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Conquistadora
An epic novel of love, discovery, and adventure by the author of the best-selling memoir When I Was Puerto Rican.
As a young girl growing up in Spain, Ana Larragoity Cubillas is powerfully drawn to Puerto Rico by the diaries of an ancestor who traveled there with Ponce de León. And in handsome twin brothers Ramón and Inocente—both in love with Ana—she finds a way to get there. She marries Ramón, and in 1844, just eighteen, she travels across the ocean to a remote sugar plantation the brothers have inherited on the island.
Ana faces unrelenting heat, disease and isolation, and the dangers of the untamed countryside even as she relishes the challenge of running Hacienda los Gemelos. But when the Civil War breaks out in the United States, Ana finds her livelihood, and perhaps even her life, threatened by the very people on whose backs her wealth has been the hacienda’s slaves, whose richly drawn stories unfold alongside her own. And when at last Ana falls for a man who may be her destiny—a once-forbidden love—she will sacrifice nearly everything to keep hold of the land that has become her true home.
This is a sensual, riveting tale, set in a place where human passions and cruelties thrilling history that has never before been brought so vividly and unforgettably to life.
As a young girl growing up in Spain, Ana Larragoity Cubillas is powerfully drawn to Puerto Rico by the diaries of an ancestor who traveled there with Ponce de León. And in handsome twin brothers Ramón and Inocente—both in love with Ana—she finds a way to get there. She marries Ramón, and in 1844, just eighteen, she travels across the ocean to a remote sugar plantation the brothers have inherited on the island.
Ana faces unrelenting heat, disease and isolation, and the dangers of the untamed countryside even as she relishes the challenge of running Hacienda los Gemelos. But when the Civil War breaks out in the United States, Ana finds her livelihood, and perhaps even her life, threatened by the very people on whose backs her wealth has been the hacienda’s slaves, whose richly drawn stories unfold alongside her own. And when at last Ana falls for a man who may be her destiny—a once-forbidden love—she will sacrifice nearly everything to keep hold of the land that has become her true home.
This is a sensual, riveting tale, set in a place where human passions and cruelties thrilling history that has never before been brought so vividly and unforgettably to life.
432 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2011
About the author
Esmeralda Santiago
24 books854 followersEsmeralda Santiago (born 1948 in San Juan, Puerto Rico). Is a renowned Puerto Rican author In 1961, she came to the United States when she was thirteen years old, the eldest in a family that would eventually include eleven children. Ms. Santiago attended New York City's Performing Arts High School, where she majored in drama and dance. After eight years of part-time study at community colleges, she transferred to Harvard University with a full scholarship. She studied film production and graduated in 1976 magna cum laude. Shortly after graduation, she and her husband, Frank Cantor, founded CANTOMEDIA, a film and media production company, which has won numerous awards for excellence in documentary filmmaking.
Her writing career evolved from her work as a producer/writer of documentary and educational films. Her essays and opinion pieces have appeared in national newspapers including the New York Times and the Boston Globe, and on mass market magazines like House & Garden, Metropolitan Home, and Good Housekeeping.
Her writing career evolved from her work as a producer/writer of documentary and educational films. Her essays and opinion pieces have appeared in national newspapers including the New York Times and the Boston Globe, and on mass market magazines like House & Garden, Metropolitan Home, and Good Housekeeping.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 504 reviews
September 6, 2011
This one seems to have all the ingredients needed for a real page-turner: twincest, lesbian love, a fiery heroine and a hard-charging man, lush Caribbean setting, a humpbacked foundling with psychic powers, slave rebellions...what's not to like? The terrible, plodding prose that makes each page a slog. In the right hands this could have been the kind of guilty pleasure you don't want to put down on the beach blanket--even for a quick dip. But it's not. Bad writing killed a good story.
November 27, 2022
The lives of 19th c. women in Spain were narrow and proscribed, especially for the upper classes. Women were expected to be pious, demure, to stay at home immersed in domestic affairs. Ana chaffed at the thought. Her ancestors were conquistadors who adventured across tumultuous seas to strange new lands. Ana wanted to act in the world, not retreat from it.
Teenaged best friends and lovers Ana and Elena hatched a plan. They would capture the hearts of the handsome Argoso twins, each marrying one of the brothers. This way, when the men tired of them and they were left alone, they would have each other for comfort and intimacy.
The twins were intertwined, inseparable, fulfilling each other’s every need. They were preparing for a boring life in Spain. When Ana learned that the family held a plantation in Puerto Rico, she saw her chance to fulfill her conquistador legacy. She wove dreams of wealth and success with the sugar plantation, entrapping the brothers into her fantasy. Five years, and they could return, set for life. Ana married one brother; when Elena came of age, she would marry the other.
The brothers, their parents, and Ana and Elena crossed the sea to the New World. Ana and her husband and his brother went inland to the plantation, leaving Elena with their parents in the city.
Ana was prepared for the depravations and hard work ahead. She steeled herself to being a slave owner. The men were unprepared for this harsh new life. Over the years, as Ana thrived, the twins succumbed to their worst natures, blaming Ana for bewitching them. Ana survives while the men folk succumb. Ana is willing to sacrifice anything and everything for the land that claims her heart and soul.
The novel brings to life the reality of life on the sugar plantations. The lives of the slaves, the cruel work, the heat and humidity are all described. A hurricane flattens the island, followed by cholera. Numerous slaves figure prominently in the story, their ranks filled with children sired by the Spanish men who owned them. These details give depth to this melodramatic family saga.
But now Ana didn’t want to examine her scruples. No, it was too late; a conscience at this stage in her life was too great a burden.
from Conquistadora by Esmeralda Santiago
Ana is an interesting character. She is not beautiful. She is small of stature. She knows what she wants and fights for it, first rebelling against her parents’ expectations and then insisting on playing an active role on the plantation. She ignores the bad actions of her husband and his brother, and the majordomo, because it suits her needs. She knows that their wealth depends on slavery, yet she is tender toward the slaves, ministering to the sick and protecting the weak. We may not like Ana, but must admit that she is extraordinary.
Readers who enjoy historical fiction, a strong female protagonist, and lots of drama will enjoy this one.
I received a book from Vintage Books. My review is fair and unbiased.
Teenaged best friends and lovers Ana and Elena hatched a plan. They would capture the hearts of the handsome Argoso twins, each marrying one of the brothers. This way, when the men tired of them and they were left alone, they would have each other for comfort and intimacy.
The twins were intertwined, inseparable, fulfilling each other’s every need. They were preparing for a boring life in Spain. When Ana learned that the family held a plantation in Puerto Rico, she saw her chance to fulfill her conquistador legacy. She wove dreams of wealth and success with the sugar plantation, entrapping the brothers into her fantasy. Five years, and they could return, set for life. Ana married one brother; when Elena came of age, she would marry the other.
