug.
Probabil este genul de femeie care traieste pentru adrenalina, pentru a fi admirata, rasfatata si apreciata, care iubeste sa fie in centrul atentiei. Exagerat de plina de ea si increzuta. Pentru mine au fost cam multe senzatii tari. Gen: iubitul tau mafiot iti preda lectii de sinucidere cu pistolul la tampla sau in gura pentru eventualitatea foarte probabila ca va trebui sa dispari. Asta pentru a evita incidentele stupide: sa ramai desfigurata si in viata sau sa fii dezarmata inainte sa sfarsesti treaba. Romantic ce sa zic. Sau in secret tu te-ai instruit singura cum sa-l impusti in cazul in care este prins. Dusmanii lui sunt dusmanii tai si trebuie sa fii intotdeauna gata sa-i ucizi. Deoarece trebuie intotdeauna sa te gandesti la varianta ca ei te vor cauta pe tine ca sa-i faca lui rau.
Sub nicio forma nu incerc sa spun chestii de genul ca si-a meritat-o sau ca si-a facut-o cu mana ei. Din contra, cred ca ar fi trebuit sa puna capat relatiei de la primul abuz si ar fi avut dreptul sa fie lasata in pace.
June 2, 2018
Cartea incepe destul de prost: avem o Virginia Vallejo al carei unic scop este sa parvina, lipsita de scrupule si plina de ifose, laudaroasa din cale afara. Primele aproximativ 100 pagini sunt enervante din cauza aerelor ei de diva si a ipocriziei.
Dupa alte relatii cu barbati bogati sau dependenti de droguri, ea intra intr-o relatie cu Escobar stiind din prima zi ca acesta este traficant de droguri, pentru ea contand cel mai mult faptul ca acesta e puternic si bogat. Apoi la primele probleme cu Escobar, pozeaza intr-o caprioara-victima: ''Of, Doamne, de ce mi se intampla asta mie, sunt blestemata, off?"' ...Fuck off! In acelasi timp ne zice tot la 3 pagini despre cati magnati ii 'stau la picioare' si cum ea e cea mai mirobolanta femeie din Columbia, ceva nu s-a mai pomenit, o extraordinara.
De la un punct incolo insa cartea e salvata de talentul de povestitor al Virginiei Vallejo si abia daca o mai poti lasa jos din mana. In aceasta carte il gasesti pe Escobar intr-o lumina diferita de cea cu care esti obisnuit in seriale si documentare, il gasesti in ipostaze intime, vazut prin ochii amantei care (crede ca) l-a iubit atat de mult si te convinge si pe tine ca daca nu ar fi avut in el atata rautate, Escobar avea toate calitatile pentru a ajunge presedinte sau oricum un mare om (mare a ajuns, dar nu intr-un sens bun). De aceea nici nu sunt in carte foarte multe detalii despre toate atrocitatile lui Escobar (sunt mentionate cele mai importante), cartea e mai mult despre povestea lor (mai bine zis, a ei).
Foarte captivanta si fascinanta carte, nu ma asteptam sa imi placa asa. Virginia Vallejo stie sa spuna o poveste, as fi citit-o si daca avea 2000 pagini, nu doar 430 (care mi s-au parut oricum prea putine).
Dupa alte relatii cu barbati bogati sau dependenti de droguri, ea intra intr-o relatie cu Escobar stiind din prima zi ca acesta este traficant de droguri, pentru ea contand cel mai mult faptul ca acesta e puternic si bogat. Apoi la primele probleme cu Escobar, pozeaza intr-o caprioara-victima: ''Of, Doamne, de ce mi se intampla asta mie, sunt blestemata, off?"' ...Fuck off! In acelasi timp ne zice tot la 3 pagini despre cati magnati ii 'stau la picioare' si cum ea e cea mai mirobolanta femeie din Columbia, ceva nu s-a mai pomenit, o extraordinara.
De la un punct incolo insa cartea e salvata de talentul de povestitor al Virginiei Vallejo si abia daca o mai poti lasa jos din mana. In aceasta carte il gasesti pe Escobar intr-o lumina diferita de cea cu care esti obisnuit in seriale si documentare, il gasesti in ipostaze intime, vazut prin ochii amantei care (crede ca) l-a iubit atat de mult si te convinge si pe tine ca daca nu ar fi avut in el atata rautate, Escobar avea toate calitatile pentru a ajunge presedinte sau oricum un mare om (mare a ajuns, dar nu intr-un sens bun). De aceea nici nu sunt in carte foarte multe detalii despre toate atrocitatile lui Escobar (sunt mentionate cele mai importante), cartea e mai mult despre povestea lor (mai bine zis, a ei).
Foarte captivanta si fascinanta carte, nu ma asteptam sa imi placa asa. Virginia Vallejo stie sa spuna o poveste, as fi citit-o si daca avea 2000 pagini, nu doar 430 (care mi s-au parut oricum prea putine).
August 14, 2025
Loving Pablo, based on the book by Virginia Vallejo
This motion picture has not received the acclaim it deserves, if you are to believe the under signed, who thinks it is a great, if terrifying story with excellent performances, except perhaps for some scenes wherein Penelope Cruz ventures a little over the top and exaggerates some of the suffering of the protagonist.
The phenomenal actress has the leading role of Virginia Vallejo, a talented, popular journalist and a brave, determined, perseverant, open minded, gritty, strong, resilient woman.
Her real life husband, the outstanding Javier Bardem –winner of a deserved Academy Award for his memorable role in No Country For Old Men – has the task of rendering on the big screen the figure of another monster – Pablo Escobar.
The hero was born in a poor family, in an impoverished region, but he makes an estimated two billion in just a few years, raising questions and making the minister of justice challenge this suspicious rise to extreme wealth in the Columbian Parliament, at the time when the protagonist becomes a senator.
Virginia Vallejo is famous as an anchorwoman and journalist when, in 1981, she attends a large party that takes place at the luxuriant ranch of the rich Pablo Escobar, where she can see him discussing with other wealthy individuals – almost all of them drug lords, leaders of various cartels.
The hero of the feature would be the absolute leader – he likes to boast in front of his daughter about his position as a king, who can do whatever he wants – at a certain moment, he is in jail, but he wants to demonstrate to his child that her mother is wrong and he can go wherever he wants –of the Medellin cartel.
The United Sates is very concerned about the rising drug use, most of the cocaine – was it 80%?- coming from Columbia, an important problem addressed by the then president, Ronald Reagan, and the first lady, Nancy Reagan and the task force set up to fight the traffic.
A prominent role in combating the Columbian drug lords is played by Agent Shepard – portrayed by the talented Peter Sarsgaard – who will have a close relationship with the authorities from that country, which appeared to be kidnapped by this Force of Evil, who would obtain an immense power at the zenith of his criminal, violent activity.
