Parti com este livro com baixas expectativas, confesso. As opiniões que li não eram propriamente muito entusiásticas, por isso peguei neste livro com um pé atrás. Às vezes acontece a minha opinião não condizer com a da maioria, mas neste caso acabei mesmo por não gostar muito do livro.Conhecia vagamente a personagem de Malinalli de Aztec, de Gary Jennings (que em Portugal foi publicado em dois volumes, Orgulho Asteca e Sangue Asteca); sabia que tinha sido a intérprete de Córtez aquando da chegada do explorador espanhol ao território que hoje é o México, que tinha tido um papel fundamental na comunicação entre exploradores e indígenas, e que, mais tarde, tinha acabado por ter uma relação com Córtez. Mas não sabia mais, e esperava que depois de ler este livro ficar um pouco mais elucidada sobre quem foi esta personagem.Laura Esquivel optou por uma abordagem espiritual e deífica em relação a Malinalli e aos eventos históricos em que esteve presente. Na verdade, os deuses e a influência que estes tinham nas pessoas e no seu destino são um dos temas centrais desta história, porque a sua personagem principal é crente, tal como as outras pessoas do seu povo. A conciliação dessa imagem dos vários deuses com o Deus único trazido pelos espanhóis é também um desafio que ajuda a definir a personagem.Não se espere um relato muito detalhado sobre a chegada dos espanhóis a terras mexicanas; não sei até que ponto a reconstituição histórica é fiel, porque é um assunto sobre o qual sei muito pouco, mas de qualquer modo acaba por ser apenas uma contextualização e está longe de ser o centro do livro. Acho que foi esta a minha maior desilusão: esperava um relato com mais pendor histórico e menos esotérico. A linha temporal algo confusa também não ajuda; há constantes saltos no tempo, em que a personagem principal relata episódios da sua infância, que o leitor demora a situar. Mas houve coisas de que até gostei: a escrita de Laura Esquivel é agradável e algumas passagens são bonitas; a relação entre Malinalli e Córtez não foi romanceada e, por isso, torna-se mais realista.No cômputo geral, não foi um livro que recordarei por muito tempo. Tem os seus pontos de interesse, mas as minhas expectativas e o meu gosto pessoal fizeram com que esta fosse uma leitura pouco memorável.
Listened to the audiobook. No doubt the author stepped into the shoes of the protagonist, Malinalli, and used her imagination to create the indigenous world Malinche knew from infancy, then wrestled with the changes Cortez and the Spanish conquistadors invoked on her people and the native tribes she was forced to address as the interpreter. Much description of the earth, nature, eroticism, pre-colonial civilization and religious/philosophical belief accompanied the sparse plot and dialogue.Esquivel has a tremendous ability to unearth detail and a character's inner voice. If you've ever spent time in Mexico, wandering the anthropological museums, perusing the country's rich arqueological ruins or have visited remote villages where indigenous tongues are still spoken, the voice she engenders through Malinalli is very believable. The ancient Mayan & Aztec gods were central to life and very evident in the structures and reliefs prior to the conquest.I doubt most gringos will relate to the story due to the heavy emphasis placed on inner monologues that rely on a good dose of esoteric philosophy, a pantheistic world view and repetitive references to indigenous history. There are moments of character conflict that jolt the reader/listener back into the plot, as it slowly unfolds. Passion and explicit sexual description heat up a couple of the scenes, reminiscent of Esquivel's earlier works. "Como Agua Para Chocolate/Like Water For Chocolate" comes to mind.If you're a reader that prefers action, dialogue and rapid character development, this is not the novel for you. If you like to linger in the mind of historical characters, enjoying the point-of-view ride the era and history offer, I recommend you try this audio version. Narrated by Maria Conchita Alonso, her thick accent makes the read/narration more authentic and enjoyable, reminding you that the author is from Mexico, not an English speaking country.
What do You think about Malinche (2006)?
Malinche is the story of the indigenous woman, Malinalli, who had a relationship with Hernan Cortes when the Spanish conquered Mexico. Her story is somewhat similar to that of Pocahontas with John Smith in the U.S. I had always understood Malinche from common myth to be seen as a traitor -- someone who was sleeping with the enemy and selling off her people's secrets. This book shows that it was not that way at all. Rather than standing as a symbol of betrayal, Malinche instead becomes the root of modern Mexico today -- a Mexico that must find a way to integrate its mixed history of indigenous and Spanish roots, the conquered and the conquerors. Laura Esquivel's writing is absolutely beautiful and lyrical. This book is part history, part spirituality. This book helped me to understand not only more of Mexican history but more of Mexico's very rich and complicated history of spirituality and religion.
—Laura
This was terrible and the worst part is that it is based on historical events that are absolutely captivating. Cortez took her as his translator/concubine and he used her to help him conquer Mexico. Not only that, but they had a son who is considered the first "Mexican" to exist, which is contentious for the indigenous population of Mexico. Malinche is still a divisive icon in Mexico- someone who enabled the forcible colonization of their land and people. This book has the potential to be amazing but the fact that I struggled through it on a beach vacation no less... what a disappointment.
—Jennifer
The main character's relationship with nature, elements and her gods was very beautiful. This novel felt like a healing of history, especially hightened for Mexicans, I'm sure. It shifts the brutal Spanish domination of the American peoples and lands perspective to a more peaceful blending of cultures where not every native was 'conquered', they had a role that shaped history too. That being said, I just wasn't into the book all that much. It saddened and therefore tired me to read about female brutality again and again. The line between rape and consentual sex was very thin. Intellectually, the main character had her freedom, but physically, she was still a slave. I also had a hard time connecting with all the gods/godesses, probably because I their names didn't stick in my brain and I haven't been exposed to them before :) I squealed with delight when my Mexican boyfriend read the names out loud to me. Ultimately, though the "we are all one" message of the book was beautifully written.
—Stacy
