Antes (En Punto de Lectura)

Before | Carmen Boullosa

so-so

This was my #FoodAndLit pick for #Mexico

It is a coming of age story, with some magical realism elements, and with a suggestion that the narrator is dead and recalling memories up to that point to the imagined reader. It was strange, lyrical, and I think it probably has lot of layers that I haven‘t picked up on!

While it wasn‘t a pick for me, I will definitely try others by this author in the future.

Texreader, Catsandbooks, Butterfinger

37 likes

Bertha_Mason

Before | Carmen Boullosa

Looking forward to tomorrow, when scribd finally lets me access my saved books that it locked up for a month because I read eight of them in the first week of my membership. :P I'm going to read the tagged book first.

BookishMe Ahhh, this gives me a glimpse of how it'd work. My free trial is ending soon and I'm curious about the limited access thereafter ;)) I am highly tempted to subscribe as its such a great app! 5y

Bertha_Mason @BookishMe I knew I should've done the special quarantine free trial instead. :P This was my free thirty days after signing up. I'm glad to hear they gave quarantine free trialers unlimited access. 5y

BookishMe Oh, I didnt know the trials differed. This was the post here that prompted me to try it https://litsy.com/p/bFh5aEZxRkVQ I suppose I can only expect to access 8 of my numerous saved titles after my trial ends ;o 5y

2 likes3 comments

Adventures_of_a_French_Reader

Before | Carmen Boullosa

pick

At first I was a little lost, but then Carmen Boullosa's writing found me, and carried me away. It's a very touching book about the "death"of childhood.

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RowReads1

Before | Carmen Boullosa

This one's on my TBR list. It's about the poets life growing up combined with ghosts👻. #afterlife

Cinfhen

Cinfhen Sounds interesting 7y

43 likes1 comment

ItsAnotherJen

Before | Carmen Boullosa

TBR #MayBookFlowers
#mexicanwriters 🤗🤗🤗

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RebeccaH

Before | Carmen Boullosa

pick

This started off bumpily for me but then I got into it. It's anecdotes from a complicated childhood/adolescence with some eerie, supernatural elements that I'm pretty sure have psychological and physiological roots. For those who like their fiction strange.

outis Make that "really strange!" 8y

RebeccaH You are right @outis :) 8y

32 likes1 stack add2 comments

RebeccaH

Before | Carmen Boullosa

Giving this one a try, although the opening pages are very strange!

Matilda The whole thing is strange. I love strange :) 8y

RebeccaH Good to know! I like some kinds of strange, so we'll see. @Matilda (edited) 8y

34 likes1 stack add2 comments

grace.rajendran

Before | Carmen Boullosa

Mexican poet, Boullosa's, second novel, Before, is the tale of a ghost who recounts the hauntings of her childhood in order to conquer fear. It is a unique take on a coming-of-age story, with several comical elements. However, as the narrator's childhood becomes more disturbing and terrifying, the suspense as to how she becomes a ghost builds to thrilling heights.
#allhallowsread #scarybook #translation #halloween

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outis

Before | Carmen Boullosa

so-so

Experimental and unsettling story of a fearful girl's life before womanhood and other major life changes (to put it mildly). Perhaps too experimental for my current tastes, but I'm glad I tried it.

7 likes

outis

Before | Carmen Boullosa

This isn't really representative of this book, but the idea of impatient memories and "fierce and faceless" ones struck me as interesting.

It's taking me a ridiculously long time to get through this brief (but unsettling) book.

7 likes1 stack add

annmayhew

Before | Carmen Boullosa

pick

You know when you finish a book and you want to reread it, hug it, stare at the cover in silent contemplation, and make literally everyone you know read it ALL AT THE SAME TIME? That's how I felt finishing Before by Carmen Boullosa, trans. Peter Bush (@deepvellum). Exquisite and haunting prose and voice, an absolutely beautiful, dark, compelling, and magical tale.