From the Bookshelf of Mineola Library's 2012 FALL Reading Challenge…

Genesis (Memory of Fire, #1)

Eduardo Galeano,

Cedric Belfrage (Translator)

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Sep 21, 2009 Suzanne Moore rated it liked it

Shelves: fall-challenge-picks, 1001-2008

Genesis is the first in a trilogy about Latin American history. This first book begins with creation stories and goes through to 1700AD. It was chronicled in short chapters, more like passages. I didn't read this seriously or research points of interest. I read a little every night before going to sleep. The details didn't stick with me, but I did learn a few things.

In stories told by the first voices, I read about the origin of love ... learned from monkeys in the Amazonian jungle. Monkeys! No Genesis is the first in a trilogy about Latin American history. This first book begins with creation stories and goes through to 1700AD. It was chronicled in short chapters, more like passages. I didn't read this seriously or research points of interest. I read a little every night before going to sleep. The details didn't stick with me, but I did learn a few things.

In stories told by the first voices, I read about the origin of love ... learned from monkeys in the Amazonian jungle. Monkeys! Not in a Darwinian sense as one might imagine, but at first quite funny. The tale explains that man sees woman is missing some parts … there is of course a noticeable difference in male and female anatomy. Man is worried that woman needs to be healed and insists that she lay in a hammock until he can find a cure. After several attempts at a remedy, man discovers how to “cure” her after observing a pair of monkeys coupling in the curve of a tree branch. Galeano describes the act of love as follows: “When the long embrace ended, a dense aroma of flowers and fruit filled the air. From the bodies lying together came unheard of vapors and glowings, and it was all so beautiful that the suns and the gods died of embarrassment.” His words left me burning on the inside and blushing on the outside …

The invasion of the New World is a story of violence and greed, a gold obsession and quest for power. Despite efforts to wipe out Mayan history and destroy the culture of Native Americans, the memory of fire did the exact opposite. In a passage about burning the books of the Mayas (1562), I was transported back in time. I imagined sitting at a drum circle around a campfire, hearing rhythmic songs and watching colorful tribal dances. With these author's words, I think you'll see what I mean ... “When its little paper houses are burned, memory finds refuge in mouths that sing the glories of men and gods, songs that stay on from people to people and in bodies that dance to the sound of hollow trunks, tortoise shells, and reed flutes.” This example validates the need for oral storytelling. Even though efforts were made to eliminate the past, the people's history becomes safe when spoken.
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