The government of Columbia tries to sign an extradition agreement with the United States, seemingly the only way to bring the cartel leaders to justice, for whenever they are facing opposition they kill all those involved, their family, friends and innocent by standers, and if they are in court, they either bribe or kill the judges who are supposed to pass sentence over them.
Pablo Escobar concludes that he needs political power, he knows how much a position in local government would cost and the price for a seat in the Senate bribes some politicians and reaches Parliament after his campaign, being stopped on the steps in what is one of the few amusing moments in rather gruesome drama.
The newly elected senator is not stopped on the footsteps of the Senate for his abhorrent crimes, he is asked to…wear a tie, since this is what the rule is and immediately, tens of men offer to give him their own ties to give him access in a body where he would be challenged for his inexplicable wealth and the reputation he has as a drug king and a killer.
The ruthless, despicable, monstrous, nefarious hero would not forget a small insult and he never rests after the minister has spoken like that about his “majesty, the king of cocaine” and he would have the sicarios kill this politician and so many others, it looks like the whole country would be empty, as Virginia would remark.
To a great extent, it is hard to see how the heroine and the legitimate wife of the vicious creature would not take action, condemn, try to make this monster stop, even if anyone knew how futile any attempt to reason with the Devil might be.
In fact, the journalist is increasingly mad, indignant with her lover, but she is also in awe, infatuated with the killer, making one think of the famous quote: “power is the ultimate aphrodisiac” and she has moments when she appears to approve, condone the murderous drug lord.
For instance, after the country would have had enough of multiple, a multitude of killings, bombings and mindless, horrible, disgusting sacrifice of the children, parents and other relatives of those who have attracted the Wrath of this Nefarious Khan.
We have seen torture and “inventive” means of inflicting pains on fellow human beings in other dramas, in Loving Pablo, when they disagree over the price to pay for a kilogram of cocaine, the lunatic mobster brings his secarios to cut the partners in crime with the chainsaw.
A new means of tormenting, abusing with incredible sadism both animal and human being is depicted in this motion picture, where the devilish members of the Medellin cartel – but the others from Cali and elsewhere were surely no better – tie a dog to the back of a man and then use a club to hit the poor creature, which then bites the neck of the victim, repeatedly, in a hard to see scene.
Loving Pablo is not on the same level with Goodfellas, Donnie Brasco or other classics, but it offers a poignant drama, based on the memories written by the woman who Loved Pablo, but hated Escobar…
This motion picture has not received the acclaim it deserves, if you are to believe the under signed, who thinks it is a great, if terrifying story with excellent performances, except perhaps for some scenes wherein Penelope Cruz ventures a little over the top and exaggerates some of the suffering of the protagonist.
The phenomenal actress has the leading role of Virginia Vallejo, a talented, popular journalist and a brave, determined, perseverant, open minded, gritty, strong, resilient woman.
Her real life husband, the outstanding Javier Bardem –winner of a deserved Academy Award for his memorable role in No Country For Old Men – has the task of rendering on the big screen the figure of another monster – Pablo Escobar.
The hero was born in a poor family, in an impoverished region, but he makes an estimated two billion in just a few years, raising questions and making the minister of justice challenge this suspicious rise to extreme wealth in the Columbian Parliament, at the time when the protagonist becomes a senator.
Virginia Vallejo is famous as an anchorwoman and journalist when, in 1981, she attends a large party that takes place at the luxuriant ranch of the rich Pablo Escobar, where she can see him discussing with other wealthy individuals – almost all of them drug lords, leaders of various cartels.
The hero of the feature would be the absolute leader – he likes to boast in front of his daughter about his position as a king, who can do whatever he wants – at a certain moment, he is in jail, but he wants to demonstrate to his child that her mother is wrong and he can go wherever he wants –of the Medellin cartel.
The United Sates is very concerned about the rising drug use, most of the cocaine – was it 80%?- coming from Columbia, an important problem addressed by the then president, Ronald Reagan, and the first lady, Nancy Reagan and the task force set up to fight the traffic.
A prominent role in combating the Columbian drug lords is played by Agent Shepard – portrayed by the talented Peter Sarsgaard – who will have a close relationship with the authorities from that country, which appeared to be kidnapped by this Force of Evil, who would obtain an immense power at the zenith of his criminal, violent activity.
The government of Columbia tries to sign an extradition agreement with the United States, seemingly the only way to bring the cartel leaders to justice, for whenever they are facing opposition they kill all those involved, their family, friends and innocent by standers, and if they are in court, they either bribe or kill the judges who are supposed to pass sentence over them.
Pablo Escobar concludes that he needs political power, he knows how much a position in local government would cost and the price for a seat in the Senate bribes some politicians and reaches Parliament after his campaign, being stopped on the steps in what is one of the few amusing moments in rather gruesome drama.
The newly elected senator is not stopped on the footsteps of the Senate for his abhorrent crimes, he is asked to…wear a tie, since this is what the rule is and immediately, tens of men offer to give him their own ties to give him access in a body where he would be challenged for his inexplicable wealth and the reputation he has as a drug king and a killer.
The ruthless, despicable, monstrous, nefarious hero would not forget a small insult and he never rests after the minister has spoken like that about his “majesty, the king of cocaine” and he would have the sicarios kill this politician and so many others, it looks like the whole country would be empty, as Virginia would remark.
To a great extent, it is hard to see how the heroine and the legitimate wife of the vicious creature would not take action, condemn, try to make this monster stop, even if anyone knew how futile any attempt to reason with the Devil might be.
In fact, the journalist is increasingly mad, indignant with her lover, but she is also in awe, infatuated with the killer, making one think of the famous quote: “power is the ultimate aphrodisiac” and she has moments when she appears to approve, condone the murderous drug lord.
For instance, after the country would have had enough of multiple, a multitude of killings, bombings and mindless, horrible, disgusting sacrifice of the children, parents and other relatives of those who have attracted the Wrath of this Nefarious Khan.
We have seen torture and “inventive” means of inflicting pains on fellow human beings in other dramas, in Loving Pablo, when they disagree over the price to pay for a kilogram of cocaine, the lunatic mobster brings his secarios to cut the partners in crime with the chainsaw.
A new means of tormenting, abusing with incredible sadism both animal and human being is depicted in this motion picture, where the devilish members of the Medellin cartel – but the others from Cali and elsewhere were surely no better – tie a dog to the back of a man and then use a club to hit the poor creature, which then bites the neck of the victim, repeatedly, in a hard to see scene.
Loving Pablo is not on the same level with Goodfellas, Donnie Brasco or other classics, but it offers a poignant drama, based on the memories written by the woman who Loved Pablo, but hated Escobar…
November 11, 2018
Una din cartile mele favorite pe anul acesta!
