Como un mensajero tuyo es una deliciosa experiecia de redescubrimiento de El Caribe como crisol de culturas y como escenario de encuentros sorprendentes. Mayra Montero ha logrado hacer literatura caribe-a porque sus letras y sus emociones se han nutrido de sus vivencias antillanas, como cubana y como puertorrique-a (en todos los sentidos de la palabra, ha nacido en ambas islas). La novela, que narra un encuentro de ficci-n (Ác-mo saber lo que es ficci-n! ) entre Carusso y una mujer cubana con ra'ces chinas, es un casamiento literario entre la magia nuestra de cada d'a y la inveros'mil realidad que es nuestra historia. Hay que leer Como un mensajero tuyo, no s-lo porque es un trabajo literario excelente sino porque es un retrato a colores de lo que somos.

First a hint: Read the authors note. It explains the meanings of some of the words used. For instance mysteries actually relates to Gods. It also explains that this book is based on a true story.

Now on to the review: I personally loved this book. It's a total immersion into the world of the Voodoun priest and priestess and those cane cutters around them during the time of "Papa Doc" Duvalier. The story draws you inexorably in even as the characters are drawn inexorably closer to ther ends. Please note that if you are offended by a reference to incest and polygamy you may wish to avoid this book. It has a couple of references to each. My only complaint is that I wish the book were longer.

This novel returns to the folk beliefs that were expressed so well in the best known of Montero's works, In the Palm of Darkness. This novel is based on an actual event which occurs during the annual pilgrimage during the Triduum (last three days of Holy Week). The tale follows the life of a young girl through her life as the head of a religious society, as a "voodoo priestess" (my term not Montero's). Montero assumes that the reader has little knowledge of the life and beliefs of Dominican/Haitian suger cane workers. Therefore, she provides rich detail setting the scene for the reader, remarkably so given the length of the book. While the book centers on the love triangle of Zule, her teacher's son and a rival priest, there are many memorable figures presented in the book. Montero's ability to make characters memorable is a major asset. While the (tragic)outcome is apparent early in the story, the means of the outcome is not. This allows Montero to establish a foreboding atmosphere without disclosing the story's climax. The foreboding verges on heavyhanded oppression; readers may quarrel whether Montero crossed the line. Even if one considers the foreboding heavyhanded, this book is enjoyable reading and educational regarding life in Haiti/Dominican Republic.

Same book, different title. A wonderful read - questions our view of the world , our priorities, our interpersonal relationships in a quiet way. This is a book wrapped in factuality re:the extinction of frogs and in mystery - the zombies, poisons and spirits of the Haitian world. This is tightly constructed story that is never a hard read.

I read a number of "professional reviews" before purchasing this book-- "The New York Review of Books" and "Kirkus Reviews" to be exact. Firstly, the critics----excuse me, but have you taken leave of your senses? This book was awful!

Last, but definitely least, the book itself. I thought I was going to read a sophisticated novel about a married couple who go on a Carribean cruise following their daughter's wedding. I could not believe the content of this so-called work of literature. It was disgusting. Don't even try to give me the erotic argument. Erotic I could handle, but this book was nothing short of sick. I even read a few passages to my husband, and he thought I had to be making it up. Sorry, I can't give you examples of the things that disgusted me as I won't get this past the censors.

Read Montero's novel, and boleros will never sound the same again.
She may be the hottest thing since the Divine Marquis.
And she's far more witty!
Wait until the French discover her - they may put L'affaire Houellebecq far behind them.

This novel is written primarily in sexual terms - memories of infidelities, present maritial and extra-maritial sex, and sexual fantasties; if detours here and there to explore death - real and imagined. It explores the relationship between a couple on a cruise ship vacation following the marriage of their daughter - an only child. While that description may not make the book sound interesting, the book is excellent - it has a tightly written plot with unusual relationships between its characters and with surprising twists that provide the insights into the characters' personalities that hold the story together.

However, if you've read nothing by Montero, I would suggest either of her other translated books - In the Palm of Darkness or The Messager - as more indicative of her style.

The story of a brief romance between the opera singer Enrico Caruso and a Chinese-mulatta Cuban woman, Aida Petrirena Cheng, narrated by their illegitimate daughter. The romance is doomed because Caruso is only making a short tour in Cuba, he's married, the Sicilian Black Hand is making death threats, and he may be seriously ill (the last I never figured out).

The story is presented like a tragic opera. Unfortunately, although competently written the book is emotionally uninvolving throughout. The characters, though not stereotyped, never came to life, and neither did the story. It always seemed as though everyone was making much too much of a fuss about everything. So Caruso had a (fictional) fling; what's the big deal?