The brothers, their parents, and Ana and Elena crossed the sea to the New World. Ana and her husband and his brother went inland to the plantation, leaving Elena with their parents in the city.
Ana was prepared for the depravations and hard work ahead. She steeled herself to being a slave owner. The men were unprepared for this harsh new life. Over the years, as Ana thrived, the twins succumbed to their worst natures, blaming Ana for bewitching them. Ana survives while the men folk succumb. Ana is willing to sacrifice anything and everything for the land that claims her heart and soul.
The novel brings to life the reality of life on the sugar plantations. The lives of the slaves, the cruel work, the heat and humidity are all described. A hurricane flattens the island, followed by cholera. Numerous slaves figure prominently in the story, their ranks filled with children sired by the Spanish men who owned them. These details give depth to this melodramatic family saga.
But now Ana didn’t want to examine her scruples. No, it was too late; a conscience at this stage in her life was too great a burden.
from Conquistadora by Esmeralda Santiago
Ana is an interesting character. She is not beautiful. She is small of stature. She knows what she wants and fights for it, first rebelling against her parents’ expectations and then insisting on playing an active role on the plantation. She ignores the bad actions of her husband and his brother, and the majordomo, because it suits her needs. She knows that their wealth depends on slavery, yet she is tender toward the slaves, ministering to the sick and protecting the weak. We may not like Ana, but must admit that she is extraordinary.
Readers who enjoy historical fiction, a strong female protagonist, and lots of drama will enjoy this one.
I received a book from Vintage Books. My review is fair and unbiased.
December 23, 2013
Someday Puerto Rico will have a great historical novel about independence, Betances, and the migration to Puerto Rico. This one is not it. It reads like a history book discarded halfway and reworked with characters that are just stand-ins that the author can do things to while explaining the history drily. When I think of great historical fiction--Farming of Bones, House of the Spirits--it also has great characters, alive, not mannequins being manipulated by history. News flash: just because you say two characters belong together does not make it believable and please, stop telling me what Ana feels and show me, because what you are telling me is not compelling. There is not one original thought in this book, no beautiful imagery, no great characterization. This is the woman who wrote such beautiful things about guavas. Maybe ten years ago this book would be in the pantheon because we "need" more books by Latina authors...but not now.
November 2, 2011
Oh, my. Such a big mistake to compare Ana in this novel to Scarlett O'Hara. Isn't the first line of "Gone with the Wind" something like "Scarlett O'Hara was not beautiful but men rarely noticed after being captivated by her charm"? So here we have Ana who is not beautiful and has no charm, so unless being good at business and having slaves is what you're going to base that comparison on, it is quite a stretch.
So let's forget about Scarlett and look at Ana. Captivated by journals of an ancestor who was one of the first whites in what is now Puerto Rico, she does not hesitate to move their with her new husband and his twin brother to work a sugar plantation their family owns. Ana becomes obsessed with the plantation, a grim and brutal place, no Tara, to the detriment of everyone else.
The first part of "Conquistadora" suffers from story-telling. People and situations are explained rather than experienced. This changes somewhat later in the novel, but by that time it is too late to really understand or sympathize with the characters. Ana herself and Severo, her second husband are complete mysteries. It is hard to get involved with them or to care what happens.
I did finish the book, and enjoyed Santiago's writing. Here's what I'd like to see in the sequel I suspect is underway: snatch Ana off the Hacienda Los Gemelos and put her somewhere to explore another aspect of her character; examine city life at the time and put the spotlight on other characters. Look at what has influenced the personality of the Puerto Rican people--from "Conquistadora" one would expect them to be gloomy and repressed and we know that is not the case. Where's the joy, the humor, the charm (that word again!) of the people and place?
To belabor the GWTW comparison, that novel is filled with the excitement and adventure of the time and place seen through the eyes of possibly the most selfish character in literature, who nonetheless cares about other people and is involved with them whole-heartedly. The wheels in her head are always turning. Compared to her, Ana's a drudge.
By Candace Siegle, Greedy Reader
So let's forget about Scarlett and look at Ana. Captivated by journals of an ancestor who was one of the first whites in what is now Puerto Rico, she does not hesitate to move their with her new husband and his twin brother to work a sugar plantation their family owns. Ana becomes obsessed with the plantation, a grim and brutal place, no Tara, to the detriment of everyone else.
The first part of "Conquistadora" suffers from story-telling. People and situations are explained rather than experienced. This changes somewhat later in the novel, but by that time it is too late to really understand or sympathize with the characters. Ana herself and Severo, her second husband are complete mysteries. It is hard to get involved with them or to care what happens.
I did finish the book, and enjoyed Santiago's writing. Here's what I'd like to see in the sequel I suspect is underway: snatch Ana off the Hacienda Los Gemelos and put her somewhere to explore another aspect of her character; examine city life at the time and put the spotlight on other characters. Look at what has influenced the personality of the Puerto Rican people--from "Conquistadora" one would expect them to be gloomy and repressed and we know that is not the case. Where's the joy, the humor, the charm (that word again!) of the people and place?
To belabor the GWTW comparison, that novel is filled with the excitement and adventure of the time and place seen through the eyes of possibly the most selfish character in literature, who nonetheless cares about other people and is involved with them whole-heartedly. The wheels in her head are always turning. Compared to her, Ana's a drudge.
By Candace Siegle, Greedy Reader
March 3, 2017
Epic in scope and set in 1800's Puerto Rico, this book is rich with fully imagined characters in a vibrant setting. We see entire lives lived out through these pages. This unforgettable story tells of the strong and flawed Ana, who imagines herself following in the footsteps of her ancestors to own a hacienta in Puerto Rico. She finds a way to make this dream a reality. What follows is her story and those whose lives intersect with hers. Santigo is a beautiful writer who tells her riveting tale in episodes focused on each of her characters. Even the minor characters have important roles in the telling.
Major themes in the novel are ambition, loyalty, faith, morality and duty. The book examines these ideas and presents a wonderful story in the form of historical novel.
Major themes in the novel are ambition, loyalty, faith, morality and duty. The book examines these ideas and presents a wonderful story in the form of historical novel.
May 5, 2012
After being swept up in the drama, euphoria, and total mind-numbing ecstasy which was this year's National Book Festival (Book Nerds of the World, UNITE!) I felt compelled to purchase this book. How could I have sat through Ms. Santiago's talk about the extensive research that she completed in her efforts to craft her sweeping epic tale of a headstrong young Spanish woman, descendant of conquistadors, born during a time when a woman only became free when her husband died, and then only if he was wealthy, and then only if one did not have offspring or male relatives who were next in line for the property, be it money, land, or Africans. And there's the rub. I constantly felt myself cringing at the fact that I wanted the sugar plantation to be constructed. I wanted it to survive, and then, later, I was fearful of revolution that would free the slaves, thereby ruining Hacienda Los Gemelos y Ana Larragoity Cubillas . . .
