This is one of the best and most important books ever written, and my fourth book about the Dominican Republic. I have a huge adoration for this country's turbulent history, for its political misery and for its burning hot blood. Llosa writes like pure perfection, but I will admit that this book would have been even MORE obscenely perfect had it been read in Spanish, due to the numerous nicknames and phrases so typical for that language. Recommended fully!

A quintessential study of a dictatorship and the complex relationships that surround it, and support it, by a master wordsmith. Its up there with Ngugi's 'Wizard of the Crow'.

Beautifully written (translation), but not for the faint of heart. An intense story of a woman else childhood was destroyed intimately by a brutal dictator, told along side the stories of the dictator himself and the men who plot to assassinate him.

My personal experience of this book was increased by unrelated things. I purchased this book at a used bookstore, and in it I found several ticket stubs from trains and planes, some in other languages. This is why used bookstores are awesome.

Merged review:

Beautifully written (translation), but not for the faint of heart. An intense story of a woman else childhood was destroyed intimately by a brutal dictator, told along side the stories of the dictator himself and the men who plot to assassinate him.

My personal experience of this book was increased by unrelated things. I purchased this book at a used bookstore, and in it I found several ticket stubs from trains and planes, some in other languages. This is why used bookstores are awesome.

I think it all started with Shashi, who asked Fang Min to read this book, who then raved about it to me. What is it about Latin American authors who can weave these tales that stretch across time and space and pull you into their tapestry?

Merged review:

I think it all started with Shashi, who asked Fang Min to read this book, who then raved about it to me. What is it about Latin American authors who can weave these tales that stretch across time and space and pull you into their tapestry?

Cualquier cosa que os digan sobre este libro, no lo creáis: hay que leerlo. Una absoluta maravilla y barbaridad.

يوسا أفقدني النطق والقدرة على التعبير طوال صفحات الرواية. من شدة روعتها قريتها في شهر، كنت عايزها تخلص حالا ومكنتش عايزها تخلص أبدًا

Mario Vargas Llosa painted the tumultuous regime of the Dominican dictator, Rafael Trujillo, through the points of view of the dictator himself, his assassins, and one of his victims in this kaleidoscopic and harrowing novel. In a sweeping fictionalized treatment of factual events, Vargas Llosa toured us into the pits of hell as he described the excesses and the bloody consequences of living during Trujillo's time. We see how his regime was fortified and expanded by a kowtowing clique of patriarchal cronies and how his assassination was plotted by vengeful former loyalists who all bear a grudge against El Jefe. We see how prostate problems tormented Trujillo in his last days which is symbolic of his losing grip on his power. We see how the citizens have to face their complicity and guilt in abetting the regime as well as processing their trauma and disappointments in recognizing that the man they knew as a benevolent leader is actually a beast. In flowing sentences and transitioning between past and present, Vargas Llosa made us feel how it is to be with Trujillo, live under him, and be victimized by him. I would not be exaggerating if I say that this is the best book I've read this year. Never again to dictators.

Merged review:

Mario Vargas Llosa painted the tumultuous regime of the Dominican dictator, Rafael Trujillo, through the points of view of the dictator himself, his assassins, and one of his victims in this kaleidoscopic and harrowing novel. In a sweeping fictionalized treatment of factual events, Vargas Llosa toured us into the pits of hell as he described the excesses and the bloody consequences of living during Trujillo's time. We see how his regime was fortified and expanded by a kowtowing clique of patriarchal cronies and how his assassination was plotted by vengeful former loyalists who all bear a grudge against El Jefe. We see how prostate problems tormented Trujillo in his last days which is symbolic of his losing grip on his power. We see how the citizens have to face their complicity and guilt in abetting the regime as well as processing their trauma and disappointments in recognizing that the man they knew as a benevolent leader is actually a beast. In flowing sentences and transitioning between past and present, Vargas Llosa made us feel how it is to be with Trujillo, live under him, and be victimized by him. I would not be exaggerating if I say that this is the best book I've read this year. Never again to dictators.

But Papa and His Excellency turned me into a desert. (400)

I read a lot of tragic books. This book upset me in my core, as a woman.

Some parts were boring — the political scheming that makes sense in the end and the parts narrated by Trujillo himself.

I can’t recommend it, but I feel fuller as a reader, having read it.

Amazing story arc, rich with history and characters.