August 31, 2023
(Review in Spanish at bottom/Reseña en español abajo)
Virginia Vallejo is hands down the stupidest woman to have ever lived.
Hate to call people names, but this book merits it. An absolute fuckin shitshow of narcissism, ignorance, and unreliable narration for the cherry on top.
I went into the book trying to get a more "inside look" for lack of a better term, into some of the things Pablo Escobar did, but after getting to know Vallejo for 17 hours of an audiobook, I realized I could not trust a word that insipid woman was saying. Especially after the majority of the book was filled with statements like the following:
"I'm thin, I have an IQ as high as designer dresses in my closet"
"Because at 41 I weigh 117 pounds"
And not only was this book a love letter to herself, and that term is hard to use because that woman clearly doesn't know what love is at all- how do I know? She went on to say the only man that ever loved her and that she ever loved was Pablo Escobar for almost 500 pages. Meanwhile, there's a whole chapter dedicated to him raping and beating her after she was caught having gone on vacation with another lover to Paris????????? But this book was seemingly Pablo's idea from the jump, because she kept giving all these excerpts of when he was trying to get his story not only published in a book (which, side-note, no surprise that he hated reading) but as a movie as well. Of course Escobar's ego was so big he needed a movie made for it like El Chapo tried doing too. Pablo would literally call Virginia "the biographer" from time to time.
This book is so bad and the thought process Virginia has had all her life is so laughable, I found myself cracking up all the time, so if you want a comedy to laugh at maybe pick this up. After the rape and beatings, her codependency kept showing and she was "still in love with Escobar" probably to this day- unbelievable, I know. Escobar, known psychopath, in her eyes loved her too. Can you catch onto the ignorance I mentioned? The absolute idiocy? And sure, maybe they had their little toxic adventure, but how fucking dumb do you have to be to think that abuse is true love? Vallejo is just as crazy as he was, see this:
"I kiss my [gun] and bless the day when the man who took my heart of gold left me his pistol so I could train to defend myself the instant his enemies would come for me." Sis get help..
"I also know that though I hate him now and he doesn't love me, Pablo will always care about me." Bitch he hasn't cared about another human being his entire fucking life!!!!
Not to mention how she deliberately only dates whoever holds the status of richest man in Colombia, which she references several times. An absolute gold-digger and a woman dependent on men, I don't care if she thinks she had a career, all she had was pretty privilege. Top 3 parts of the book include when she says Pablo loved her the most out of all his women because she never asked him for anything and chapter before that she explains how she asked him for a private jet.
Some other kickers include how she claims she would've shot herself in the head if they ever killed Pablo (wish she did) and how she got Lasik surgery on her fucking eyes to not need eye contacts if the day ever came where she had to swim away to safety if Pablo's enemies came after her... I don't know about you, but the day I have surgery on my eyes to please a man I hope it betters my eyesight to the extent where I can look at the ground and find my self-esteem so I could pick it up.
Oh my God, and not only was this the vanity show, but it was also the delusional show. It deserves a daytime Emmy for the fucking drama. Vallejo seriously thinks, after all that happened, that she was completely innocent and swears she is an angel. Can you believe that? Multiple times she referred to herself as a "guardian angel". Meanwhile, here are some quotes from her mouth to counter that dumbass belief:
"I curse them all that they not have one single day of happiness in their lives, that their low-class women cry tears of blood. That they lose their fortunes, that all their descendants be known as the damned... I will sit in the doorway of my house to watch the dead bodies of my enemies and their children go by and to see the survivors loaded onto DEA planes in handcuffs even if I have to wait a century." What an angel!!
And then a paragraph after that she'd say things like "I say a prayer asking for compassion for the dead man's soul," and I believe this is where she thinks she's a good person, never when she's damning people to hell.
Oh, and how could I forget the torturous story of another one of Escobar's lovers who wound up pregnant, went to rub it into his actual wife's face, and when he found out he got his men to force her to a veterinarian and have the baby aborted? I mention this because she went on to "fall in love" with Escobar and stay with him for years after she was told this story. But, of course, he wasn't the monster the media (her) made him out to be??? How could he be???
Vallejo should have just told this sob story to a therapist to get rightfully diagnosed rather than a ghost-writer to transcribe it and get it published. And I say ghost-writer because this woman is so fucking idiotic it's hard to believe she could ever write a book herself, let alone read one even if she wants to mention different classics I'm sure she never understood. For example, she compares herself to Scarlet O'Hara from Gone with the Wind and she thinks that's a good fictional character to live up to...
Vallejo was almost killed or died many times in her life. She kept track and at some point in the book it's the 14th time she gets saved from dying and she asks the question as to why God would save her yet again? Bitch had me asking the same thing!
Pitiful, arrogant, ignorant, and all around sub-fucking-par.
---
que tipa tan estúpida
ahorrense el disgusto y tiempo de leer estas idioteces de una vieja decrépita interesada e ignorante
Virginia Vallejo is hands down the stupidest woman to have ever lived.
Hate to call people names, but this book merits it. An absolute fuckin shitshow of narcissism, ignorance, and unreliable narration for the cherry on top.
I went into the book trying to get a more "inside look" for lack of a better term, into some of the things Pablo Escobar did, but after getting to know Vallejo for 17 hours of an audiobook, I realized I could not trust a word that insipid woman was saying. Especially after the majority of the book was filled with statements like the following:
"I'm thin, I have an IQ as high as designer dresses in my closet"
"Because at 41 I weigh 117 pounds"
And not only was this book a love letter to herself, and that term is hard to use because that woman clearly doesn't know what love is at all- how do I know? She went on to say the only man that ever loved her and that she ever loved was Pablo Escobar for almost 500 pages. Meanwhile, there's a whole chapter dedicated to him raping and beating her after she was caught having gone on vacation with another lover to Paris????????? But this book was seemingly Pablo's idea from the jump, because she kept giving all these excerpts of when he was trying to get his story not only published in a book (which, side-note, no surprise that he hated reading) but as a movie as well. Of course Escobar's ego was so big he needed a movie made for it like El Chapo tried doing too. Pablo would literally call Virginia "the biographer" from time to time.
This book is so bad and the thought process Virginia has had all her life is so laughable, I found myself cracking up all the time, so if you want a comedy to laugh at maybe pick this up. After the rape and beatings, her codependency kept showing and she was "still in love with Escobar" probably to this day- unbelievable, I know. Escobar, known psychopath, in her eyes loved her too. Can you catch onto the ignorance I mentioned? The absolute idiocy? And sure, maybe they had their little toxic adventure, but how fucking dumb do you have to be to think that abuse is true love? Vallejo is just as crazy as he was, see this:
"I kiss my [gun] and bless the day when the man who took my heart of gold left me his pistol so I could train to defend myself the instant his enemies would come for me." Sis get help..