And that's why she's good. Through this book, Santiago envelops you so snugly in the lives of each character, no matter how small, that you feel for each person's struggle in the evolving Boriquena. In the beginning of one chapter, you want Ana to be successful, yet on another page, you're introduced to the quiet, yet beautifully talented Jose, woodworker extraordinaire, and you're forced to imagine what marvels he'd be able to create if he were completely to own his artistic skills and his time, let alone his body. So with this, she is successful in dramatizing the hypocrisy of the wealth and beauty of the "New World", how it enabled those "back home" on the continent to wax moralistic about the evils of slavery while they sipped their tea, coffe, and chocolate, all sowed, reaped, packed, shipped, and sweetened with the horrific practices they eschewed.
I didn't LOVE this book, but I did like it. You might too.
And that's why she's good. Through this book, Santiago envelops you so snugly in the lives of each character, no matter how small, that you feel for each person's struggle in the evolving Boriquena. In the beginning of one chapter, you want Ana to be successful, yet on another page, you're introduced to the quiet, yet beautifully talented Jose, woodworker extraordinaire, and you're forced to imagine what marvels he'd be able to create if he were completely to own his artistic skills and his time, let alone his body. So with this, she is successful in dramatizing the hypocrisy of the wealth and beauty of the "New World", how it enabled those "back home" on the continent to wax moralistic about the evils of slavery while they sipped their tea, coffe, and chocolate, all sowed, reaped, packed, shipped, and sweetened with the horrific practices they eschewed.
I didn't LOVE this book, but I did like it. You might too.
February 21, 2013
I appreciated this book from an informational standpoint. I learned a lot about Spanish colonization, slavery in the Caribbean and life on a hacienda/plantation in colonial Puerto Rico. This time period is simply fascinating.
On the other hand, I wouldn't recommend this book for the story. The main character frustrated me to no end. She was very guarded and had trouble displaying affection to anyone who loved her. Additionally, the ending of the book was rather disconcerting. One of the final lines is, "We're all walking on corpses... but this too, is life." Definitely not a pick-me-up book.
One thing I thought was well done was the portrayal of varying attitudes toward slavery. Young Miguel is convinced that as soon as he comes of age to inherit the hacienda he will free all of the slaves. While noble in intent, he also realizes that his fortune and way of life has been built off the backs of slaves and that many of the free people are not much better off than the slaves that belong to his mother.
The book also includes interesting explorations of sexuality, spirituality and romanticism towards the land.
On the other hand, I wouldn't recommend this book for the story. The main character frustrated me to no end. She was very guarded and had trouble displaying affection to anyone who loved her. Additionally, the ending of the book was rather disconcerting. One of the final lines is, "We're all walking on corpses... but this too, is life." Definitely not a pick-me-up book.
One thing I thought was well done was the portrayal of varying attitudes toward slavery. Young Miguel is convinced that as soon as he comes of age to inherit the hacienda he will free all of the slaves. While noble in intent, he also realizes that his fortune and way of life has been built off the backs of slaves and that many of the free people are not much better off than the slaves that belong to his mother.
The book also includes interesting explorations of sexuality, spirituality and romanticism towards the land.
July 16, 2015
2.5 stars, if I could.
Santiago's rote style of writing holds back this novel. While none of the characters are remotely sympathetic, there is something interesting about them and their situations. Ana really could have been something special, ignoring her instinctual dislike of slavery in favor of exploiting her workers to further her ambitions. However, Santiago does not fully delve into the emotional conflict, settling instead for telling us everything we should know about the character.
The lush sugar cane plantation was a well formed setting, as was the knowledge of the era that Santiago presented with the story. I say presented with because she didn't do the latter with any finesse: whole paragraphs of explication go by without incorporating the information into the story.
The drama and potential for the story to get better kept me reading, though I definitely struggled. It took me forever to get through this, and I kind of wish I'd stopped.
Santiago's rote style of writing holds back this novel. While none of the characters are remotely sympathetic, there is something interesting about them and their situations. Ana really could have been something special, ignoring her instinctual dislike of slavery in favor of exploiting her workers to further her ambitions. However, Santiago does not fully delve into the emotional conflict, settling instead for telling us everything we should know about the character.
The lush sugar cane plantation was a well formed setting, as was the knowledge of the era that Santiago presented with the story. I say presented with because she didn't do the latter with any finesse: whole paragraphs of explication go by without incorporating the information into the story.
The drama and potential for the story to get better kept me reading, though I definitely struggled. It took me forever to get through this, and I kind of wish I'd stopped.
August 14, 2011
This one got amazing reviews -- NYT, USA Today, People, Entertainment Weekly, etc -- in other words, all the places I routinely search for new books. Not exactly high-brow, but that's how I roll. This one was billed as a "Puerto Rican Gone With The Wind." Okay, you got my interest. It's the mid-1800s we've got a scrappy heroine overcoming obstacles, bad love-good love, moral compromises, hardships, indifferent parents/in-laws, and lots and lots of slaves. (PR, then ruled by Spain had not outlawed it...and hey, it works for Ana, our heroine and her husband(s)). All for the love of a sugar cain plantation, which in this book I guess is supposed to be Tara. (It wasn't even the Ponderosa--now that's a place I'd have sacrificed for)
I'll admit I read Gone With The Wind a zillion years ago. This ain't it. I slogged through what felt like 600 pages waiting to like/care for anyone. I get that that author deplored slavery and that's a major theme...but I gotta say, as a novel, I so wanted to love this. I'd give it 2.5 stars if I could, but I'll go for 3 for the excellent writing.
I'll admit I read Gone With The Wind a zillion years ago. This ain't it. I slogged through what felt like 600 pages waiting to like/care for anyone. I get that that author deplored slavery and that's a major theme...but I gotta say, as a novel, I so wanted to love this. I'd give it 2.5 stars if I could, but I'll go for 3 for the excellent writing.
February 25, 2023
Dragged for too long...
Yes it was interesting reading about Ana's life, but it could have definitely been shorter.
Yes it was interesting reading about Ana's life, but it could have definitely been shorter.
November 8, 2020
Odotin tältä hieman enemmän. Aluksi vaikutti että tästä voisi tulla todella hyväkin lukukokemus, mikä jäikin sitten vain keskinkertaiseksi. Jälleen liikutaan orjuuden, orjakaupan ja siirtomaavallan teemoissa. Näistä aiheista on tullut luettua kirjoja enemmänkin viime aikoina. Nyt ollaan kuitenkin Etelä-Amerikassa, Puerto Ricossa, jota Espanja riistää häikäilemättä omaksi edukseen.
