Lauren O. (LoMel) - , reviewed on 7/26/2011 + 134 more book reviews

This is the fourth book by Vargas Llosa that I've read, and the subject matter was of the most interest to me, but I found this the hardest to read of all his books. He jumps around in time with no warning so the characters and situations can easily become confused. That said, I think the story and history are worth the eventual payoff and it's worth sticking with it. As I became accustomed to the writing style as I went along I found the book easier to read and understand. While it's not a straight nonfiction history of the Trujillo era, reading a well-researched novelization like this in some ways gives you a more intimate idea of the time and people.

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