4Q pt 3: Century of the Wind (Memory of Fire part 3)

[Amanda]

Alrighty: Here’s to the final section of our final quarterly of the year (woot!)

Book summary (From Amazon): The third volume of Eduardo Galeano's Memory of Fire trilogy, Century of the Wind offers a panorama of Galeano's singular vision of the past, turbulent century: from the bucolic New Jersey laboratory of Thomas Alva Edison to the armies of Emiliano Zapata and Fidel Castro to the Reagan-era CIA “neutralizations” in the forests of Latin America. Dizzying, enraging, and beautifully written, Century of the Wind is a sweeping interpretation of the Americas no work of history has previously imagined.

Questions:
1. This book deals with the history from the Americas from 1900-1986. What is something you learned about modern history from this section?

2. As always, which vignette was a favorite/standout for you in the book?

3. Why do think the author went with the title “Century of the Wind”?

4. Did you feel like the format/structure of the book facilitated learning more than a conventional history book or not? What do you think are the pros/cons of learning histories from personalized/fictionalized accounts such as this one? Do you think this book would be appropriate for study in history classes, or just literature?

5. This book was finished in 1987. If Galeano were still alive and continued the book into today, which events from North/South American history/news do you think would have been covered? What position do you think he would have taken on these issues?

6. Critic John Berger once said that “to publish Eduardo Galeano is to publish the enemy: the enemy of lies, indifference, above all of forgetfulness. Thanks to him our crimes will be remembered. His tenderness is devastating, his truthfulness, furious.” Do you agree with this based on what you’ve read?

7. Finally, now that you’ve (presumably) finished the book, what did you think of it? Did it justify its position on the list/why do you think this book was chosen? Are you likely to read another Galeano book based on this one?

[[deleted user]]

1. I found it scary the methods of torture especially against women that were being used in my life time. I am probably naïve but I would like to believe that this doesn't happen anymore but I am sure somewhere in the world it is. It was also interesting to see the power of big business over the Latin American countries.

2. As always there are so many that I loved a few of them are: 1908: Caracas Castro, 1909: New York Charlotte (about 1001 author Charlotte Perkins Gilmore), 1910: Mexico City The Centennial and Love, 1913: Mexico City An Eighteen-Cent Rope, 1914: Montevideo Batlle, 1916: New Orleans Jazz, 1929: New York Euphoria, 1939: Rio de Jaineiro The Samba, 1942: New York The Red Cross Doesn't Accept Black Blood, 1954: Rio de Janeiro Getulio, 1956: Buenos Aires The Government Decides that Peronism Doesn't Exist, 1957: Sucre St Lucio, 1958: Stockholm Pele, 1963: Dallas The Government Decides That Truth Doesn't Exist, 1967: Houston Ali, On Private Property and the Right of Creation, 1981: Celica Canton "Bad Luck, Human Error, Bad Weather".

3. The only thing I can think of is the Wind of Change, things are definitely changing.

4. I loved the structure and personally I feel the vignettes have more impact that reading a dry, stale textbook. I would say this would be a great way to get an overview of history and as a jumping off point for further research into the specific articles that really interest you.

5. That is a tough question as the news I know about is very much English/American not Latin America. I can see him writing about Trump and the "wall" and I am guessing he would be anti Trump and could find vignettes that would break down all of Trump's arguments for the wall.

6. I agree fully without these books I would not have seen this other side of history and it is important to see both sides.

7. I loved this trilogy, it deserves its place on the list due to the unique way the narrative is put together it provides a comprehensive history lesson that is fast paced and constantly moving. This is one of the books that I will be forever grateful to the 1001 list for bringing to my attention.

[Gail]

Questions:
1. This book deals with the history from the Americas from 1900-1986. What is something you learned about modern history from this section?

I had a working knowledge of Cuban history and of the history of Nicaragua but honestly did not really know about Guatemalan history or rather the horrible details of it.

2. As always, which vignette was a favorite/standout for you in the book?
I just love the little vignette where the daughter smuggles in birds to her father in jail: "Don't you see they're eyes? They're the eyes of the birds I smuggled in for you." Also the one where the five women in Bolivia overthrow the military dictatorship by setting an example.

3. Why do think the author went with the title “Century of the Wind”?

I am not sure but I think he was thinking of the Wind blowing good influences and bad throughout the region. In this book, although it depends on a chronology, because the chronology is not specific to one country or region it does seem to be waves of memory and waves of rebellion.

4. Did you feel like the format/structure of the book facilitated learning more than a conventional history book or not? What do you think are the pros/cons of learning histories from personalized/fictionalized accounts such as this one? Do you think this book would be appropriate for study in history classes, or just literature?

