"Butterfly's Tongue" (La lengua de Las Mariposas) is a
compelling story about a youngster and his relationship with the
town's school teacher. The narration takes us back in time to Spain
during the Franco regime. The author has beautifully interwoven
history and friendship and how it can be affected by war and society.
Other short stories in the book revolve around the life of other
characters from "Butterfly's Tongue". Manuel Rivas is an
extraordinary author who has masterfully connected the main story with
the rest of the book.

Excellent theory and rural-practice of hiperferic societies

The book is composed of short stories written with mastery. The deep feelings involved in the human relationships. The translation from the "gallego" is superb. No one who loves literature and the spanish language should miss it!

"The Carpenter's Pencil", is a wonderful short novel. There are times it becomes a bit confusing to track who or what is relating the story. However the small amount of time invested to sort out the voices is more than well rewarded. The book also contained something I had not seen before. There were two poems referenced in the book, and they were included in their entirety in appendices. One is from the 19th and the other the 13th Century. It was a pleasant change to be able to read the entire poems rather than be limited to excerpts in the main text.

There are about 8-10 different players that appear. The number arrived at depends on how much you feel a character must contribute, and how they make that contribution. Must a person be present in the flesh, or can they continue to influence events after death? The book begins in a contemporary setting and then quickly returns to the story of the man a reporter has come to interview. This is when the book really shines with a love story and an unlikely cast that make the union of the two lovers possible.

The primary tale of memory takes place just before, through, and finally after Franco's rule over Spain has ended. This end allows for some who were forced to flee to return home, a home that they fought for and were punished by. The brief work is really very good, for while it is brief it conveys a story that feels almost epic in its tightly written and intricate prose.

A bit of effort to be sure you have the voices sorted out, and you will enjoy a wonderful novella.

There are as many Galicians abroad as in Spain. So now that we see one of our writers translated directly from our language into English, our pride gets a special boost. With Rivas, our literature has found its own boom. He gives a new insight to our culture, our language, and our traditions. Thanks, Jonathan Dunne, for a job well done! Graciñas, Manuel, for helping us in learning about ourselves!

In the unreal everyday life, in a small town, where stories develop themselves in a bowl of emotions, deceased people turn into animals: lizards, mice, spiders and observe the slow motion of feelings from the deepest of their personal forests. A nicely written touching contemporary fairy tale.