Balún Canán

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful story based on personal experiences
Review: Rosario Castellanos, one of Mexico's greatest writers, does a wonderful job of portraying life in ancient Chiapas. Specifically in Comitan, Rosario's hometown, and in Chactajal,which is a few miles off Comitan. Balun Canan(meaning '9 candles') is the name given by the ancient Mayan civilizations to Comitan.
This novel is rich in historical significance, but also based on the author's personal daily experiences which makes this novel truly enjoyable. Rosario shares her life as a young girl alongside her nanny and her family. Both Rosario and her nanny narrate this story at certain points, allowing us readers to infer their opinions and views on certain problems and dilemmas, which refer to a hard time in the history of Mexico. A hard time concerning the rebellin of the indian population, and the clear preocupation of those who were their owners, the white population.

Rating:
Summary: A Beautiful Novel
Review: This novel, written by one of Mexico's most famous modern poets, illustrates many of the issues present in Mexico after the revolution. The story follows the life of a young girl growing up in Chiapas after the revolution. The author writes poetry into her prose, combining the oral tradition with the politics surrounding the change of power, to create a subtle yet powerful novel about the changing face of Mexico.