I think it is so unique and it prompted me to go to specific histories multiple times to learn more. I think bringing to life the stories of individuals informs the whole in a much more overarching way than just a one sided account of dates and events.

5. This book was finished in 1987. If Galeano were still alive and continued the book into today, which events from North/South American history/news do you think would have been covered? What position do you think he would have taken on these issues?

He clearly was for the campesinos and he would have taken the view of the "little men and women" who rose up and asserted themselves even if only to be martyred. His wry humor would have made merry of current affairs but really the world has not changed all that much from 1987 in some ways. The imperialism of a monopoly capitalism still plays havoc with the world economy and those that represent the little man often turn into horrors when introduced to power....as in Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua and what is happening in Venezuela.

6. Critic John Berger once said that “to publish Eduardo Galeano is to publish the enemy: the enemy of lies, indifference, above all of forgetfulness. Thanks to him our crimes will be remembered. His tenderness is devastating, his truthfulness, furious.” Do you agree with this based on what you’ve read?

Yes, I think he captured something that no one else has even attempted to.

7. Finally, now that you’ve (presumably) finished the book, what did you think of it? Did it justify its position on the list/why do you think this book was chosen? Are you likely to read another Galeano book based on this one?

Absolutely. I would also read another book by him.

[Amanda]

Thanks for your great comments again Book and Gail! I finished this on about a month ago but life has been well….life lol so I’m just getting around to polishing off the questions now:

Questions:
1. I learned about the race ban that used to exist in the Red-Cross Blood Bank, despite it being started by a Black man, the extent to which American business interests and the CIA were involved in the coup in Guatemala.

2. The two that covered the info above were favorites, as well as the one about Trotsky that ended with the great quote “ who can deny that Christianity is much more than the Inquisition?” as a comparison for those who still believed in socialism and communism after Stalin. Also liked “This is America: to the South there is Nothing” which demonstrated the way the US has appropriated the idea of being “America” to the detriment of other American nations.

3. I think it speaks to the age of rapid-and wind- travel. But also how in our century, the metaphorical “winds of change” politically and technologically came rapidly to many American nations.

4. I agree with other comments here that this works as an excellent tool to give people awareness of a subject that they can then go investigate and verify further themselves. I did this with these books, and a bunch with his book Mirrors, which does the same thing for global history. Many of my favorite figures/events I owe to that book introducing me to them. It also gives a panorama of life in these eras without just dryly giving dates and sequence of major political events. I think it could be utilized as a study tool in both history and literature classes. Though I feel like one con may be that this format facilitates anecdotal evidence that is more compelling on an individual story level but maybe doesn’t fully represent the systemic picture. But, the average person does identify more strongly with anecdotal evidence than statistical evidence, so I think it can work to convey points really well for people who aren’t trained in academic data interpretation.

5. I put this question in for fun because I was wondering this while reading it. I definitely think the US 2008 and 2016 elections would have been featured and Galeano would have had a field day tearing into the horrors of late stage capitalism represented by the Trump era and would have had something insightful to say about how this happened beyond one man being terrible when there is a precedent of this mentally woven into the history of the US. I think he would have also loved AOC and her story. Outside the US, I think the death of Castro, the Rio Olympics (and how slums were liquidated for the Olympics), the political crisis in Chile, the burning of the Amazon, the pipeline protests in Canada, the hurricanes that have wrecked the Caribbean (particularly Haiti and Puerto Rico) increasing intensity due to Climate Change would have all potentially made the book.

6. Absolutely. I think he is one of the literary embodiments of the phrase “speak truth to power”. Also, I wanted to put this question in because not long after I read his book Mirrors I found out he was being interviewed on PBS and they opened with this quote, which always stuck with me.

7. I LOVED THESE BOOKS. Which I’ve already said and is evident from my previous responses lol. It absolutely belongs on the list and is likely there due to being a masterpiece in literary history on such a scale that I’ve never seen anyone else successfully achieve. The way he so masterfully brought the anti-colonial narrative to mainstream attention is laudable as well. I was going to read this book anyway, glad the list hastened that for me, and I will definitely read more by him in my life: I would probably read Open Veins of Latin America next.

[Diane]

1. This book deals with the history from the Americas from 1900-1986. What is something you learned about modern history from this section?
Not really something new, but the book confirmed how different history can be viewed from the people who are actually experiencing versus the people from outside who write textbooks on other biased chronicles of history.

2. As always, which vignette was a favorite/standout for you in the book?
I actually made note of these as I was reading it, but misplaced my notes. There were so many fantastic vignettes, I don't know where to begin.

3. Why do think the author went with the title “Century of the Wind”?
Maybe due to the fact that much happened during the 20th century resulting in rapid changes within Latin America.