Kirja avaa kiinnostavasti maan historiaa plantaasin omistajan näkökulmasta. Los Gemeloksen sokeriplantaasia johtaa päämäärätietoinen sekä vahva nainen Ana, joka on saabut tuoreen aviomiehensä sekä tämän kaksoisveljen puhuttua ympäri, että he muuttaisivat kaksosten sedän heille perinnöksi jättämälle haciendalle jatkamaan tämän työtä. Hacienda ei nuorten saapuessa ole aivan sellaisessa kunnossa kuin mitä he odottivat, mutta Anan johdolla hacienda muuttuu hiljalleen kannattavammaksi. Ikäväkseni kirjan henkilöhahmot jäivät kuitenkin ikävän etäiseksi, eikä tarinakaan onnistunut lopulta herättämään mitään suuria tunteita. Juonikäänteitä mahtui mukaan sopivasti niin että mielenkiinto pysyi yllä kuitenkin loppuun asti.
Kirja avaa kiinnostavasti maan historiaa plantaasin omistajan näkökulmasta. Los Gemeloksen sokeriplantaasia johtaa päämäärätietoinen sekä vahva nainen Ana, joka on saabut tuoreen aviomiehensä sekä tämän kaksoisveljen puhuttua ympäri, että he muuttaisivat kaksosten sedän heille perinnöksi jättämälle haciendalle jatkamaan tämän työtä. Hacienda ei nuorten saapuessa ole aivan sellaisessa kunnossa kuin mitä he odottivat, mutta Anan johdolla hacienda muuttuu hiljalleen kannattavammaksi. Ikäväkseni kirjan henkilöhahmot jäivät kuitenkin ikävän etäiseksi, eikä tarinakaan onnistunut lopulta herättämään mitään suuria tunteita. Juonikäänteitä mahtui mukaan sopivasti niin että mielenkiinto pysyi yllä kuitenkin loppuun asti.
August 8, 2020
Puerto Ricossa lapsuutensa viettäneen Esmeralda Santiagon Sokeriplantaasin valtiatar oli kirja, jota odotin kovasti kesäkirjaksi. Kirja kertoo espanjalaisesta Gloriosa Ana Maria de los Ángeles Larragoity Cubillas Nieves de Donostiasta, joka muutti sulhasensa ja tämän perheen kanssa Puerto Ricoon asumaan. Appivanhemmat jäivät kaupunkiasuntoon, mutta Ana ja kaksosveljet muuttivat kauas sokeriplantaasille. Heidän aikomuksena oli elää siellä ja tehdä töitä viisi vuotta ja palata sitten takaisin sivistyksen pariin ison voiton kanssa. Todellisuus tiesi heille kaikille ankaraa raadantaa.
Kirjan tarina sijoittuu 1800-luvulle, jolloin valkoinen herrakansa orjuutti afrikkalaisia ja käytti heitä työvoimana ja omana omaisuutena. Muutoksen tuulet olivat jo puhaltaneet, ja esimerkiksi Espanja oli jo lopettanut orjuuden. Espanjan siirtomaissa tilanne oli pitkään toinen, sillä siellä orjuus kukoisti villisti ja vapaasti. Niin myös Puerto Ricossa. Mitä enemmän tilalla oli vahvoja miesorjia, sitä enemmän saivat omistajat voittoa.
Esmeralda Santiagon Sokeriplantaasin valtiatar teoksesta nousi vahvana esille mm. orjuus, orjat, orjien kohtelu, pakoyritykset, rangaistukset ja seksuaalinen väkivalta. Kaksoset aikoivat vapauttaa orjat, mutta saavuttuaan haciendalle, sellaiset ajatukset unohtuivat saman tien.
Esmeralda Santiagon Sokeriplantaasin valtiatar kertoi nuorista, joita ajoi seikkailunnälkä ja itsenäisyydentavoittelu. Vahva tarina, joka herättää runsaasti ajatuksia ihmisten oikeuksista. Toivoisin tälle kirjalle jatkoa.
Kirjan tarina sijoittuu 1800-luvulle, jolloin valkoinen herrakansa orjuutti afrikkalaisia ja käytti heitä työvoimana ja omana omaisuutena. Muutoksen tuulet olivat jo puhaltaneet, ja esimerkiksi Espanja oli jo lopettanut orjuuden. Espanjan siirtomaissa tilanne oli pitkään toinen, sillä siellä orjuus kukoisti villisti ja vapaasti. Niin myös Puerto Ricossa. Mitä enemmän tilalla oli vahvoja miesorjia, sitä enemmän saivat omistajat voittoa.
Esmeralda Santiagon Sokeriplantaasin valtiatar teoksesta nousi vahvana esille mm. orjuus, orjat, orjien kohtelu, pakoyritykset, rangaistukset ja seksuaalinen väkivalta. Kaksoset aikoivat vapauttaa orjat, mutta saavuttuaan haciendalle, sellaiset ajatukset unohtuivat saman tien.
Esmeralda Santiagon Sokeriplantaasin valtiatar kertoi nuorista, joita ajoi seikkailunnälkä ja itsenäisyydentavoittelu. Vahva tarina, joka herättää runsaasti ajatuksia ihmisten oikeuksista. Toivoisin tälle kirjalle jatkoa.
September 28, 2014
A smutty novel masquerading as historical fiction. I made it to page 55 before I decided to give up on it. If an author has to use this much sex to try and interest their reader, there's clearly something amiss. The prose was lackluster and choppy. Complete trash. I hope Costco takes it back.
April 18, 2017
Good story telling. When I got to less than 100 pages, I wanted to read, yet I did't want the book to end. A young woman determined to escape the narrow expectations of her class and succeeds. She learns how to be brave dark, ruthless. By the end of the story, she has touched her spirit. Only the future will say where that spiritual connection and her conscience take her.
I struggled with should this book be a 3 1/2 or a full 4 ☆¿ I found problematic that the story starts with a promise of sexual frolics and quickly drops the sexual enjoyment. And the hardening and then ruthlessness and then changed woman emerges and takes over the story. Maybe--and this is why I settled on 4☆--the conquistadora changes from being a girl where things, including sexual things, are done to her to becoming a woman of spiritual and emotional strength.
I struggled with should this book be a 3 1/2 or a full 4 ☆¿ I found problematic that the story starts with a promise of sexual frolics and quickly drops the sexual enjoyment. And the hardening and then ruthlessness and then changed woman emerges and takes over the story. Maybe--and this is why I settled on 4☆--the conquistadora changes from being a girl where things, including sexual things, are done to her to becoming a woman of spiritual and emotional strength.
