Fun with Fuentes: Group Read of The Old Gringo

Although a little nervous about this, I am creating this thread for fellow LTer's who may be interested in joining me in June to read The Old Gringo by recently deceased author, Carlos Fuentes.

Having never read anything by this author, I look forward to comments from those who have or will be reading along with me and feel free to comment on any other book by Senor Fuentes for those who may want to read further.

To get the party started, here is a NPR broadcast of the author.

Last but not least a study guide

BTW: There is also a movie by the same name starring Gregory Peck and Jane Fonda.

I've added this to the group wiki page. Have fun!

Thanks alot, Jim. Now all I need is the group :0)

I am
waiting for a copy from the library. They have 7 copies and I am 4th on the list. They are all due back mid-June and I won't be able to join you until then (unless people return the before their due date)!

I might join in, depending on how my reading goes for June. My library has 3 copies (all checked out) and I'm first on the list.

Hi Cathy and Rachel! It's good to see your're both interested. I'm sendng out library book return karma so your books will become available soon.

So far, it seems like a fairly quick read.

I am 1 of 3 on the wait list so should get it soon, I hope! None of my facebook friends have responded to my request?! Nobody owns The Old Gringo? What the heck is that about? Or. maybe they love it so much that they don't want to lend it?! ~grin~

#7 Nobody owns The Old Gringo?
See, the perfect example why we need a GR of CF. Not many people are familiar with him.

maybe they love it so much that they don't want to lend it Or maybe.............(oh never mind, I won't go there) *grin*

I put this book aside for my vacation. I'm now learning/relearning much in this historical fiction read.
Leland Stanford.
Mexican - American war
Pancho Villa

Obviously covers alot of ground.

:) My copy still hasn't come in yet...how far along have you gotten?

Five chapters to go, Rachel but don't let that scare you. It's a quick read.

Got a copy from the library today so will be chiming in soon.

Yeah! :0)

ok, not ready to officially comment but I think I love this book (20 pages in)!

Finished! A beautifully written book. I almost loved it. I'll write a review when i return home in about a week.
Looking forward to the thoughts of others.

I've got my copy now. It's good timing, too, since it looks like I'll finish the book I'm reading today. Should be able to start tomorrow! :)

Can't wait too see what you think CAthy and RAchel.

Ok, I finished it yesterday and my review is on my thread.

I don't know if Cathy is finished reading yet, so I'll wait before saying anything that might have spoilers, but I wanted to ask one thing: I noticed that there was a tag "magical realism" for this on LT. I would certainly NOT consider this magical realism, though I think Fuentes DOES write magical realism. Did I miss something, or do you two agree?

Just passing through to say I loved this book when I read it several years ago. The film was not as good, but I loved the mystery of Ambrose Bierce mixed with the Mexican Revolution. If you haven't read any Bierce, you might want to try An Occurance at Owl Creek Bridge, a novella, or my personal favorite, The Devil's Dictionary, as an adjunct. Enjoy!

#18 Although i've read that magical realism is often used by fuentes , i don't see any sign of it in the old gringo, Rachel so i agree with you 100%. I would like to read some of his novels which do Include
MR. If anyone can recommend one, i'm all ears.

Well, I read Aura in the form of a short story once and thought it was pretty interesting. I'll probably go ahead and read it as a full novel one of these days--always intended on it. I think Fuentes' most famous book is The Death of Artemio Cruz, which is on the 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die List. I intend on reading it one day, too, but haven't gotten around to it yet.

ETA: If you're interested in tragic cultural books about war, I started a thread for a group read of Half of a Yellow Sun here.

#19i'm so happy you stopped by and thanks for your comments, laurie! Believe it or not, i have AOaOCB on my LOST collection wishlist but i hadn't made the Bierce connection. It's hard to find so I'll check out TDD.

You can find An Occurance at Owl Creek Bridge in the book of short stories Civil War Stories, by Ambrose Bierce, right? That collection isn't too very hard to find, is it?

Ha! My library has it in audio. How unexpected!

I've never enjoyed anything by Bierce, but Carlos Fuentes is another story. El Gringo Viejo is a good book, but I'm a little embarrassed to read a hot pink paperback in a public place like sitting at the park with Johnny.

It's a book about boundaries (fronteras) and pushing them. The obvious boundary is the one between Mexico and USA. But there are boundaries between populism and terrorism. Between the upper classes and the lower. The ultimate boundary between life and death.

OK, Rachel. I may be retired, but I'm not hibernating.

Quack.

Rubber Ducky: your copy is hot pink? How awkward! It doesn't seem a hot-pink sort of book....

SPOILER!!!
Yes, I agree with you about the boundaries. I also had the impression that he was trying to write the narrative with a dream-like quality. Like "Life is but a dream," but "life" for the three main characters seemed more about being trapped in the past than preparing for the future. Though I think Harriet had a chance for a future at the end of the book.

I was also curious about the Don Quixote references at the beginning of the book. There were a couple moments in which I thought Fuentes was comparing Bierce to Don Quixote. I think he even reminded someone of Don Quixote as he was approaching the Mexican Revolutionaries for the first time? I returned my copy to the library, so I can't double-check that. And, also, there were a few times when Bierce was referred to as "errant" and other Quixote-like descriptions. But Quixote was trapped in madness by his virtue (or trapped in virtue by his madness, perhaps). Bierce was trapped in his past by his lack of virtue, it seemed. But perhaps I'm looking too deeply now.

Ha! It IS pink! That's too funny!

An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge And Other Stories by Ambrose Bierce is available through Dover books for $3.50 (I think I got it on sale for less), ISBM 978-0-486-46657-6

And wow! Hot pink it is!

Now that is pink. I agree, it doesn't seem to be a'hot pink' kind of book!!

Well, at least it doesn't have a picture of a steamy-hot half-naked Mexican man with dark, smoldering eyes half-hidden by a sombrero....

On June 30th I completed The Old Gringo by Carlos Fuentes for the for the Fun with Fuentes: Group Read of The Old Gringo AND for the TIOLI Challenge #15 - Read a Book With One of the Words from the Bridal Rhyme in the Title: Old, New, Borrowed, Blue, Sixpence, Shoe

First line:
~ Now she sits alone and remembers ~

This was an odd book.

I found the writing lyrical, poetic and, as a result of that, really enjoyed it. It read like a fairy tale a lot of the time. However it was an odd book.

I appreciated the depiction of the culture of the Mexican revolution and the cultural differences of the two Americans in the story. I was thoroughly caught up in the story of Ambrose Bierce and the fact that he was a real person who, virtually disappeared into Mexico and was never heard from again.

I did find some it confusing and so that is why I am not giving it a higher rating. Enjoyed it though! (4.0 stars)

Thanks for giving this thread a boost, Cathy! It gives me an opportunity to thank all of you for joining me in the group read. I hope that The Old Gringo has introduced you to an author you may want to read again. I was actually introduced to two, Fuentes as well as Bierce. I would have never known he was a real person if it hadn't been for the wonderful insights posted by fellow readers.

I'm venturing into another Group Read in August for A Tree Grows In Brooklyn. I'll post the link later in July for anyone interested.

Your comments, Cathy are indeed spot on. I especially like your fairy tale aspect. I would add a fairy tale in sepia. Does that make sense?

> 31
Fairy tale in sepia ; exactly. A perfect image. And I hope to join you in reading A Tree Grows in Brooklyn