“And now she desires nothing more than to remain there crucified to the earth, suffering and enjoying in her flesh the ebb and flow of distant, far distant tides; feeling the grass grow, new islands emerge, and on some other continent, the unknown flower bursting open that blooms only on a day of eclipse. And […]
It was refreshing to read a book that discusses many experiences and struggles that women face from a female author’s perspective, especially after reading “Nadja” by Andre Breton who talks about a woman’s suffering from his male point of view. I started this reading with the expectation that it would retaliate against Breton’s questionable perspective […]
Maria Bombal’s book The Shrouded Woman takes on the difficult topics of death and dying but through a new perspective. When I first started reading, I initially felt grief as we are introduced to the final moments of Ana Maria but as we are taken through her memories after her death, it left a sense […]
A. Initial Thoughts I appreciate having the opportunity to read “The Shrouded Woman” by Maria Luisa Bombal, a novel written by a female author, which was refreshing compared to other texts I’ve read so far like “Combray” and “Mad Toy.” Although most books I’ve read are by women, Bombal’s perspective still felt very insightful to … Continue reading The Shrouded Woman: The Unfortunate Life of Women (Jan 28)
María Luisa Bombal’s novel, “The Shrouded Woman,” explores deep-seated themes surrounding desire, fulfillment, and the inescapable reality of death. The novel intricately intertwines the life of its protagonist, Ana María, with layers of unresolved yearning and profound existential contemplation. Throughout “The Shrouded Woman,” Bombal navigates the complexities of human emotions, with a particular focus on […]
The Shrouded Woman was the most enjoyable and reflective novel for me to read so far. The main character, Ana-Maria, is dead due to disease, but she amazingly still sees everything around her. She lies in her casket and sees people come to see her (for the last time), who once gave her sorrow and […]
I believe “The Shrouded Woman” is a very captivating book. I must admit that I was completely drawn into this world shortly after starting to read it. The beginning of the novel is very engaging, even though Ana María is already deceased and lying in a coffin, she can still hear and see those mourning […]
The Shrouded Woman is centered around the perspective of a dead woman, who, though dead, still sees and hears her family and friends who come to her coffin, which plunges the woman into memories of her time spent with these people. The memories triggered by the sequential appearance of her daughter, her old nanny, her […]
Having a dead person tell the story is not an entirely original concept. This has happened in “The Book Thief,” where Death narrates the tale. It also happens in “Epitaph of a Small Winner,” where the protagonist narrates his death, funeral, and journey to the afterlife. But has that ever tired me of continuously reading […]
María Luisa Bombal, The Shrouded Woman
