The Old Man Who Read Love Stories

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful story with classic proportion
Review: "Old man" is a short but beautiful and poignant story. I cried at one point. It is not a sentimental love story. In fact, it's not a love story at all, so don't be misled. It's a simple and moving story about life set in the Amazon. It felt much like Hemingway's "Old Man and the Sea" and had the same feeling of directness and simplicity combined with profound truth. Sepulveda is much more in tune with contemporary sensitivities than most people would find Hemingway (although I love Hemingway's stories). A major theme of Old Man who Read Love Stories has to do with the destruction of the Amazon. This is not to say the story is any sort of politically correct pablum. It is much more profound than that. I think Hemingway would have approved with gusto.

Rating:
Summary: A STUNNINGLY DRAWN FABLE...
Review: ...and one to which it would do us very well to listen. Sepulveda's novel -- succinct yet full of beautiful writing -- is entertaining and compelling, but it also has a great lesson to teach about the way we interact with the natural world.

His main character -- the 'old man' of the title -- is very much a loner in his village, on a river on the verge of the dense Amazon jungle. He has experienced much joy and sorrow in his life -- and he has been sensitive enough to learn from what he has seen and felt over the years. He is just literate enough to read the love stories he adores so much -- he has to sound out unfamiliar words repeatedly, savoring them, until he feels comfortable with them. His life has given him the wisdom and patience to give them the attention and respect they deserve -- and he views the world in which he lives, with all of its plants and animals and indigenous people, with the same healthy and reverent respect. It's too bad the same can't be said for the other settlers in the village -- or in most people in the world, for that matter.

The old man is very friendly with and knowledgeable in the ways of the Shuar Indians, who inhabit the forest -- he has even lived with them at one point in his life. His knowledge of the natural world makes him very valuable to his neighbors when a female ocelot goes on a killing spree -- he is pressed into service to hunt her down and kill her.

His thoughts on his world -- and the people around him -- are gently but convincingly communicated by Sepulveda's beautiful writing. This is a novel to savor, word by word -- much as some of the works of Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Carlos Fuentes. It contains so much more than this slim volume would indicate at first glance. It's a wonderful read.

Rating:
Summary: A STUNNINGLY DRAWN FABLE...
Review: ...and one to which it would do us very well to listen. Sepulveda's novel -- succinct yet full of beautiful writing -- is entertaining and compelling, but it also has a great lesson to teach about the way we interact with the natural world.

His main character -- the 'old man' of the title -- is very much a loner in his village, on a river on the verge of the dense Amazon jungle. He has experienced much joy and sorrow in his life -- and he has been sensitive enough to learn from what he has seen and felt over the years. He is just literate enough to read the love stories he adores so much -- he has to sound out unfamiliar words repeatedly, savoring them, until he feels comfortable with them. His life has given him the wisdom and patience to give them the attention and respect they deserve -- and he views the world in which he lives, with all of its plants and animals and indigenous people, with the same healthy and reverent respect. It's too bad the same can't be said for the other settlers in the village -- or in most people in the world, for that matter.

The old man is very friendly with and knowledgeable in the ways of the Shuar Indians, who inhabit the forest -- he has even lived with them at one point in his life. His knowledge of the natural world makes him very valuable to his neighbors when a female ocelot goes on a killing spree -- he is pressed into service to hunt her down and kill her.

His thoughts on his world -- and the people around him -- are gently but convincingly communicated by Sepulveda's beautiful writing. This is a novel to savor, word by word -- much as some of the works of Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Carlos Fuentes. It contains so much more than this slim volume would indicate at first glance. It's a wonderful read.

Rating:
Summary: Great Translation
Review: Another wonderful book from Luis Sepulveda. He writes from the heart and whether you wish to or not, you will find yourself reading from your heart. He takes simple, every day events and people and "interprets" them (in a way only he can) and gives you magic in return. You will find his characters and locations taking root in your heart.

What wonderful pictures, emotions and relationships he paints; I never wanted it to end.