4. Did you feel like the format/structure of the book facilitated learning more than a conventional history book or not? What do you think are the pros/cons of learning histories from personalized/fictionalized accounts such as this one? Do you think this book would be appropriate for study in history classes, or just literature?
He was definitely able to cover a lot of ground in telling it the way that he did. I think it was also a lot more interesting to read about history this way than through a dry, conventional history book. Pros to reading about history this way: 1)More interesting, 2)Incorporation of folklore/mythology/magic realism added a nice touch and made it more personal, 3)The opportunity to hear about history from someone who actually experienced it. Cons: 1) This format lends itself to bias as it is one person's perspective and not entirely objective. I do think it would be a great addition to a history class.

5. This book was finished in 1987. If Galeano were still alive and continued the book into today, which events from North/South American history/news do you think would have been covered? What position do you think he would have taken on these issues?
The end of the Cold War and it's impact on communism, US invasion of Panama, transfer of Panama canal to Panama, government and economic changes in various Latin American countries, NAFTA. Pablo Escobar, El Chapo, Pinochet's arrest, the lifting of restrictions with Cuba, the wall and other Trump-related stuff, fires in Amazon rainforest, major earthquakes, etc, etc.

6. Critic John Berger once said that “to publish Eduardo Galeano is to publish the enemy: the enemy of lies, indifference, above all of forgetfulness. Thanks to him our crimes will be remembered. His tenderness is devastating, his truthfulness, furious.” Do you agree with this based on what you’ve read?
Yes

7. Finally, now that you’ve (presumably) finished the book, what did you think of it? Did it justify its position on the list/why do you think this book was chosen? Are you likely to read another Galeano book based on this one?
I think it is a unique series of books and worthy of it's place on the list. I will definitely read more books by Galeano. I own Open Veins of Latin America, Mirrors, and Soccer in Sun and Shadow by this author.

[Kristel]

I am going to just summarize here rather than answer questions in depth. This was the hardest to read as it was most recent. My lifetime. It was full of violence which I did not like reading and I hated the culpability of the US but you cannot blame ideology, religion, or government. People are the source of harm and must take responsibility. I think ignorance is the blame ordinary citizens must acknowledge. I think the author even states that ignorance is no excuse.

In reference to current history (journalism) of Central and South America; I hope things are better but I don't know. I hope my country (US) is done with their manipulations of things that are for the benefit of big business and that we would be more interested in human right issues. But I don't know. I have to confess to ignorance but also know I will be paying more attention.

I liked history written this way. So much more insightful to read it in context. I really appreciated the references to great authors and literature and know that I will use this book as a resource in the future. I also appreciated references to pop culture like Superman and Marilyn Monroe. I looked forward to the references to the Bay of Pigs. The fact that I have it on kindle will make it easy to consult. I think it belongs on the list.

[Pip]

1. The most shocking thing I learnt was the complicity of U.S. politicians with ties to the United Fruit Company in the interference in Guatamalan politics. Even Dwight Eisenhower was obliquely implicated. Everyone is aware of U.S. meddling in South American politics (Allende, Panama and Granada are the ones that stick out in my mind) but this was self interest on steroids.
2. 1954; Washington The Deciding Machine Piece By Piece was the most memorable, but there were so many others. I particularly liked the way the life of Miguel Marmol was portrayed as a series of unbelievable escapes from certain death, The life of Violetta Parra was one of the rabbitholes i dived down in the story The Stolen Name.
3. I concur with the Winds of Change theory.
4. I loved the format. I think that because the stories were told in the present tense there was an immediacy that hooked me, as a reader. We all love anecdotes, especially if they are told in such beautiful language.
5. He would have loved the fall from grace of former C.I.A. operative Noriega. He would have excoriated the massacre of 43 students in Mexico in 2014. I think he would have delighted in the longevity of Fidel Castro and universal literacy in Cuba. He would have been pleased with Brazil's World Cup wins in 1994 and 2002 and hosting the tournament in 2014, but would have been disappointed (perhaps) that Uruguay has been much less successful.
6. Absolutely. The crime of forgetting is the worst. I would like to think that history becomes compulsory in all high schools and this book is an essential requirement.
7. This book is one of the best on the list and I am keen to read more of his books. Perhaps the soccer one next!

[Gail]

If you have read both of an upcoming BOTM selection, you can do a buddy read. I would like to read more by this author also and would join you. It was a great quarterly read.

[Kristel]

Gail wrote: "If you have read both of an upcoming BOTM selection, you can do a buddy read. I would like to read more by this author also and would join you. It was a great quarterly read."

BR must be from the list. I don't think Galeano has any of his other books on the list.

[Gail]

Ahhh, too bad...

[Pip]

And I plan to read both BOTM, the food challenge, TBR and start Journey to the West, so no time for much else.