Rating: 
Summary: Great premise, but a disastrous ending
Review: Like most of the reviewers here, I was totally absorbed by this book and its exquisite vision and representation of a racially separated Puerto Rican world. I wasn't blind to the stereotypes that Ferre employs, just accepting of the fact that her fictional characters have a factual basis in reality. But what sets this book apart from the other Latin American authors I have read was the marvelous intertextuality of the story--both husband and wife writing and rewriting history while remaining silent with each other. Quintin's contributions to Isabel's story were every bit as fascinating as the family saga she was weaving. But there's not enough of his point of view, as Ferre takes a turn from his perspective to finishing off the story. The obvious issue at stake here is whether history or fiction has more merit--and whether written family histories MUST be faithful to facts. This ideological debate is one that has polarized academics in the humanities before, and its treatment here was utterly fascinating. Unfortunately, Ferre couldn't sustain that premise, and the novel quickly deteriorates in the final chapters towards its overly Hollywood-ish ending. But up until the last third, it's a marvelous read, and as thought-provoking on racial issues as it is on the themes of revenge, family loyalties, and money.
Rating: 
Summary: Vivid descriptions, rich narrative, a story of stereotypes
Review: Many have praised Ferre for her style of realism that doesn't fall in the much re-used "magic realism" of the latinamerican literature of the past decades. However, this story is about a Puerto Rico from a privileged point of view that sadly reinforces social stereotypes. The story is very interesting but truly unbelievable and too fictional to effectively portray a realistic view of the puertorican society during this ce ntury
Rating:
Summary: Thank God for the family tree graphic!
Review: Otherwise I would have been quite lost - so many angry husbands and long-suffering wives. I liked the conceit of having the main male character (Quentin) "discover" the book as it's being written by his wife (Isabell). It highlighted the differences the author suggests between the male and female conceptions of history. I thought the structure sort of broke down at the end as real events took over and the central dialogue was left behind. I assumed that we, the readers, would satisfyingly uncover the truth at the same time as Quentin, but he never got to read the last pages. And perhaps I missed something, but what did happen to that Swiss bank account?
Rating: 
Summary: Stunning Intertextuality
Review: Rosario Ferré is without doubt a formidable writer with broad literary formation (holding a doctorate in Latin American literature) and impressive versatility in genres: short story, poetry, essay, novelist. She joins that welcomed and exciting cadre of Latina writers who skillfully articulates profound feminist concerns in their respective societies. In THE HOUSE ON THE LAGOON, Ferré presents two of her constantly recurring themes that form the core of her literary trajectory: Puerto Rican reality past and present ... the agonizing socio-psychological consequences produced by the unique historical-political-economic link to the United States; and Latina feminism accompanied by society's ugly prejudicial response. This story offers a highly critical view of Puerto Rican society with a bold reinterpretation of her island's history. As in all her tales and essays (as she herself has revealed) there is a thinly veiled autobiographical reflection. Ferré crafts a stunning literary language that expresses itself via surreal images similar to those that characterized the vanguard writers and visual artists of the opening decades of the twentieth century. In Spanish we call the technique "desdoblamiento" -- the exposition or unfolding of images to narrate the events afflicting her protagonists. It perhaps functions more intensively in the original Spanish. But what results in essence is a mystical fusion of fiction and reality ... magical realism. This is a mesmerizing work by an extremely talented writer and is highly recommended. Alan Cambeira
Author of AZUCAR! The Story of Sugar (a novel)
Rating:
Summary: Stunning Intertextuality
Review: Rosario Ferré is without doubt a formidable writer with broad literary formation (holding a doctorate in Latin American literature) and impressive versatility in genres: short story, poetry, essay, novelist. She joins that welcomed and exciting cadre of Latina writers who skillfully articulates profound feminist concerns in their respective societies. In THE HOUSE ON THE LAGOON, Ferré presents two of her constantly recurring themes that form the core of her literary trajectory: Puerto Rican reality past and present ... the agonizing socio-psychological consequences produced by the unique historical-political-economic link to the United States; and Latina feminism accompanied by society's ugly prejudicial response. This story offers a highly critical view of Puerto Rican society with a bold reinterpretation of her island's history. As in all her tales and essays (as she herself has revealed) there is a thinly veiled autobiographical reflection. Ferré crafts a stunning literary language that expresses itself via surreal images similar to those that characterized the vanguard writers and visual artists of the opening decades of the twentieth century. In Spanish we call the technique "desdoblamiento" -- the exposition or unfolding of images to narrate the events afflicting her protagonists. It perhaps functions more intensively in the original Spanish. But what results in essence is a mystical fusion of fiction and reality ... magical realism. This is a mesmerizing work by an extremely talented writer and is highly recommended. Alan Cambeira
Author of AZUCAR! The Story of Sugar (a novel)
Rating:
Summary: gripping pivot on social / family culture yet bouncy delivey
Review: The "House on the Lagoon" parallels ideas of american society. It introduces historical issues relating to Puerto Rico. It portrays the ideas of social status, family responsibilities, and the power relegated to senior members of their society. The subtle strength and power of the women is outstandingly exemplified.