"I also know that though I hate him now and he doesn't love me, Pablo will always care about me." Bitch he hasn't cared about another human being his entire fucking life!!!!
Not to mention how she deliberately only dates whoever holds the status of richest man in Colombia, which she references several times. An absolute gold-digger and a woman dependent on men, I don't care if she thinks she had a career, all she had was pretty privilege. Top 3 parts of the book include when she says Pablo loved her the most out of all his women because she never asked him for anything and chapter before that she explains how she asked him for a private jet.
Some other kickers include how she claims she would've shot herself in the head if they ever killed Pablo (wish she did) and how she got Lasik surgery on her fucking eyes to not need eye contacts if the day ever came where she had to swim away to safety if Pablo's enemies came after her... I don't know about you, but the day I have surgery on my eyes to please a man I hope it betters my eyesight to the extent where I can look at the ground and find my self-esteem so I could pick it up.
Oh my God, and not only was this the vanity show, but it was also the delusional show. It deserves a daytime Emmy for the fucking drama. Vallejo seriously thinks, after all that happened, that she was completely innocent and swears she is an angel. Can you believe that? Multiple times she referred to herself as a "guardian angel". Meanwhile, here are some quotes from her mouth to counter that dumbass belief:
"I curse them all that they not have one single day of happiness in their lives, that their low-class women cry tears of blood. That they lose their fortunes, that all their descendants be known as the damned... I will sit in the doorway of my house to watch the dead bodies of my enemies and their children go by and to see the survivors loaded onto DEA planes in handcuffs even if I have to wait a century." What an angel!!
And then a paragraph after that she'd say things like "I say a prayer asking for compassion for the dead man's soul," and I believe this is where she thinks she's a good person, never when she's damning people to hell.
Oh, and how could I forget the torturous story of another one of Escobar's lovers who wound up pregnant, went to rub it into his actual wife's face, and when he found out he got his men to force her to a veterinarian and have the baby aborted? I mention this because she went on to "fall in love" with Escobar and stay with him for years after she was told this story. But, of course, he wasn't the monster the media (her) made him out to be??? How could he be???
Vallejo should have just told this sob story to a therapist to get rightfully diagnosed rather than a ghost-writer to transcribe it and get it published. And I say ghost-writer because this woman is so fucking idiotic it's hard to believe she could ever write a book herself, let alone read one even if she wants to mention different classics I'm sure she never understood. For example, she compares herself to Scarlet O'Hara from Gone with the Wind and she thinks that's a good fictional character to live up to...
Vallejo was almost killed or died many times in her life. She kept track and at some point in the book it's the 14th time she gets saved from dying and she asks the question as to why God would save her yet again? Bitch had me asking the same thing!
Pitiful, arrogant, ignorant, and all around sub-fucking-par.
---
que tipa tan estúpida
ahorrense el disgusto y tiempo de leer estas idioteces de una vieja decrépita interesada e ignorante
August 24, 2012
Amando a Pablo, odiando a Escobar…
Para mi sorpresa, la exdiva y simbolo sexual en los setentas y ochentas Virginia Vallejo posee gran pluma y estilo. Su voz te engancha rápidamente en el relato, quizás debido a la curiosa ‘morbosidad’ por conocer algunos detalles de la vida privada del Capo Pablo Escobar. Su voz es activa y su gran ego se demuestra al voltear cada página del libro. Virginia menciona muchas veces su piel ‘dorada’, sus vestidos de las marcas más famosas en europa y en America, sus compras en la Calle 5ta de NYC, Milán, París, y algunos otros paises de Europa. Pareciera que quisiera recrear una vida eternamente grandiosa alrededor de figuras públicas y magnates, lo cual es importante en la historia, pero también la infla exageradamente hasta tal punto de ….. si, aburrirme.
En el tema político, sentí decepción al ver una entrevista donde ella misme corrige parte de un párrafo donde cita, y compromete, al expresidente Uribe de haberse reunido con Pablo Escobar. En el párrafo, ella dice que el presidente Uribe por aquella epoca utilizaba gafas de estudiante, cuando el mismo presidente Uribe desmiente argumentando que sus gafas fueron recetadas casi ocho años después. Virginia reconoce su error y luego explica que lo de las gafas fue un engaño de su ‘sub-conciente’. Ahí es donde este libro se convierte para mí en ficción…y toda información conducente a expandir mi conocimiento de los nexos entre la política y los carteles de la droga se esfuma.
Luego, en el capítulo donde narra su diaria odisea de nadar por tres horas entre dos islotes en las islas del Rosario en el Caribe Colombiano, y sucumbir a una corriente por alrededor de 5 horas, casi al punto de la muerte, es, en la mejor expresión, totalmente ABSURDO!!!!!!! Quienes han navegado esta aguas saben de lo que estoy hablando; es más fácil creerle a Virginia su historia de que Gilberto Rodriguez junto con Ernesto Samper fueron a su apartmento antes de visitar al expresidente Michelsen.
Es un libro divertido, con mucha imaginación alrededor de los mitos del Cartel de Medellin, el de Cali, y el más pesado de todos, el de Bogotá.
Para mi sorpresa, la exdiva y simbolo sexual en los setentas y ochentas Virginia Vallejo posee gran pluma y estilo. Su voz te engancha rápidamente en el relato, quizás debido a la curiosa ‘morbosidad’ por conocer algunos detalles de la vida privada del Capo Pablo Escobar. Su voz es activa y su gran ego se demuestra al voltear cada página del libro. Virginia menciona muchas veces su piel ‘dorada’, sus vestidos de las marcas más famosas en europa y en America, sus compras en la Calle 5ta de NYC, Milán, París, y algunos otros paises de Europa. Pareciera que quisiera recrear una vida eternamente grandiosa alrededor de figuras públicas y magnates, lo cual es importante en la historia, pero también la infla exageradamente hasta tal punto de ….. si, aburrirme.
En el tema político, sentí decepción al ver una entrevista donde ella misme corrige parte de un párrafo donde cita, y compromete, al expresidente Uribe de haberse reunido con Pablo Escobar. En el párrafo, ella dice que el presidente Uribe por aquella epoca utilizaba gafas de estudiante, cuando el mismo presidente Uribe desmiente argumentando que sus gafas fueron recetadas casi ocho años después. Virginia reconoce su error y luego explica que lo de las gafas fue un engaño de su ‘sub-conciente’. Ahí es donde este libro se convierte para mí en ficción…y toda información conducente a expandir mi conocimiento de los nexos entre la política y los carteles de la droga se esfuma.