June 1, 2011
Esmeralda Santiago has written a brilliant novel about Spanish-ruled Puerto Rico during the 1800's. As a young child, Ana, read about the adventures of the Spanish colonizers and dreamt of exploring and harnassing the richness of the New World. Ana's good friend, Elena, introduced Ana to Ramon and Ramon's identical twin, Innocente. Soon after meeting Ana, Ramon decided to propose to her. Ana agreed to marry Ramon. She also convinced Ramon and Innocente to move to Puerto Rico upon learning that the twins had become heirs to a farm in Puerto Rico. Innocente and Ramon's parents as well as Elena join Ana and the twins on their voyage to Puerto Rico.
Upon arriving in Puerto Rico, Ana and the twins learn that the farm has been neglected. The three move into a dilapadated house on the property and begin preparing the property for the sugar harvest. They name the farm, Los Gemelos, after the "twins."
Ramon and Innocente share everything, including Ana and Ana becomes pregnant with one of their children. Upon giving birth, she allows the slaves to mother Miguel, her son, since she prefers spending time building the farm for his future rather than nuturing him. After a few years, the twins decide that they would prefer returning to San Juan to live with Elena and their parents rather than continue living like peasants on the farm. Ana, however, has no interest in ever abandoning Los Gemelos.
Ana and Ramon's marriage deteriorates and Ramon begins fathering children with the farm's slaves. Innocente decides to return to San Juan and is brutally murdered before he arrives. Ramon never recovers from the loss and shortly thereafter also dies. Rather than giving up the farm, Ana makes a deal with the twins' father that she will give up Miguel to be raised by his grandparents.
Ana, as a widow, decides to marry Severo who has proved himself as an asset to Los Gemelos. The rest of the novel follows Ana and Severo's lives together on the farm, the place that Ana will never leave, even to see her son.
Santiago does a fabulous job portraying the hardships of the slaves. The slaves on Los Gemelos slept in airless quarters and toiled the land during the days. They were subject to the harsh rule of Severo who constantly had to show that he was in power both by whiping the men and raping the women. Santiago even seemed to imply that the slaves on Los Gemelos were treated better than those on neighboring farms.
While in Spain, Ana planned to free the slaves on the farm, but she changed her mind upon determining that she needed cheap labor to run the farm. In fact, Ana and the twins with the help of Severo, the farm's manager, used whatever means they could to increased the farm's supply of slave labor. Miguel, who as an adult joined an underground movement that worked to free Puerto Rican slaves, also did not fight to immediately set free the slaves on his mother's farm once he learned that the slaves provided for his financial security.
I did not give the book five stars because the story, at points, moved very slowly. However, I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning about Puerto Rican life during the 1800s.
Upon arriving in Puerto Rico, Ana and the twins learn that the farm has been neglected. The three move into a dilapadated house on the property and begin preparing the property for the sugar harvest. They name the farm, Los Gemelos, after the "twins."
Ramon and Innocente share everything, including Ana and Ana becomes pregnant with one of their children. Upon giving birth, she allows the slaves to mother Miguel, her son, since she prefers spending time building the farm for his future rather than nuturing him. After a few years, the twins decide that they would prefer returning to San Juan to live with Elena and their parents rather than continue living like peasants on the farm. Ana, however, has no interest in ever abandoning Los Gemelos.
Ana and Ramon's marriage deteriorates and Ramon begins fathering children with the farm's slaves. Innocente decides to return to San Juan and is brutally murdered before he arrives. Ramon never recovers from the loss and shortly thereafter also dies. Rather than giving up the farm, Ana makes a deal with the twins' father that she will give up Miguel to be raised by his grandparents.
Ana, as a widow, decides to marry Severo who has proved himself as an asset to Los Gemelos. The rest of the novel follows Ana and Severo's lives together on the farm, the place that Ana will never leave, even to see her son.
Santiago does a fabulous job portraying the hardships of the slaves. The slaves on Los Gemelos slept in airless quarters and toiled the land during the days. They were subject to the harsh rule of Severo who constantly had to show that he was in power both by whiping the men and raping the women. Santiago even seemed to imply that the slaves on Los Gemelos were treated better than those on neighboring farms.
While in Spain, Ana planned to free the slaves on the farm, but she changed her mind upon determining that she needed cheap labor to run the farm. In fact, Ana and the twins with the help of Severo, the farm's manager, used whatever means they could to increased the farm's supply of slave labor. Miguel, who as an adult joined an underground movement that worked to free Puerto Rican slaves, also did not fight to immediately set free the slaves on his mother's farm once he learned that the slaves provided for his financial security.
I did not give the book five stars because the story, at points, moved very slowly. However, I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning about Puerto Rican life during the 1800s.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 22, 2011
I don't know what someone would write about my life, or the era that I live in, but maybe Ana felt the same way. Conqustadora is about Ana and her ambition, her family, and the coincidental lives that affected hers and whose her life affected. I was surprised at how much I learned about the settling of Puerto Rico and the effect that El Norte (North America - the Lincoln Era) had on the Spanish colonies, and how deeply the characters affected me. The book took me not only through the lives of the title woman and her family, but a number of coincidental characters that refused to go without being named. I cried, gasped, and for the last chapters was dreading when it was going to eventually end. A bold, sweeping, gorgeous novel that is now one of my favorites.
August 29, 2011
Spent my Hurricane Irene reading this novel. Santiago is a solid writer, and she's chosen a subject that should captivate any fan of historical fiction. Yet, the novel falls short. As I seek to understand why I did not *love* this book, I put part of the blame on the omniscient narrator. I would have preferred a close-third to a few of the characters rather than the disconcerting visits into the p.o.v. of minor characters. I was pulled out of the narrative dream by short p.o.v. changes that did little to move the novel forward.
To Santiago's credit, the setting and history are compelling. Even the cold Conquistadora, Ana, is at times compelling, at least until she flattens after the deaths of her twin lovers. The novel promises so much. I wish it had delivered.
To Santiago's credit, the setting and history are compelling. Even the cold Conquistadora, Ana, is at times compelling, at least until she flattens after the deaths of her twin lovers. The novel promises so much. I wish it had delivered.
November 23, 2011
I wasn't a huge fan of the narration, sometimes it seemed exaggerated. I hated (really, truly, deeply disliked everything about) nearly every single character in the story.
That said, I needed to know what happened to all of them. I liked it. I'm glad I listened. I probably would not have gotten through it as quickly if I was physically reading it though, due to the nature of my life right now (must be completely sucked in to even bother finishing) and because some of the details at times moved slowly.
All in all, a very fascinating and sad history of slavery and Puerto Rico and the sugar cane farming industry, wrapped up together with the stories of several stubborn, selfish and greedy characters.
