Student Blogs

 "This is going to be a horror story. A story of murder, detection and horror. But it won't appear to be, for the simple reason that I am the teller."

Bolaño's Amulet is a powerful read, to say the least. The introduction (as quoted above) is poignant enough to captivate a reader and make them ponder about perspective. Personally, those lines developed a stream of consciousness in my mind that began to wonder about how war and revolution always have multiple sides to them, whether it may be the perspective of a civilian, an activist, a politician, or a child. 

Auxilio Lacouture played more than one role in her life - she was a poet and a mother to many. Moreover, she symbolically resisted the army's invasion of her university by hiding in the bathroom for around two weeks. As she began to recount her story, the introduction of the book became clearer than ever. I forgot about her situation and the horrors that she would have experienced. This was kind of unsettling to realize but also interesting because the narrator's intended purpose was achieved. 

I suppose that this was somewhat unsettling for me to read, especially because I could not get a proper idea of Auxilio at the moment. She came across as a very powerful personality who knew what she needed to do in any situation. This was exemplified by the distraction that she provided herself with for the two weeks she spent in hiding. 

Additionally, I believe that the lecture helped provide a new understanding of the setting of the book. The intersection of identities (cultural and otherwise) expresses how the consequences of revolutions extend beyond just the locals of a country. Moreover, one of the points mentioned in the lecture really stood out to me - how this novel by the author is a clear break from the magical realism that Latin America is usually associated with. 

Overall, I found Amulet to be an introspective read. I enjoyed the unique setting that it was placed in. Lastly, my question for the class would be: did you think that the narrations of Auxilio's past served as a powerful distraction from the events in the book? How do you think this experience would have impacted her (physically and emotionally)?

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 "This is going to be a horror story. A story of murder, detection and horror. But it won't appear to be, for the simple reason that I am the teller."

Bolaño's Amulet is a powerful read, to say the least. The introduction (as quoted above) is poignant enough to captivate a reader and make them ponder about perspective. Personally, those lines developed a stream of consciousness in my mind that began to wonder about how war and revolution always have multiple sides to them, whether it may be the perspective of a civilian, an activist, a politician, or a child. 

Auxilio Lacouture played more than one role in her life - she was a poet and a mother to many. Moreover, she symbolically resisted the army's invasion of her university by hiding in the bathroom for around two weeks. As she began to recount her story, the introduction of the book became clearer than ever. I forgot about her situation and the horrors that she would have experienced. This was kind of unsettling to realize but also interesting because the narrator's intended purpose was achieved. 

I suppose that this was somewhat unsettling for me to read, especially because I could not get a proper idea of Auxilio at the moment. She came across as a very powerful personality who knew what she needed to do in any situation. This was exemplified by the distraction that she provided herself with for the two weeks she spent in hiding. 

Additionally, I believe that the lecture helped provide a new understanding of the setting of the book. The intersection of identities (cultural and otherwise) expresses how the consequences of revolutions extend beyond just the locals of a country. Moreover, one of the points mentioned in the lecture really stood out to me - how this novel by the author is a clear break from the magical realism that Latin America is usually associated with. 

Overall, I found Amulet to be an introspective read. I enjoyed the unique setting that it was placed in. Lastly, my question for the class would be: did you think that the narrations of Auxilio's past served as a powerful distraction from the events in the book? How do you think this experience would have impacted her (physically and emotionally)?

read full post >>

This week, I read the Soldiers of Salamis by Javier Cercas.The story is about a journalist interviewing Rafael Sanchez Ferlosio, who is telling his father, Rafael Sanchez Mazas’s story during the Spanish Civil War.In the story, Mazas was hiding in th... read full post >>

This week, I read the Soldiers of Salamis by Javier Cercas.The story is about a journalist interviewing Rafael Sanchez Ferlosio, who is telling his father, Rafael Sanchez Mazas’s story during the Spanish Civil War.In the story, Mazas was hiding in th... read full post >>

    Javier Cercas’s “Soldiers of Salamis” is a story which examines the human condition in wartime. From his own experience, he places the study in the context of the Spanish Civil War. A sparring match between fascist and socialist sides, it was a battle which was ultimately viewed as a precursor to World War […] read full post >>

The novel, “Soldiers of Salamis” by Javier Cercas is an interesting mix of war, memory, and imagination. I enjoyed the novel as a story, especially with its “happy ending” and open end. One of the main aspects of this novel would be its mix of reality and imagination. While it includes real people’s names and … Continue reading Week 11: Cercas’s “Soldiers of Salamis” → read full post >>

This week’s novel, Soldiers of Salamis written by Javier Cercas definitely felt like such a long read. Although, I was extremely thankful that I had a physical copy for this long novel because reading on a computer screen would definitely strain my eyes, and make the reading process longer. I found that it was interesting […] read full post >>

I found this week’s reading to be intriguing, really informative and pretty emotional. I haven’t really ever known much about the civil war in Spain and I found that through the interviews and piecing stories together I was able to … Continue reading → read full post >>

Using the Spanish Civil War as a narrative foundation, Javier Cercas’s Soldiers of Salamis illustrates the complexities of humanity vividly and touchingly. The novel takes a rather unusual narrative methodology through the point of view of a fictional author and journalist who also happens to be named Javier Cercas. He became interested in investigating a legendary story […] read full post >>

  When our original beliefs are defeated by reality, is it that we have changed, or is the society that is the way it is, it is only when we grow up that we realize the most primitive self. “Soldiers of Salamis” is a classic war novel. I like this book very much. Although I … Continue reading Review of Soldiers of Salamis → read full post >>

Soldiers of Salamis is a novel set during the Spanish Civil War and is probably the closest experience we have to reading historical nonfiction than any of the other novels and stories. Rafael Sánchez Mazas, an important figure in the actual Spanish Falange, is the main character we encounter in the novel as a fascist writer […] read full post >>

Reading Javier Cercas’ Soldiers of Salamis was filled with many different emotions. At first, reading about Cercas’ – the narrator – detachment from his literary career made me sad. However, upon quickly realizing that he had found a new impulse to write again, I felt excited for the narrator. This quote in page 55 resonated […] read full post >>

Reading the first few pages, Soldiers of Salamis, it was already a dark story filled with war and violence. One section that stood out was Machado’s death and his brother finding his last poem in his pocket. “These blue days, this childhood sun.” It was saddening to read this poem after him and his family […] read full post >>

I was not particularly expecting too but I absolutely loved this book. Part one and part three were definitely my favorite to read. It’s always such a thrilling experience to observe a character uncover pieces of a story bit by bit. It reminded me of a show I’m currently watching called ‘Inventing Anna’ where a […] read full post >>

First off – wow! On a personal note, I am struggling to keep up with reading at this point. This novel felt longer than others, and this week is extra hectic with school in general. I still found myself to enjoy it, even though I may have felt an extra push from my contract! I […] read full post >>