Luego, en el capítulo donde narra su diaria odisea de nadar por tres horas entre dos islotes en las islas del Rosario en el Caribe Colombiano, y sucumbir a una corriente por alrededor de 5 horas, casi al punto de la muerte, es, en la mejor expresión, totalmente ABSURDO!!!!!!! Quienes han navegado esta aguas saben de lo que estoy hablando; es más fácil creerle a Virginia su historia de que Gilberto Rodriguez junto con Ernesto Samper fueron a su apartmento antes de visitar al expresidente Michelsen.
Es un libro divertido, con mucha imaginación alrededor de los mitos del Cartel de Medellin, el de Cali, y el más pesado de todos, el de Bogotá.
March 27, 2021
The title of this book should be changed to:
Santa Virginia Vallejo, God's Gift to Mankind, First of Her Name, Khaleesi of Columbia, Mother of Dragons
OK, OK, I had no illusions about this book. I hated her character in Narcos, and had seen the negative reviews. I was just curious to see how bad it would be. In that sense, it didn't disappoint: it was really bad.
Her delusions of grandeur, her narcissism and self-obsession, paired with her false modesty and imagined victimization were out of this world!
This is not a smart insider analysis of Pablo Escobar's rise, rule and fall. It's an Ode to Virginia Vallejo, unrepentant apologist, who not once in 400 pages said "I am sorry I helped and supported a drug trafficker turned murderer and terrorist".
The evolution and nature of her affair with Escobar would have been interesting, but she's such an unreliable narrator for me, that I can't really trust a word of it.
It was also confusing, with dozens of names thrown in each chapter, and with no clear sense of time. Even though I've recently seen Narcos and read more about the real events, I struggled to tell where we were in the timeline (although this may have been me spacing out quite often due to boredom).
The only positive I can say is about the narrator, Almarie Guerra. The holier-than-thou tone she used matched my perception of Virginia Vallejo perfectly, and made me despise her even more.
Santa Virginia Vallejo, God's Gift to Mankind, First of Her Name, Khaleesi of Columbia, Mother of Dragons
OK, OK, I had no illusions about this book. I hated her character in Narcos, and had seen the negative reviews. I was just curious to see how bad it would be. In that sense, it didn't disappoint: it was really bad.
Her delusions of grandeur, her narcissism and self-obsession, paired with her false modesty and imagined victimization were out of this world!
This is not a smart insider analysis of Pablo Escobar's rise, rule and fall. It's an Ode to Virginia Vallejo, unrepentant apologist, who not once in 400 pages said "I am sorry I helped and supported a drug trafficker turned murderer and terrorist".
The evolution and nature of her affair with Escobar would have been interesting, but she's such an unreliable narrator for me, that I can't really trust a word of it.
It was also confusing, with dozens of names thrown in each chapter, and with no clear sense of time. Even though I've recently seen Narcos and read more about the real events, I struggled to tell where we were in the timeline (although this may have been me spacing out quite often due to boredom).
The only positive I can say is about the narrator, Almarie Guerra. The holier-than-thou tone she used matched my perception of Virginia Vallejo perfectly, and made me despise her even more.
June 25, 2020
If you want a book to learn more about the Colombian drug war, this is not your book. It is not what this book is about and you can't expect an unbiased narrative from someone so deeply involved in it.
If you want a book to see a more intimate, personal and perhaps romantic side of Escobar, this is still not your book. I would say their romantic relationship is only less than 1/4 of the book.
What this book is really about is Virginia Vallejo, and not in a good way. You will read about how beautiful she is 534 times and how she is too good for Colombia 342 times. You will also read about every brand of every dress she has plus how much it costs and you will read about 67 rich handsome man that wish to marry her. Finally you will read in every chapter about how she never took money from Escobar (at least not a cent more than what she deserved).
This book probably doesn't deserve such a low score , since sometimes it was quite entertaining, but the way Virgínia is obsessed about herself makes you question every word she says. It's almost like you can never fully trust her because she sounds so delusional.
Sometimes I felt like I was reading this book only because I would not let her beat me and not really because I was enjoying it. I felt relieved when it was over.
If you want a book to see a more intimate, personal and perhaps romantic side of Escobar, this is still not your book. I would say their romantic relationship is only less than 1/4 of the book.
What this book is really about is Virginia Vallejo, and not in a good way. You will read about how beautiful she is 534 times and how she is too good for Colombia 342 times. You will also read about every brand of every dress she has plus how much it costs and you will read about 67 rich handsome man that wish to marry her. Finally you will read in every chapter about how she never took money from Escobar (at least not a cent more than what she deserved).
This book probably doesn't deserve such a low score , since sometimes it was quite entertaining, but the way Virgínia is obsessed about herself makes you question every word she says. It's almost like you can never fully trust her because she sounds so delusional.
Sometimes I felt like I was reading this book only because I would not let her beat me and not really because I was enjoying it. I felt relieved when it was over.
May 1, 2018
Pablo Escobar, un nume care rasuna zgomotos in urechile concetatenilor lui si nu numai. Viginia Vallejo, un nume impunator in mass-media anilor 70-80. Columbia anilor 80, o tara prielnica pentru coruptie, mita, afaceri ilegale, droguri si razbunari cu sange rece.
Autoarea prezinta in a ei autobiografie, incrucisata cu biografia celui mai cunoscut traficant de cocaina din lume, tumultoasele secrete ale capilor mafiei columbiene cat si detalii si nume picante ale lumii high life.
Viginia tine sa mentioneze constant faptul ca este inconjurata in primii ani de jurnalism de oameni bogati, puternici si impunatori. Tinde sa ne puna la curent de cateva ori cu top-ul celor mai frumosi sau/si bogati barbati ai Columbiei anilor 80. De asemenea, este o femeie mandra si sigura pe frumusetea, educatia si inteligenta ei iar pentru asta e rasplatita din plin cu adoratia oamenilor de rand, invidia femeilor din breasla ei si cadourile scumpe ale barbatilor din cercurile influente.
Viginia pare a fi o femeie in care luxul troneaza dar treptat, pierde orice avutie sau posibilitate de a fi fericita profesional sau personal, fapt care o baga intr-un con de umbra, o izoleaza, o saraceste si o alunga din tara mult iubita.
Ne prezinta un inceput de relatie cu un Pablo Escobar bun la suflet, milos si empatic cu saracia oamenilor din patura de jos. Panica lui cea mai mare este si va fi pana la sfarsit tratatul de extradare cu SUA, obiectiv care il va baga in politica; il va ambitiona in obtinerea de bani si de o piata mai mare de desfacere a cocainei, il va arunca in ghearele faimei atat pozitive cat si negative, il va umple de dusmani si il va transforma intr-un criminal cu sange rece care va depasi statutul de simplu narcotraficant. Chiar Viginia il va numi in final, regele terorii. Pablo va face totul pana in ultima clipa pentru a anula orice tratat de extradare si pentru a-si salva familia din ghearele oricarui dusman.