That said, I needed to know what happened to all of them. I liked it. I'm glad I listened. I probably would not have gotten through it as quickly if I was physically reading it though, due to the nature of my life right now (must be completely sucked in to even bother finishing) and because some of the details at times moved slowly.
All in all, a very fascinating and sad history of slavery and Puerto Rico and the sugar cane farming industry, wrapped up together with the stories of several stubborn, selfish and greedy characters.
November 5, 2014
I thought I would like this book better than I did. Wish Good reads had 1/2 ratings so I could give it 2.5 stars. Anyway, I was intrigued by the the kind of historical fiction that I like - strong, determined female character fights for survival in the face of adversity. When I began the book I was skeptical because it wasn't leaning that way and had way too much lesbian love and threesomes for my taste. But about half way through the book, the author more or less left those plots behind and focused on the fighting through adversity part. It's not a bad read, but not great either. I was really glad I resisted temptation and put it down and not spend the $10 that Costco was asking for it and instead got it from the library. There is no need to keep this one in your personal home library.
October 17, 2011
I loved this book, albeit very long! I have read many of Isabel Allende's books and all of Esmeralda Santiago's and enjoyed both. Their styles are very different and each one is an accomplished author in their own right.
In some of the reviews I have read criticism of the characters not being likable. Precisely that is what made Ana so real and conflicted. She was not meant to be someone with whom we could be friends and have tea. She was a woman in the 1800's living in a man's world and what a world it was.
In some of the reviews I have read criticism of the characters not being likable. Precisely that is what made Ana so real and conflicted. She was not meant to be someone with whom we could be friends and have tea. She was a woman in the 1800's living in a man's world and what a world it was.
Shelved as 'dnf-2016-onward'
May 1, 2019dnf @ 58%
let's be real, I dnf'd this a long time ago but didn't want to mark it down. I read the first half of this book TWICE and loved it both times but there's something about the middle of the book that I've found really difficult to get through and I just lost interest both times I tried to read it. This is another one on the dnf shelf that I would like to return to in theory but attempting to restart it for a third time not knowing if I'll be able to make it through to the end probably won't happen for a long time, if at all.
I do think this book is well written, it tackles a lot of deep issues, and the protagonist is very morally gray but FASCINATING (and also queer!) I would still recommend it, honestly, despite not being able to finish it.
let's be real, I dnf'd this a long time ago but didn't want to mark it down. I read the first half of this book TWICE and loved it both times but there's something about the middle of the book that I've found really difficult to get through and I just lost interest both times I tried to read it. This is another one on the dnf shelf that I would like to return to in theory but attempting to restart it for a third time not knowing if I'll be able to make it through to the end probably won't happen for a long time, if at all.
I do think this book is well written, it tackles a lot of deep issues, and the protagonist is very morally gray but FASCINATING (and also queer!) I would still recommend it, honestly, despite not being able to finish it.
July 8, 2013
You know those books that, from the first paragraph, you're not sure if you'll finish? This is definitely one of those. I almost stopped multiple times, and truly might have if I was reading instead of listening to the audiobook. Ultimately, I'm glad I stuck it out. I honestly had no clue how I was going to feel about this book until the very end, and curiosity about my own reaction was probably what kept me going. If I had to distill it all down, I'd say this book left me feeling conflicted, but ultimately satisfied.
No one should pretend that the characters in this book are likable, or even sympathetic. The only times I found myself sympathizing with a character they were usually a slave, or a long-suffering free person like Consuelo, Severo's quadroon mistress, or Siña Damita, the medicine woman. Especially unlikable were the people that Santiago is ostensibly asking us to take special interest in: Ana, Ramon & Inocente, Severo, and the rest of the blancos. However, with few exceptions, this made for characters who were complicated in the ways that actual people are, and that makes for rewarding reading.
One moment I'm rolling my eyes at Leonor and her (even for the time) old fashioned attitudes, the next I'm cheering her on when she calls Ana "egoista!" (probably the most apt description of our heroine in the book). One minute I'm applauding Ana's supposed generosity in setting up a hospital for the los Gemelos slaves, the next I'm realizing that running the hospital a) serves as some kind of "higher calling" for her, one that she ultimately uses to pat herself on the back for caring for "nuestra gente" and b) it would be a good investment for any slave owner. It's just good business.
Let's not forget the slaveowner part. The NYT review of this book put it well when they talked about the "Rubik’s Cube portrait of Ana" and call her "an unconventional, ambitious woman whose attitudes toward children, slaves and lovers perplex and engross." In fact, I'm just gonna let them sum her up more effectively than I ever could: "She isn’t much of a mother, but she takes in a humpbacked baby girl abandoned on her doorstep the same day she trades her own son away in order to keep running the plantation. She’s a liberal mistress, expressing interest in the African songs her maid sings and allowing the slaves’ midwife to deliver her son. ('We all look and function pretty much the same down there,' she declares.) Yet she achieves freedom by exploiting those who, starkly, lack it." Ana may be a "liberal mistress" but you don't see her raising a cry to end slavery; nor do you see her standing up to defend it. She's part of the silent majority, and the key word here is "silent".
If I have any real complaints about the book, they involve the way that Ana let certain key things just happen to her. For all her supposed strength of character and bull-headed drive to get what she wanted, the way she just let her...complicated marriage arrangement with Ramon and Inocente just kind of happen left me scratching my head. She didn't fight it like I expected her to, and I can't seem to explain that away. Perhaps it was just the cost of her using them to get her to Puerto Rico, perhaps she resigned herself to it when she saw what a good team they were (at least at the beginning). I was also hoping we'd see more of her and Elena. It could have made for more drama in a book where there was no big overarching struggle, only a series of smaller ones. At times it read more like a history of Hacienda los Gemelos than a novel, with a bit of diary mixed in.
And perhaps this is just me, a norteamericana, projecting my understanding of slavery and the South on Puerto Rico, but I also could have used more of the darkness and foreboding one finds in books set in areas haunted by slavery; the dark foreboding of Flannery O'Connor or the gloomy Faulknerian sense that something in the very essence of the land has been spoiled by human bondage and that phantom, whatever it might be, is coming to get you. There were fleeting moments of both O'Connor and Faulkner's South throughout Conquistadora (such as the lurking mountains and Miguel's scene in the burning cane fields and the playacting of civility in the ramshackle casona, filled with Jorge's ornately carved furniture) that I would have loved to see more of. This by no means a perfect book, just as there are no perfect characters or perfect scenes or perfect prose within its pages. It was at times a miserable slog to get through, at times infuriating, at times confusing as hell. I'm so glad I didn't give up on it.
