Told from the perspective of three generations of women, Pajarita, Eva, and Salomé, De Robertis' The Invisible Mountain was an interesting and at times brutal glimpse of Uruguayan history. I don't think I've read anything set in Uruguay before, and little that is set in South America. I enjoyed the perspectives and experiences of each of these women and the greater history lesson of Uruguay (especially during the 1960s).A friend from book club often comments about NOT wanting to read books that are so depressing-I (and others) often comment about how although depressing things might happen in a book it doesn't necessarily make the book depressing. While reading The Invisible Mountain I often found myself thinking of this-although the overall message was not depressing, there were too many times that I felt like I really didn't want to be reading about the terrible things were happening to people. I think I need to pick something more light hearted for my next book. We'll have to see what the bookshelves hold for me!
What are you reading?
I just finished reading The Urban Saint, The Harry Lehotsky Story. It chronicles the journey of a pastor who took a chance of a new life after drug addiction being a compassionate and hard working advocate for Winnipeg's most vulnerable area, the West End. This book made me re-evaluate my own life and beliefs. I wonder how someone from New York could and did so much for our drug addicted, prostitutes, gang related area and accomplished great landmarks such as Ellice Cafe, Ellice Theatre, Lazarus Housing, etc. This is in the heart of where the West End Cultural Centre is. He had such a strong conviction in Jesus and God, leading him into some of the most dangerous areas. He was taken away so young from pancreatic cancer and would have accomplished so much more. His quote:
ReplyDeleteWe never live so intensely as when we love so strongly.
To understand things and people, we must love them.
His belief that everyone's life is worth caring for, makes no difference who they are or what their background was makes me believe that we all need more empathy for those we come across.
thanks for the review doris!
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