I loved the book because it deals with Enrico Caruso, the greatest tenor who ever lived, and it is very well written. The story takes place in Cuba and describes what happened after a bomb exploded during an Aida performance of Caruso (this starting place of the story really happened) - for the rest of the story - one has to admit that it is purely fictional. Caruso taking part in strange Voodoo ceremonies, the black hand persecuting him and chasing him all over Cuba and he strangely in love with a Chinese girl. Also in the description of the looks and the character of Caruso I could not actually recognize him.... But who cares when the story as a story itself is so exiting. The magic of the book lies in its description of fate and tragedy around the famous man. Somehow its easy to take mentally part in the story...and you'll read it in a night, so thrilling and exiting is the book... I had the feeling it was written by somebody who fell in love with the famous voice and added a little bit too much imagination :-) It's like an opera of Verdi - you think it's absurd, but you love it.

Ps: Who already owns the book and is interested to know, the name written on the picture (KiKo) is one of Caruso's nicknames. If you want to have a look on it, you'll find it in Dorothy Caruso's book about her husband.

The Palm of Darkness left me wanting more of Mayra Montero. I expected another excellent book - I got an exquisite one. Montero masterfully handles a variety of voices, scene changes that are cultural as well as temporal, and weaves them into a magnificant unity. The story is sufficiently compelling that one appreciates the craftmanship only in retrospect.

Within my taste she stands with Emmanuel Carrere, Luis Sepulveda, and Antonio Tabbuchi as a true contemporary master of the novel.

Intriqued by the title, and interested in insights on Haiti, I mistakenly wasted my time reading this 'soap opera type' strings of incidences, that kept the reader in a state of indifference.
The first paragraph deceives the reader into thinking they are in for a treat... I was not. It is a mundane story of a boring American and his lifeless responses to a ficticious Haiti. Many one line descriptions of sex, murders and spirits overwhelm the story. No real depth. It is very obvious the author is an outsider, who neither knows or cares for the place or its people. Although the format was smart, the writing itself became very predictable and annoying.

A wonderful read - questions our view of the world , our priorities, our interpersonal relationships in a quiet way. This is a book wrapped in factuality re:the extinction of frogs and in mystery - the zombies, poisons and spirits of the Haitian world. This is tightly constructed story that is never a hard read.

I read this book as part of a local book club I belong to, and it was by far the most interesting, well-written (what I could tell from the translation) of the three we've read so far. I loved the juxtaposition of the Haitian guide's personal anecdotes with the main thrust of the story told by the narrator. There is even juxtaposition within each chapter, as Thierry recounts his mysterious stories about his life in Haiti (sometimes gruesome and always enthralling) the narrator is only half-listening, as he ponders his own less-than-fulfilling personal history. The writer never fully unravels the dark mysteries of Haiti, only hints at them. I am anxious to read other books by Ms. Montero.

This novel is a waste of time, I only read the first chapter and threw it away, it is boring and confusing.
It is true that paper can hold anything.After the Deep Purple fiasco I realize that anything can get published.
Ms. Montero, the tittle Author is too big for you.
You are a shame to the publishing industry.

Augustin Caban is a retired music critic. He thinks of writing his memoirs.And the outstanding feature of his life was his pursuit of the great virtuosa he encountered over the years.

And thus begins the explanation of the orchestra: Clint Verret on the piano,Rebecca Cheng - clarinet, Manuela Suggia - violin, Alejandrina Sanroma - celeste, Clarissa Berdsley - French horn, Virginia Tuten - violin. Each woman is shown her place in the orchestra. Their virtuosity is explained by their musical preference. Most of it is quite modern, if not outright contemporary - Edward Elgin, Bela Bartok, Holst, Saint-Saens.

Augustin makes love to them the way he perceives their connection to their instrument and favorite music. He is in control. he knows exactly what they want and need. but as each case develops it becomes clear that it is the women who are in control. And they are an assembly of truly weird ones. As we go along, it becomes rather pornographic. And forget about the guide to the orchestra.

Montero writes well and that is the redeeming grace of this book. The basic idea is interesting, the execution titillating.

Now that their daughter has gotten married, this couple decides to go on a cruise to rekindle their love. As the book progresses we learn of the many infidelities this couple has committed against each other. The husband had infidelitis Cchronis and can't seem to keep his hands of one of the passenger. The blatant display of infidelity doesn't seem to upset the wife so much anyways. To tell you the truth this book is not that good. It's literary value is diminished by how the author's portrayal of the characters.