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Cartagena, by Claudia Amengual, starts with the Uruguayan Rossi deciding what to do with his body after his death and reflecting on his life. From there, we follow the story of Franco Rossi as a son, father, husband, and journalist reporting on his current life in Montevideo (Uruguay) and his return to Cartagena de Indias (Colombia), where a decision made 30 years ago affected his life forever.
When choosing this book, I read multiple synopses referring to it as a tribute to Gabriel García Márquez and Colombia, and that's what caught my attention to read it. In this regard, the novel pays homage to the Colombian people and Gabo's work.
Another thing that appears in the synopses is that it is a "story of love and mercy without avoiding the rough edges of life." For me, it's more a story about a man, responsibility, and his take on death than a love story. The failed attempt to use the proximity of death as a transformation.
Maybe, at this point, it can be seen that this book did not please me. Am I the only one?
Maybe I chose the wrong book to start reading Claudia Amengual's work. I felt that in many parts the text was dragged out. In some cases, it was clinging to secondary facts or reflections in my opinion, which I waited in vain until the end for some correlation with the story. It didn't make sense to me to be so long.
SPOILER ALERT
She was a cultured woman, but, from time to time, she had to hide it so that Rossi would not feel diminished.
The best characters in the plot are ElViejo and Pedro Angel. Both with their flashes of madness and brilliance are the strengths.
The main character is the arrogant and sexist male profile. This type of character was there in previous books of this challenge, but they had some depth I do not see in Rossi. It goes beyond disliking this profile. It is implied in the plot that there is an arc of transformation for Rossi that, in my opinion, did not happen.
Not to mention a rushed and bland ending with a motivational message without depth.
A lot of people love this book. But you can't please everyone. So, if you are willing to, read it and give your verdict.
About the Writer
Claudia Amengual (1969) is an award-winning Uruguayan writer and translator. Known for her realistic and contemporary style, she has written several short stories and she is part of the list of outstanding Latin American authors in Bogotá39.
Other Books: La rosa de Jericó (2000), El vendedor de escobas (2002), Desde las cenizas (2005), Falsas ventanas (2011) e El lugar inalcanzable (2018)
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