Viginia scrie simplu, te baga in povestire, te face sa simti fericirea si tristetea enorma din sufletul ei si nu ii e teama sa isi asume statutul de amanta intretinuta, de slabiciune pentru diamante dar si de jurnalista cu educatie aleasa care a crescut inconjurata de lumea buna a Columbiei, de personalitatile vremii si de mari genii, de iubitoare de haine scumpe si parfumuri, de blanuri si bijuterii furate. Viginia ne dovedeste ca se poate descurca fara probleme in comunicarea cu oamenii de la groapa de gunoi cat si cu renumiti editori sau oameni de afaceri din lumea buna.
Cartea te prinde, este scrisa scurt si la obiect, fara detalii inutile. Descopera pas cu pas viata Virginiei din momentul in care l-a cunoscut pe Pablo si desi isi creeaza o imagine de "pantera", lasa senzatia ca este o femeie materialista si superficiala.
Tin sa precizez ca m-a frapat partea unde refuza sa doarma impreuna cu Pablo dupa ce faceau dragoste ca sa se poata machia si aranja a doua zi pentru cand se vor vedea cu motivul ca avea o imagine de pastrat.
Relatia ei cu Pablo a fost benefica pentru amandoi in primii ani, asta e clar.
Sentimentele Virginiei se pot deduce usor de-a lungul cartii ea numindu-l Pablo cand nutrea sentimente pentru el si devenind simplu Escobar in a doua jumatate a cartii cand ura dintre ei devenise cat se poate de limpede. Impreuna, formau un cuplu puternic. Un Romeo, bad boy al lumii interlope si o Julieta, printesa inteligenta celebra din cercurile importante.
Pablo Escobar a fost un om simplu, care s-a descurcat de mic cum a putut, si-a pus in practica flerul lui de afacerist si setea de cunoastere si impunere pana a construit un imperiu, ceva ce nu a mai reusit nimeni nici pana in ziua de azi.
Hacienda Napoles, paradisul verde cu hipopotami si alte animale rare in Columbia; flota de avioane; bani ingropati; cumpararea a orice/oricine isi dorea; rachete; prabusirea unui avion si construirea propriei inchisori. Nici un traficant de cocaina, al saptelea cel mai bogat om din lume la vremea lui, nu a mai reusit sa se ridice la rangul lui Pablo Escobar. Iar pentru asta merita carti scrise si filme/seriale facute in cinstea lui. A fost un mit, a ajuns unde si-a propus si in final a fost rapus de tot ce a construit, si-a dat viata pentru a-i auzi vocea fiului sau.
Departe de ceea ce a cauzat Escobar in ultimii 10 ani de viata, a fost un om memorabil doar prin prisma vietii pe care a trait-o. Povestea lui merita impartasita.
O carte care m-a prins, un subiect sensibil si o poveste de iubire frumoasa dar toxica care a distrus in final multe vieti.
Autoarea prezinta in a ei autobiografie, incrucisata cu biografia celui mai cunoscut traficant de cocaina din lume, tumultoasele secrete ale capilor mafiei columbiene cat si detalii si nume picante ale lumii high life.
Viginia tine sa mentioneze constant faptul ca este inconjurata in primii ani de jurnalism de oameni bogati, puternici si impunatori. Tinde sa ne puna la curent de cateva ori cu top-ul celor mai frumosi sau/si bogati barbati ai Columbiei anilor 80. De asemenea, este o femeie mandra si sigura pe frumusetea, educatia si inteligenta ei iar pentru asta e rasplatita din plin cu adoratia oamenilor de rand, invidia femeilor din breasla ei si cadourile scumpe ale barbatilor din cercurile influente.
Viginia pare a fi o femeie in care luxul troneaza dar treptat, pierde orice avutie sau posibilitate de a fi fericita profesional sau personal, fapt care o baga intr-un con de umbra, o izoleaza, o saraceste si o alunga din tara mult iubita.
Ne prezinta un inceput de relatie cu un Pablo Escobar bun la suflet, milos si empatic cu saracia oamenilor din patura de jos. Panica lui cea mai mare este si va fi pana la sfarsit tratatul de extradare cu SUA, obiectiv care il va baga in politica; il va ambitiona in obtinerea de bani si de o piata mai mare de desfacere a cocainei, il va arunca in ghearele faimei atat pozitive cat si negative, il va umple de dusmani si il va transforma intr-un criminal cu sange rece care va depasi statutul de simplu narcotraficant. Chiar Viginia il va numi in final, regele terorii. Pablo va face totul pana in ultima clipa pentru a anula orice tratat de extradare si pentru a-si salva familia din ghearele oricarui dusman.
Viginia scrie simplu, te baga in povestire, te face sa simti fericirea si tristetea enorma din sufletul ei si nu ii e teama sa isi asume statutul de amanta intretinuta, de slabiciune pentru diamante dar si de jurnalista cu educatie aleasa care a crescut inconjurata de lumea buna a Columbiei, de personalitatile vremii si de mari genii, de iubitoare de haine scumpe si parfumuri, de blanuri si bijuterii furate. Viginia ne dovedeste ca se poate descurca fara probleme in comunicarea cu oamenii de la groapa de gunoi cat si cu renumiti editori sau oameni de afaceri din lumea buna.
Cartea te prinde, este scrisa scurt si la obiect, fara detalii inutile. Descopera pas cu pas viata Virginiei din momentul in care l-a cunoscut pe Pablo si desi isi creeaza o imagine de "pantera", lasa senzatia ca este o femeie materialista si superficiala.
Tin sa precizez ca m-a frapat partea unde refuza sa doarma impreuna cu Pablo dupa ce faceau dragoste ca sa se poata machia si aranja a doua zi pentru cand se vor vedea cu motivul ca avea o imagine de pastrat.
Relatia ei cu Pablo a fost benefica pentru amandoi in primii ani, asta e clar.
Sentimentele Virginiei se pot deduce usor de-a lungul cartii ea numindu-l Pablo cand nutrea sentimente pentru el si devenind simplu Escobar in a doua jumatate a cartii cand ura dintre ei devenise cat se poate de limpede. Impreuna, formau un cuplu puternic. Un Romeo, bad boy al lumii interlope si o Julieta, printesa inteligenta celebra din cercurile importante.
Pablo Escobar a fost un om simplu, care s-a descurcat de mic cum a putut, si-a pus in practica flerul lui de afacerist si setea de cunoastere si impunere pana a construit un imperiu, ceva ce nu a mai reusit nimeni nici pana in ziua de azi.