No one should pretend that the characters in this book are likable, or even sympathetic. The only times I found myself sympathizing with a character they were usually a slave, or a long-suffering free person like Consuelo, Severo's quadroon mistress, or Siña Damita, the medicine woman. Especially unlikable were the people that Santiago is ostensibly asking us to take special interest in: Ana, Ramon & Inocente, Severo, and the rest of the blancos. However, with few exceptions, this made for characters who were complicated in the ways that actual people are, and that makes for rewarding reading.
One moment I'm rolling my eyes at Leonor and her (even for the time) old fashioned attitudes, the next I'm cheering her on when she calls Ana "egoista!" (probably the most apt description of our heroine in the book). One minute I'm applauding Ana's supposed generosity in setting up a hospital for the los Gemelos slaves, the next I'm realizing that running the hospital a) serves as some kind of "higher calling" for her, one that she ultimately uses to pat herself on the back for caring for "nuestra gente" and b) it would be a good investment for any slave owner. It's just good business.
Let's not forget the slaveowner part. The NYT review of this book put it well when they talked about the "Rubik’s Cube portrait of Ana" and call her "an unconventional, ambitious woman whose attitudes toward children, slaves and lovers perplex and engross." In fact, I'm just gonna let them sum her up more effectively than I ever could: "She isn’t much of a mother, but she takes in a humpbacked baby girl abandoned on her doorstep the same day she trades her own son away in order to keep running the plantation. She’s a liberal mistress, expressing interest in the African songs her maid sings and allowing the slaves’ midwife to deliver her son. ('We all look and function pretty much the same down there,' she declares.) Yet she achieves freedom by exploiting those who, starkly, lack it." Ana may be a "liberal mistress" but you don't see her raising a cry to end slavery; nor do you see her standing up to defend it. She's part of the silent majority, and the key word here is "silent".
If I have any real complaints about the book, they involve the way that Ana let certain key things just happen to her. For all her supposed strength of character and bull-headed drive to get what she wanted, the way she just let her...complicated marriage arrangement with Ramon and Inocente just kind of happen left me scratching my head. She didn't fight it like I expected her to, and I can't seem to explain that away. Perhaps it was just the cost of her using them to get her to Puerto Rico, perhaps she resigned herself to it when she saw what a good team they were (at least at the beginning). I was also hoping we'd see more of her and Elena. It could have made for more drama in a book where there was no big overarching struggle, only a series of smaller ones. At times it read more like a history of Hacienda los Gemelos than a novel, with a bit of diary mixed in.
And perhaps this is just me, a norteamericana, projecting my understanding of slavery and the South on Puerto Rico, but I also could have used more of the darkness and foreboding one finds in books set in areas haunted by slavery; the dark foreboding of Flannery O'Connor or the gloomy Faulknerian sense that something in the very essence of the land has been spoiled by human bondage and that phantom, whatever it might be, is coming to get you. There were fleeting moments of both O'Connor and Faulkner's South throughout Conquistadora (such as the lurking mountains and Miguel's scene in the burning cane fields and the playacting of civility in the ramshackle casona, filled with Jorge's ornately carved furniture) that I would have loved to see more of. This by no means a perfect book, just as there are no perfect characters or perfect scenes or perfect prose within its pages. It was at times a miserable slog to get through, at times infuriating, at times confusing as hell. I'm so glad I didn't give up on it.
March 16, 2014
Audiobook read by the author
4****
Ana Cubillas is the only child of wealthy, aristocratic Spaniards. Raised to be a proper young lady, she chafes against the restrictions of her position in society. In her grandfather’s library she finds diaries of an ancestor who traveled to Puerto Rico with Ponce de Leon, and she is convinced her destiny lies on that remote island. When she meets the handsome twin brothers Ramon and Inocente Argoso, she finds a way to get there. Ana marries Ramon, and in 1844 they travel to the remote sugar plantation the brothers have inherited on the island.
This is a sweeping historic epic romance and adventure, focused on one strong woman who refused to give up her dreams. She endures unrelenting heat, disease, isolation and relatively primitive facilities. She finds that while expectations are that she be “the lady” of the hacienda, her husband and his brother are not suited to the hard work required to make Los Gemelos the success she envisioned, so she sets to work – pushing, cajoling, pleading and working to make her dream come true. She perseveres despite business setbacks, hurricanes and personal losses. She is not always a likeable person; she can be tactless, single-minded, demanding and stubborn. She can also be loving, kind and generous.
The novel focuses on the years from 1843 to 1865, though we get a little of Ana’s childhood to help define her character. The island’s history is a very important part of Ana’s story. The economic and political challenges of the time period – slavery, class structure, allegiance to a distant king, etc – are explored and examined with a critical eye.
I liked that Santiago took time to flesh out some of the minor characters, particularly several of the slaves or free blacks on the plantation or in nearby villages. I loved Sina Damita, Nena la Lavandera, Conciencia and Flora. My heart broke to hear the story of Jose (the carpenter), a man who endured with dignity and grace.
Santiago writes vividly about the island itself. I spent a couple of months in San Juan back in the mid-1960s. One weekend we drove across the mountains to Ponce – about 65 miles as the crow flies, but about 3 hours on the road (no interstate highway at that time) through the rainforest of the interior. Santiago’s descriptions are so colorful, that even if I had never been there, I could have easily pictured the setting.
At the story’s end, Ana is only 39 years old. And while I was completely satisfied with the book, I was sorry to see it end. I hope Santiago is planning a sequel.
There are few authors who can really do justice to the work when reading the audio version of their own books. Santiago was marvelous. Her passion for the story – for Ana and the other characters – comes through in her performance.
4****
Ana Cubillas is the only child of wealthy, aristocratic Spaniards. Raised to be a proper young lady, she chafes against the restrictions of her position in society. In her grandfather’s library she finds diaries of an ancestor who traveled to Puerto Rico with Ponce de Leon, and she is convinced her destiny lies on that remote island. When she meets the handsome twin brothers Ramon and Inocente Argoso, she finds a way to get there. Ana marries Ramon, and in 1844 they travel to the remote sugar plantation the brothers have inherited on the island.
This is a sweeping historic epic romance and adventure, focused on one strong woman who refused to give up her dreams. She endures unrelenting heat, disease, isolation and relatively primitive facilities. She finds that while expectations are that she be “the lady” of the hacienda, her husband and his brother are not suited to the hard work required to make Los Gemelos the success she envisioned, so she sets to work – pushing, cajoling, pleading and working to make her dream come true. She perseveres despite business setbacks, hurricanes and personal losses. She is not always a likeable person; she can be tactless, single-minded, demanding and stubborn. She can also be loving, kind and generous.