The only complaint I have -- the only complaint I ever have --- with Mr. Sepulveda is that there is too little of his work available to the public. Every book leaves me wanting more of him.

Rating:
Summary: absolutely satisfying
Review: i picked up this book, without any expectations for it, because it looked like a thin and easy to read book; but i was thoroughly surprised by its beauty and its fluent translation. i learned much from this incredible novel, about ecuador, about ocelots; but most importantly i learned what we are doing to the depleting rain forests in the world, and how this is affecting both those who inhabit it and ourselves. this book is poignant and picaresque, and it seems to evoke a sense of passing of a world and a self that find it increasingly difficult to continue to exist in the current environmental conditions. i think everyone who loves animals, who is disturbed by the way technology is destroying the natural world, and who is fascinated with cultures and peoples should not give this book a miss.

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful and magical
Review: I read this book in a university anthropology class, and I loved it. It is a extraordinary book about an elderly man in the Ecuadoran jungle who spends his days reading and thinking about love and faraway places. When nature is disturbed in his home, the old man is placed in a conflict between man and nature. It is a short book, full of beautiful imagery and poetry.

Rating:
Summary: Review of the Movie, Starring Richard Dreyfuss
Review: I was introduced to this book through seeing the premiere of this movie at the Melbourne International Film Festival. I must stay that the screen adaptation of this book is moving and a delight to see, the photography and direction impressive and Richard Dreyfus as Bolivar is in my opinion his greatest acting achievement that I have seen to date.

Hugo Weaving plays the Dentist and puts in a superb performance.

Filmed on location in French Guyana, the director has succeeded in creating a film that, thanks to an excellent cast, is full of originality and humor, which leaves you with plenty to think about long after you leave the theatre.

At this stage it is unclear what sort of broad release this movie will see, so ask around and lobby for it.

Rating:
Summary: A brilliant and intense novel
Review: It's amazing how hot, moist and intense Sepulveda contrives to make you feel as you discover the old man who read love stories. I enjoyed this book thoroughly, the story is harsh and out of the beaten track, the style is vivid and lively, it has made me feel like travelling to the amazon basin. A book which I can highly recommend.

Rating:
Summary: A wonderfull story about human life
Review: Luis Sepulveda is one of the most important chilean writters that had arisen in th last years. His simple humor and charisma, allowed him to build a facinated story about human life. This, with Patagonia Express, is one of his best works.

Rating:
Summary: Not exactly good
Review: Un viejo que leía novelas de amor

En esta novela un simple viejo divorciado y retirado va a una misión para matar a una tigrilla rabiosa. Debe salvar a los pueblos del amazonas, pero descubre que los pueblos han generado esta rabia contra ellos mismos de la tigrilla.
Este libro es sobre un Viejo que vivía en el amazonas leyendo novelas de amor. Su vida cambió abruptamente cuando un blanco muerto fue traído por unos indígenas. El alcalde de la aldea donde vivía el viejo decidió que los indígenas lo habían matado, pero después de una inspección del viejo, Antonio José Bolívar Proaño, averiguó que el blanco era un cazador y que una tigrilla que iba a matar, como a su familia, lo mató. Esto trajo terror a la aldea por la tigrilla que buscaba venganza de los humanos por haber matado a sus crías y por herir al macho. Después de otras muertes El alcalde decidió buscar y matar a la tigrilla con unos profesionales y Antonio. Luego de haber caminado por la selva por unos días, encontrando mas muertos por el camino, el Alcalde le transfirió el trabajo a Antonio, empezando una gran casería.
Yo encontré este libro medio aburrido desde el principio porque los personajes sonaban medio viejos y aburridos. Yo no lo encontré muy excitante en ningún lugar, que yo creo crucial para cualquier libro. Y cuando había un poco de acción no sonó muy convincente. También, yo me perdí en muchas partes cruciales del libro por las malas descripciones, pero creo que eso es mi culpa porque no leo castellano bien. Era gracioso que este libro tenia tantas malas palabras pero después de un rato me canso. En esta novela lo único que agarro mi atención fue el increíble amor por la selva que El viejo encontró en el final.