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The Great Revolution was a failure, they say. All revolutions have been failures, they
say. To which I reply: all the more reason to make another one.
-E. Abbey
A woman is only a woman, but a good Ford is a car.
-Unknown (though obviously a fool)
October 10, 2004
Pedro Paramo - Juan Rulfo
Dealing with the issues of death, revolution, change and exploitation with
astounding intricacy, Pedro Paramo is an exploration into the spiritual world.
The pain and suffering of the past live on in the place that was once a village called
Comala near the ranch of Media Luna. In an act of revenge for the accidental
celebration of his lover's passing the local baron starves the village out. It was he
who made life unbearable for the people in the first place, and now, along with a few
stragglers, there are only ghosts and it is hard to tell the living from the dead.
September 29, 2004
The Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck
The exploitation of the poor and destitute continues to this day. The difference
now is that nominal concessions have been made in parts of the world to
blind those who might otherwise care and act to end the exploitation.
That's my opinion. Steinbeck shows us the beauty of the human heart and spirit
in the midst of the most desperate of circumstances, and he shows us the hideousness
of human sin that imperils all.
September 27, 2004
Los Pasos Perdidos (The Lost Steps) - Alejo Carpentier
Carpentier's main character finds what could be his salvation in the jungle,
but as he can not span the gap between the pre and postmodern worlds - between
the world where change takes place at a geologic pace and the world where a
revolution may take place in a day and change nothing - he leaves the jungle
to destroy his modern life. Upon his return he finds the doors of the place
closed to him and is left in limbo in a mining town half way between worlds.
Thanks for looking.