Rating:
Summary: rich with history
Review: The amazing feat of Rosario Ferre is her ability to weave historical events with a fictional family's history all the while giving the reader an amazing page turner. This book gives a brief lesson in Puerto Rican history and the complexities of race, class and gender relationships.
This novel tells the story of two wealth Puerto Rican families. The tellling of the stories leads to disagreements between the main characters, husband and wife, Quintin and Isabel. Their disagreements beg the reader to decide which one is telling the truth and who is more believable. It is a fascinating journey which challenges the reader, which is exactly what a great book should do.
Rating:
Summary: Un Libro de Encanto de la isla del encanto...
Review: This book drew me in with the author's style, reminiscent of Isabel Allende (even the title seems to be a variation of "The House of Spirits")...Ferre's writing style is superb, the descriptions vivid and she held my interest throughout...granted, she did present an upper class Puerto Rico, but I think it was never the author's intention to present the Puerto rico most of us know...I do agree that ending was a bit overblown and holywoodish; however it did not take away from my enjoyment of the book. I am glad that Puerto Rico is producing writers like Ferre, because she is a notch above many best selling authors today...I have both the English and Spanish versions of this book and I think that both are very good...my wife is reading the Spanish version and prefers it...if I'm not mistaken I did not see any translator named in the book thus I assume Ferre herself produced both versions...if she did, it was an admirable piece of work, because both versions carry the same great flavor of her excellent writing; despite the linguistic differneces... y por ultimo, este libro me ayudo re-descubrir mis raices puertoriquenos en un tiempo de auto busqueda, porque el libro es sobre todo acerca de lo que es definirse a luz de la historia de la familia...todos tenemos nuestros historias y todos tenemos nuestras percepciones de esa historia, lo cual nos auto-define... this book is a discovery of life against the backdrop of a family history...this book has helped me, in a way, to look at my own life... I hope more authors like Ferre come out...and Ferre herself I wish to say "gracias" for this work....
Rating:
Summary: What happened at the end?
Review: This book has a floppy ending. It feels like Rosario Ferre rushed to get it done. I enjoyed reading about the island in the old days, and the author does a good job describing customs and philosophies. Although the story has some flaws early on, the historical details kept me quite entertained. When the story started to center more in the current family events, i became disappointed. Quintin had been a voice early in the book, but at the end he is mute, and it would have been really nice to have heard what he had to say. And Isabel, who is supposed to be such a strong person, concedes defeat several times, and weakly justifies her actions. I would recommend it only to those that want to learn more about old PR.
Rating:
Summary: What happened at the end?
Review: This book has a floppy ending. It feels like Rosario Ferre rushed to get it done. I enjoyed reading about the island in the old days, and the author does a good job describing customs and philosophies. Although the story has some flaws early on, the historical details kept me quite entertained. When the story started to center more in the current family events, i became disappointed. Quintin had been a voice early in the book, but at the end he is mute, and it would have been really nice to have heard what he had to say. And Isabel, who is supposed to be such a strong person, concedes defeat several times, and weakly justifies her actions. I would recommend it only to those that want to learn more about old PR.
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