Hacienda Napoles, paradisul verde cu hipopotami si alte animale rare in Columbia; flota de avioane; bani ingropati; cumpararea a orice/oricine isi dorea; rachete; prabusirea unui avion si construirea propriei inchisori. Nici un traficant de cocaina, al saptelea cel mai bogat om din lume la vremea lui, nu a mai reusit sa se ridice la rangul lui Pablo Escobar. Iar pentru asta merita carti scrise si filme/seriale facute in cinstea lui. A fost un mit, a ajuns unde si-a propus si in final a fost rapus de tot ce a construit, si-a dat viata pentru a-i auzi vocea fiului sau.
Departe de ceea ce a cauzat Escobar in ultimii 10 ani de viata, a fost un om memorabil doar prin prisma vietii pe care a trait-o. Povestea lui merita impartasita.
O carte care m-a prins, un subiect sensibil si o poveste de iubire frumoasa dar toxica care a distrus in final multe vieti.
January 16, 2019
Every love story is a tragedy if you wait long enough...
It was a fantastic journey and I am sad that it came to an end. I've dived into the world of Colombian culture, into the detailed critical analysis of the historical period (names and events, familiar and not really), into a scary, but exciting love story of two people, whose relationship was so damn organic while at the same time you ask yourself: how, omg HOW, could this even happen?!!
Now, there was also aesthetic education: music, literature, dance, television, movie, advertising, fashion throwbacks (a lot of fashion and style throwbacks actually, but imho they weren't too much, and the woman wrote it so we must give it a credit).
There were nature, flora and fauna, scenery descriptions, useful travel tips.
There were o_O technical and mathematics issues. Translation stuff. One can learn a few dozens of spanish words no doubt!
There were money, guns, diamonds, drugs-drugs-drugs, friendship, devotion, betrayal, jealousy. The bitter end serves as moral...
And passion: the entire book from the very start to the very end is soaked with passion you've never seen or heard before - enough for a good fiction or novel. But it is not. It is a biography. Who would believe they can be like that?
The story told by an educated polyglot journalist, a woman of an extraordinary beauty, who fell for a criminal with some good intentions. She is not perfect, though believes she is. What an ego! What a self-esteem!
And what a story! A masterpiece! Bravo!
It was a fantastic journey and I am sad that it came to an end. I've dived into the world of Colombian culture, into the detailed critical analysis of the historical period (names and events, familiar and not really), into a scary, but exciting love story of two people, whose relationship was so damn organic while at the same time you ask yourself: how, omg HOW, could this even happen?!!
Now, there was also aesthetic education: music, literature, dance, television, movie, advertising, fashion throwbacks (a lot of fashion and style throwbacks actually, but imho they weren't too much, and the woman wrote it so we must give it a credit).
There were nature, flora and fauna, scenery descriptions, useful travel tips.
There were o_O technical and mathematics issues. Translation stuff. One can learn a few dozens of spanish words no doubt!
There were money, guns, diamonds, drugs-drugs-drugs, friendship, devotion, betrayal, jealousy. The bitter end serves as moral...
And passion: the entire book from the very start to the very end is soaked with passion you've never seen or heard before - enough for a good fiction or novel. But it is not. It is a biography. Who would believe they can be like that?
The story told by an educated polyglot journalist, a woman of an extraordinary beauty, who fell for a criminal with some good intentions. She is not perfect, though believes she is. What an ego! What a self-esteem!
And what a story! A masterpiece! Bravo!
July 21, 2015
Necesite mucho tiempo para leer este libro, por que perdia el interes; sobre todo en la 2 parte donde hablaba demasiado de ella y poco de lo que pasaba en Colombia, era mas de ella y sus amantes de dinero y sobre todo casados...
Tal ves es que no me encantaba la manera de "presumir" de ser la amante de los hombres mas ricos e importantes de colombia. En fin...
Para la tercera parte se volvio mas interesante y hasta cierto punto hasta llegue a sentirme mal por ella.
En fin... no recomendaria este libro
Tal ves es que no me encantaba la manera de "presumir" de ser la amante de los hombres mas ricos e importantes de colombia. En fin...
Para la tercera parte se volvio mas interesante y hasta cierto punto hasta llegue a sentirme mal por ella.
En fin... no recomendaria este libro
April 8, 2018
First part of the book makes you love Pablo. For his kindness to help others to overpass poverty and integrate them in the society. Too bad his desire to control everything and have absolute power transformed him in a terrifying murderer, without carrying of anything and anybody, except himself.
February 15, 2024
An interesting viewpoint into Escobar's life through the eyes of a TV reporter. Unfortunately the author is extremely vain and brags about herself throughout the book itself which brings the rating down. The author forgets that she was at best a side character that no one actually cares about during the events that happened and that readers are reading this book to hear about Pablo Escobar.
June 20, 2023
O carte foarte tulburătoarea prin autenticitatea sa
August 2, 2018
So not what I expected! Not a fan. The book seems to have many ulterior motives for it's author. I really don't know what she was trying to prove or say other than she was in love with a heartless, drug dealing, murderous criminal. She attempted to justify his existence by claiming he had a heart of gold, but was misrepresented by the bourgeoisie of Columbia, which, turned all of Columbia against their version of "Robin Hood". Even if he saved her life, he took over a 100,000 others (not sure of the exact amount - either directly - shooting, bombing, strangling, stabbing, etc. or indirectly - ordering deaths, bounties on them, or selling drugs to users that OD'd.) She claims to have no knowledge of this until she started to fall out of love with him, but tells outrageous stories that would lead sane people to know otherwise. She set back any women's movement years! She may very well have been on his intellectual level. However how smart was he? She believes that he knew what was going to happen before it occurred, but could not control himself enough to stop. They discussed political inequalities that most people knew and understood, especially in Columbia. However, she knew little of anything about his cocaine trafficking and murderous ways. Just tell us he had you bought off or scared because it is hard to believe a redeeming quality existed for a man like this, especially a heart of gold! Hard for me to buy any of it. Many times love can make you overlook issues of others, but what does this say about her to overlook these "issues"! There were times her writing was succinct and other times, where attempts at eloquence were far-fetched and did not hit their mark. As a reporter, she had many attributes that made her a favorite. One was obviously her looks, two, she seemed to be aware of some politics, and lastly she had an understanding of "the human element", which I believe was what made her so desirable to Pablo. He used her for his own good, as he used everyone. She made him appealing and provided him with the omnipotent belief that he could do as he pleased, murder, deal drugs, and basic criminal activity. She appeared to be an escort/debutante with a level of human understanding that made her dangerous. Was she used? Yes. Did she directly kill anyone? No. Was she responsible for the death of others? Yes. This book may clear her conscience but not her soul. Sorry, I just don't buy it.
September 29, 2020
Virginia Vallejo (Colombia 1949) and Pablo Escobar (Colombia 1949-1993) were lovers for four years (1983-1987). He a drugslord of the Medellin cartel with a modest background. She a journalist and TV anchor(wo)man from the upper class.
