In the Time of the Americans

Lingvo: English

Eldonita je 18-a de decembro 2021 de Indigo River Publishing.

ISBN:: 978-1-954676-09-1

(1 recenzo)

In the Time of the Americans tells the multigenerational story of two families, the lusty Benitez family and the reserved, methodical Walkers, and how different perceptions and myths will lead to the inescapable repetition of events grounded in the history of both clans. The tale begins with the doomed love affair of Emile Walker and Maria Benítez Izquierdo, and how this episode affects both families’ fortunes and misfortunes with the rise of the American century in the Caribbean. It is a unique family saga rooted in the present, but anchored to the past.

Important actions and historical events chronicle the changes of an age: from outhouses to cinemas, from horse carriages to the automobile, from apparitions floating on cobblestone streets to urban conflicts, each supplanted in turn by new dreams and illusions. The story captures unusual characters and extraordinary events that involve generations of men and women who are unable …

In the Time of the Americans tells the multigenerational story of two families, the lusty Benitez family and the reserved, methodical Walkers, and how different perceptions and myths will lead to the inescapable repetition of events grounded in the history of both clans. The tale begins with the doomed love affair of Emile Walker and Maria Benítez Izquierdo, and how this episode affects both families’ fortunes and misfortunes with the rise of the American century in the Caribbean. It is a unique family saga rooted in the present, but anchored to the past.

Important actions and historical events chronicle the changes of an age: from outhouses to cinemas, from horse carriages to the automobile, from apparitions floating on cobblestone streets to urban conflicts, each supplanted in turn by new dreams and illusions. The story captures unusual characters and extraordinary events that involve generations of men and women who are unable or unwilling to escape their shared destinies. It is a narrative replete with an American invasion, ghosts of the past and the present, ideological illusions, cyclical upheavals, the arrival of new technologies with the American presence, glories and disasters, and, ultimately, redemption

2 eldonoj

Stephanie Jane recenzis In the Time of the Americans de Oswald Rivera

Glad I took a chance on this one

3 steloj

In The Time Of The Americans is a historical fiction saga that gave me the opportunity to learn abouts aspects of twentieth-century Puerto Rican history through the intertwining lives of three generations. I liked how Oswald Rivera managed to have the Benitez and Walker families continue to mesh with each other, yet without this device ever seeming contrived. I particularly enjoyed the earlier history as seen through Antonio's eyes as he is striving to set himself up as a successful businessman in Ponce, Puerto Rico, despite not having been born or raised on the island. I felt Antonio's viewpoints gave me a good understanding of everyday Puerto Rican lives and culture at the time. The American 'invasion' is, obviously, a harbinger of future decades, but nobody really seems to fully realise that - on either side.

The poignant fragmentation of Antonio and Octavio's friendship as nationalism drives a wedge between …

In The Time Of The Americans is a historical fiction saga that gave me the opportunity to learn abouts aspects of twentieth-century Puerto Rican history through the intertwining lives of three generations. I liked how Oswald Rivera managed to have the Benitez and Walker families continue to mesh with each other, yet without this device ever seeming contrived. I particularly enjoyed the earlier history as seen through Antonio's eyes as he is striving to set himself up as a successful businessman in Ponce, Puerto Rico, despite not having been born or raised on the island. I felt Antonio's viewpoints gave me a good understanding of everyday Puerto Rican lives and culture at the time. The American 'invasion' is, obviously, a harbinger of future decades, but nobody really seems to fully realise that - on either side.

The poignant fragmentation of Antonio and Octavio's friendship as nationalism drives a wedge between them was well portrayed so each viewpoint was clear to me. As restrictive American rules took a greater toll on the lives of Ponce's inhabitants, Octavio's anger seemed ever more justified, yet I could also see Antonio's point about American money keeping the island more affluent than his native Italy. I also appreciated Rivera's portrayals of Ponce's women and that they weren't just shallow afterthoughts. Milagros and doña Saro particularly have strong storylines and it might be interesting to follow Milagros' life in a sequel novel. I did think that In The Time Of The Americans lost its way somewhat when its focus switched to the youngest generation though. I was disappointed that these characters didn't have the same depth as their parents and grandparents, and one long dialogue scene in particular was very stilted and awkward. It's a shame as, up to about three-quarters of the way through I was gripped by this novel and glad that I had chosen to take a chance on it.

Temoj

Fiction, historical, general