The novel focuses on the years from 1843 to 1865, though we get a little of Ana’s childhood to help define her character. The island’s history is a very important part of Ana’s story. The economic and political challenges of the time period – slavery, class structure, allegiance to a distant king, etc – are explored and examined with a critical eye.
I liked that Santiago took time to flesh out some of the minor characters, particularly several of the slaves or free blacks on the plantation or in nearby villages. I loved Sina Damita, Nena la Lavandera, Conciencia and Flora. My heart broke to hear the story of Jose (the carpenter), a man who endured with dignity and grace.
Santiago writes vividly about the island itself. I spent a couple of months in San Juan back in the mid-1960s. One weekend we drove across the mountains to Ponce – about 65 miles as the crow flies, but about 3 hours on the road (no interstate highway at that time) through the rainforest of the interior. Santiago’s descriptions are so colorful, that even if I had never been there, I could have easily pictured the setting.
At the story’s end, Ana is only 39 years old. And while I was completely satisfied with the book, I was sorry to see it end. I hope Santiago is planning a sequel.
There are few authors who can really do justice to the work when reading the audio version of their own books. Santiago was marvelous. Her passion for the story – for Ana and the other characters – comes through in her performance.
Shelved as 'abandoned'
February 15, 2014I was reading (actually listening to) this book because the author is going to be at our library in mid-July and I thought it would be good to read something of hers and then go hear her speak. I like historical fiction and this book sounded interesting. The book is about Ana Larragoity Cubillas, a young Spanish girl in the 1800's who wants to replicate the adventure of her ancestors in the 1400's by going to Spanish America. She does so by marrying a young man whose family has a plantation in Puerto Rico. He is a twin and Ana, her husband and his twin set off for plantation life.
I only got through 3 of the 17 hours of this book and just couldn't imagine spending 14 more hours on it. I felt it was part very dry lecture on the history of Puerto Rico and part historical potboiler. Who loves whom and who is having sex with whom (and how) is a big part of the story. It made me dizzy going from the history lessons to the parts about sex, not to mention too much detail about both! I can see that the author wanted to create a grand sweeping saga about Puerto Rico in the 1800's, but I lost interest.
I only got through 3 of the 17 hours of this book and just couldn't imagine spending 14 more hours on it. I felt it was part very dry lecture on the history of Puerto Rico and part historical potboiler. Who loves whom and who is having sex with whom (and how) is a big part of the story. It made me dizzy going from the history lessons to the parts about sex, not to mention too much detail about both! I can see that the author wanted to create a grand sweeping saga about Puerto Rico in the 1800's, but I lost interest.
August 23, 2014
So not impressed. I was really looking forward to reading this book being as it was about my fellow Puerto Ricans but I was so disappointed. It was like reading about history and trash mixed together. How did this get such good reviews? If it were solely based on Anna's journey to PR, what they encountered, the hardships, joys and pains etc I would have really like it. It is just filled with so many other things that was not needed for the story ie the incest. What is the point really?
Bottom Line: Would not recommend this book but will give another one of Esmeralda Santiago's books a go. Not to my liking but does have some good bits about mi isla.
My ops-
Toni
Bottom Line: Would not recommend this book but will give another one of Esmeralda Santiago's books a go. Not to my liking but does have some good bits about mi isla.
My ops-
Toni
December 26, 2013
I started reading this book when I was pregnant and my daughter will be two in March! I'm a huge fan of Esmeralda Santiago's writing but this particular book failed to catch my attention, which caused me to restart it a few times. Once I got into it, I really enjoyed it but felt that the ending was lacking something. Hopefully there will be a sequel to tie a few things together, otherwise this story would feel somewhat incomplete.
April 12, 2021
Ana Larragoity Cubillas has little interest in the life her parents have planned for her, as the wife of some Spanish nobleman. She is, instead, drawn to a life of challenge and adventure on a hacienda in Puerto Rico, just as her ancestor lived many years before her. When Ramon Argoso and his twin Inocente (not to mention their cousin Elena) become infatuated with her, she marries Ramon and manipulates the whole family to move to the island so they can work the hacienda they've inherited.
I enjoy Santiago's writing, but I was a bit torn about the actual story, which probably summarizes my whole experience with this book. Ana is flawed, but her manipulative and selfish nature is contrasted with her awareness of the horrible truth of slavery and using people in a way that really makes me think. The story does not stay with her the whole time, but also explores various perspectives, including those of her husband and family members, as well as enslaved people in the hacienda. I found those perspectives enriching to my understanding of the history and many facets of this life, but at the same time, I'm not always sure why they were included for the purposes of the story. And when the book finally finished, I was both relieved and also felt like something was missing. Nicely written and researched, but there needed to be something else that would have tied this together for me better.
I enjoy Santiago's writing, but I was a bit torn about the actual story, which probably summarizes my whole experience with this book. Ana is flawed, but her manipulative and selfish nature is contrasted with her awareness of the horrible truth of slavery and using people in a way that really makes me think. The story does not stay with her the whole time, but also explores various perspectives, including those of her husband and family members, as well as enslaved people in the hacienda. I found those perspectives enriching to my understanding of the history and many facets of this life, but at the same time, I'm not always sure why they were included for the purposes of the story. And when the book finally finished, I was both relieved and also felt like something was missing. Nicely written and researched, but there needed to be something else that would have tied this together for me better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 3, 2022
The book started out really strong, the book sadly did not meet my expectations. The story while interesting at times became redundant and over explained. Santiago, an amazing author, in this case did too much telling. She explains the details at times too much. Ana the protagonist becomes a self absorbed and tragically poor mother and wife. She gets lost in her ambition. Which in itself could be a really interesting story but it wasn't explored as well as it could have been. I wish the book dove deeper in to how this is a precautionary tale and that it focused less on the day in day out of the hacienda. This book could have been an amazing story highlighting the Taino and African heritage of the island, their gods and their beliefs overcoming the colonial powers but this pretty much was an exploration of how to be a bad parent, run a plantation, and ( in a positive note) the dangers of imperialistic ambition.
Read
January 6, 2020I read this book in Spanish. I enjoy the challenge of reading in another language and since I read it on a Kindle, it was very easy to look up any words that I didn't know. The book interested me because the main character, Ana, is an ambitious woman who lived in a time period where this was discouraged. She manages to live out her dream of growing sugar on a plantation in Puerto Rico in the 1800s. This was when slavery was still legal. I am always struck when I read a book that deals with enslavement about how utterly brutal and inhumane it was. The book ends with a slave rebellion that was influenced by the end of the Civil War in the United States. It is implied that the protagonist, Ana, end up being betrayed and killed by her slaves, whom she truly believes she treated well.
May 23, 2020
Loistava lukuromaani! Kiinnostava kuvaus siirtomaa-ajan orjuudesta Puerto Ricossa.
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