Yesterday I finished reading her book 'Amando a Pablo, odiando a Escobar' (2007) in a Dutch translation 'Ik was de vrouw van Escobar' (2017). I wanted to read about the story behind their love. Her story. Her images. What she says and what not. Her details.
For me this quote is the key to the book (page 305-306). Ana Bolena Meza: "Virginia, you were the greatest star of this country [Colombia] and the narcos ended your career and your good name. I am just a humble actress who wants to make her living with hard work. Say to that Gaviria that I don't want, for any gold, to live your life, certainly not because I see how the media treats you. Say that woman as me despise man like them. That I prefer to die rather then being touched by the dirty hands of a narcos." Who is who? Pablo's nephew Gustavo Gaviria was fallen in love with actress Ana Bolena Meza. Gustavo asked Virginia to arrange a meeting with Ana. Ana refused to meet.
Why did Virginia fall in love with Pablo? Pablo built 2,500 houses for the poor of Medellin. Pablo saved her life. Both were student and teacher. Mutual attracted to their huge intelligence. Magic. Attraction and rejection. Pablo fell for Virginia's beauty. Virginia fell for Pablo's insight and predictive ability. They had an equal relationship. Virginia always refused the sugar daddy side of Pablo. She wanted his love not his money. Later she asked Pablo for money (for education and investment in a company) then he refused because Virginia was the only woman in his life that did love him for free. He wanted to maintain that dream.
They talked a lot about the "inheritance" of Pablo. He wanted the world, via the only woman who really knew him, to know who he really was. A psychological and historical accurate portret.
Nice read. No book for sensitive souls.
P.S. The Spanish title translated into English 'Love Pablo. Hate Escobar', covers the content of their relationship better.
Yesterday I finished reading her book 'Amando a Pablo, odiando a Escobar' (2007) in a Dutch translation 'Ik was de vrouw van Escobar' (2017). I wanted to read about the story behind their love. Her story. Her images. What she says and what not. Her details.
For me this quote is the key to the book (page 305-306). Ana Bolena Meza: "Virginia, you were the greatest star of this country [Colombia] and the narcos ended your career and your good name. I am just a humble actress who wants to make her living with hard work. Say to that Gaviria that I don't want, for any gold, to live your life, certainly not because I see how the media treats you. Say that woman as me despise man like them. That I prefer to die rather then being touched by the dirty hands of a narcos." Who is who? Pablo's nephew Gustavo Gaviria was fallen in love with actress Ana Bolena Meza. Gustavo asked Virginia to arrange a meeting with Ana. Ana refused to meet.
Why did Virginia fall in love with Pablo? Pablo built 2,500 houses for the poor of Medellin. Pablo saved her life. Both were student and teacher. Mutual attracted to their huge intelligence. Magic. Attraction and rejection. Pablo fell for Virginia's beauty. Virginia fell for Pablo's insight and predictive ability. They had an equal relationship. Virginia always refused the sugar daddy side of Pablo. She wanted his love not his money. Later she asked Pablo for money (for education and investment in a company) then he refused because Virginia was the only woman in his life that did love him for free. He wanted to maintain that dream.
They talked a lot about the "inheritance" of Pablo. He wanted the world, via the only woman who really knew him, to know who he really was. A psychological and historical accurate portret.
Nice read. No book for sensitive souls.
P.S. The Spanish title translated into English 'Love Pablo. Hate Escobar', covers the content of their relationship better.
August 4, 2022
E povestea unei femei celebre din Columbia, jurnalistă și amanta celui mai mare traficant de droguri.
O poveste sângeroasă, plină de situații critice și umilitoare, de corupție și trădări, asasinate și jafuri, spălări de bani și condamnări pentru trafic de droguri, colaborări cu antidrog, concursuri de frumusețe și candidări la președinție finanțate din traficul de narcotice.
E creionat nu doar traficantul Escobar, nemilosul, ci și Pablo, omul - familistul, acesta fiind cel mai slab punct al său.
Recomand cartea nu pentru povestea de dragoste în sine și pentru structura ei cronologică 😵💫😤, ci pentru perspectiva istorică, pentru modul în care este detaliată scena politică a Columbiei anilor ’80, pentru o mai bună viziune a felului cum traficul de droguri şi politica mergeau mână în mână. De fapt, Columbia a fost condusă de o bandă de criminali megalomani și infatuați, avizi de bogăţie şi putere.
O poveste sângeroasă, plină de situații critice și umilitoare, de corupție și trădări, asasinate și jafuri, spălări de bani și condamnări pentru trafic de droguri, colaborări cu antidrog, concursuri de frumusețe și candidări la președinție finanțate din traficul de narcotice.
E creionat nu doar traficantul Escobar, nemilosul, ci și Pablo, omul - familistul, acesta fiind cel mai slab punct al său.
Recomand cartea nu pentru povestea de dragoste în sine și pentru structura ei cronologică 😵💫😤, ci pentru perspectiva istorică, pentru modul în care este detaliată scena politică a Columbiei anilor ’80, pentru o mai bună viziune a felului cum traficul de droguri şi politica mergeau mână în mână. De fapt, Columbia a fost condusă de o bandă de criminali megalomani și infatuați, avizi de bogăţie şi putere.
December 16, 2021
While I do not feel very comfortable when criminals are made into heroes, so much that there grows a loyal fan-following for them, and everything they did or wore or carried becomes the coolest thing in town; this book still made me smile. It is the voice of a lady in love, and her dilemmas, her pain, her anguish, her agony all felt a bit relatable to me. This is another side of Escobar story. Just before this, I read the book written by Pablo's son, and now this. I enjoyed reading the book. I still feel the book is a little long, I would have enjoyed it a little better if it was a few pages shorter, but the story is being told, and you gotta follow through.
August 17, 2019
Chihuahua! Or maybe I should say Bogota! What a look into the world of the drug cartels and high ranking politicians of the world Pablo Escobar helped to create and define. What a journey through the heart and consciousness of Virginia Vallejo. For historical value alone this book deserves 5 stars. The knowledge and background of the author made the book and the experiences she chronicles possible. Judge away if that’s your takeaway, otherwise read and watch how absolute power corrupts absolutely.
July 31, 2017
RCN did an amazing job by covering a tell interview before Vallejo flew to the US. For me that was enough. I wanted to find more depth to the Escobar phenomena within Colombian modern history. I only read two chapters. I couldn't pass all the name dropping of of the Colombian elite and this overly vulgar obsession with expensive brands.
January 29, 2009
Virgina Valejo is an opportunist and probably was way more involved in the Cartels than she let on...
November 30, 2015
She is a very self center lady. Reading pages about her shopping experiences in Paris! Crazy lady ...
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