Customer Reviews (2)

Short but sweet
This particular translated editionof"Burnt Water" originally was released in Spainish under the title "Aqua Quemada" and has many more stories, over double, than the original version. The translations are excellentand deserve mention because they do not compromise the integrity of the beautiful written word of Carlos Fuentes. I have compared both editions and am very impressed with the literal translation. The stories are all very short,usually in the 25- 30page range but read like little novels. The characters developed by Fuentes are colorful representations that come to life and jump off the pages. When reading Fuentes the familiarity with the characters and distant lands becomes familiar at once. Fuentes can take you on a journey to the times of the Mexican Revolution and you feel the period come to life. The rich literary style of Fuentes in his formative years is revealed to be not quite as eloquent as his later works but do show the characteristic stylings developing. When you read these short stories you will feel as though they are sketches of future works(if you are familiar with his later works), fragments creating a whole and eventually evolving into masterpieces. Fuentes ability to create visual scenes translates into an experience that allows you to smell the aromas, see the vistas, for example, when he describes a personsweeping in front of their home you can feel the wet earth being the neutralized by water to keep the dust down. You feel the character breathing in the fresh morning air, the fragrance of the flowers, the morning dew on the trees, the distant mountains and the peeking sun giving the countryside a wake up call; Fuentes paints panoramic vistas with his words that draw you into the scenes, he is a literary giant even in the short story form. Although I am not personally a big fan of the short story format, these stories are perfect for the limited attention span of the modern busy times we live in. This is an excellentcollection of stories, all very different in content and sometimes ending too quickly; the people and places you meet inCarlos Fuentes works are such that you want them to go and on. Recommended for anyone that appreciates literary genius but especially good for someone on a limited reading time schedule or curious about the works of Fuentes.

A great collection of short stories
Very entertaining, with lots of unexpected endings to interesting and vivid stories. Perfect for somone who doesn't have a lot of time to read. ... Read more

Product Description
This is the story of the spiritual journey that leadsJaime Ceballos through a labyrinth of forgotten memories up until theend of his youth when he decides where life will take him.In Lasbuenas conciencias, Carlos Fuentes vividly narrates Jaime’s youthin which the young man debates himself on his family’s moral values(easier to dismiss than to follow) versus his own religious impulses,good habits versus social relationships, the pain of living withouthis biological parents versus the happiness of discovering life,between sin and salvation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The awakening of consciousness
Las Buenas Conciencias first appeared in 1959, after the resounding success of La Región Más Transparente (1958). For those who were longing to read another Fuentes' frenzied exercise of style, the new book turned out to be quite disappointing. The author tried to justify this "failure" by classifying his work as a cathartic novel, a very simplistic overview for such a complex narrative, where the rich intertextual strata interfere with the apparent linearity of fictional discourse.

From Benito Pérez Galdós' main works (Fornunata y Jancinta; Nazarín) Fuentes extracted some human profiles and existential experiences, besides, of course, the critical insight that lingers in spanish realism inheritance.Just as Pérez Galdós, Fuentes focuses his attention on the petit bourgeois evolution, but his Guanajuato is far from the tumultuous and transitionary life of that Madrid painted by the spanish writer in his books. We must say, however, that Fuentes succeeded in adapting Pérez Galdós' conceptions of an individual and a collective unconscious, through which fiction displays the struggle of two enduring forces: the dynamic of personal fantasy and the stagnation of social values that preshape reality.

Other intertextual instances contribute to the formation of a new Jaime Ceballos. Rosseau's Confessions, the Mémorial de Sainte Hélene, by Las Cases, some readings that reveal the immanent duality of literature: a powerful tool for denouncement but also a dangerous vehicle of alienation. Jaime "feels" before "thinking", learns how to cultivate high but imaginary sentiments. So did one of his favorite heroes: Julien Sorel, from Le Rouge et le Noir. In despite of the due structural dissimilarities, the reader can easily recognize the many analogies which relate one book to the other. Beyond the mere episodic resemblances, the link that connects these two novels is a disturbing analysis of historical process, by use of moral and psychologic investigation, in order to emphasize - as René Girard points out (Mensonge Romantique et Vérité Romanesque) - the fight of "passion" against "vanity", of "exception" against "norm".

Finally, the presence of Goya in this precious, intricate fictional tapestry. The allusion to the Ydioma Universal (Universal Language), frontispiece for the second version of Sueños (1797), summons in Las Buenas Conciencias the same acute criticism that prevails in Goya's works, to whom painting has always been as eloquent as literature.

But, since Jaime Ceballos' desperate fight for transformation is set up into a rite of abstract aims, Las Buenas Conciencias must end as it begins: as an anguishing cycle, where only Literature and Art can provide the fictional and real human beings with an extra and truer life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Stylistic Mexican novel
Translated in 1972 for the English language this Fuentes novel finds the author creating a world of fantasy and metaphors that shift realitiies between the mythological past and contemporary myth. The story is about a son/man and his relationship with his mother Claudia who is a film acctress and is written in the first person from the sons perspective. The story takes place in Mexico .The son is a privileged sort and bitof a dandy while the mother has little time for anything but her image. Herein lies the premise of the story.The pursuit of a relationship with his mother only leads to bizarre scenarios as the son enshrines his mother in his Art Noveau Grotto while she in turn is enshrined in celluloid. The paradox of distant love is given the time-shift treatment by Fuentes as the son metaphorically is transformed into a dog and Claudia a goddess. As usual, the beauty of the book is the understanding and use Fuentes has of literature and mythology as the mythological past intersects with cosmopolitan reality to create a world of lyricism that is touched by the grace of Fuente's brilliance. This is a relatively short novel and not as difficult as some of his other books. Another in a long line of excellent books by one of the best writers of the twentieth century. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

It was the Sixties
Carlos Fuentes always entertains his readers, sometimes he is more entertaining than others, unfotunatelythis novel falls into the other category as it is not one of his best works butgood nonetheless. However early Fuentes(written in 1967) reveals glimpses of the brilliance that is his mastery of thewritten language and knowledge of history and philosophy. Ever the observer of his own novels, often in the form of the unknown narrator, Carlos Fuentes looks upon his written creation from afar like a God overseeing his children. Fuentes invokes his trademark rants about Mexico's modern condition juxtaposed with comparisons to the tragic brilliance of it's past and how this past(the conquered nation) has created a future shrouded in skeptcism of it's rulers and a unknown place in the modern world. The novel is like a road movie where the action and dialogues are between people thrown together by fate , each characterwith different baggagethat they want to leave behind in their quest for a new future.Fuentes uses the characters in the novel to display his knowledge ofEuropean and Mexican history, sharing his viewpoints in the guise of the characters, sometimes advocating a point only tomake the reader think outside of the box. Four people travel in Mexico in a VW for some misadventures.Didn't everyone travel in a VW in the sixties? Franz, the German, allows Fuentes to reveal his thoughts on the holocaust and nazi Germany with flashbacks of Mendelssohn, German expatriates luring in their new found Argentina hideaways with mugs of beer and sausages with mustardand sauerkraut. His girlfriendIsabel or Lizzie as she is often called when not referred to as "pussycat" is the liberated woman who is always looking for something new. The other woman is Elizabeth or Beth who is madly in love with the MexicanJavier who is to wrapped up in his own unsuccessful life to be bothered with her. Javier is older now and reflecting on his ill fated accomplishments. This cast of bohemian vagabonds are as diverse and unlikely a pairing to be on the road together that one wonders how can they stand each others company. That is the beauty of the writting, it is the perfect avenue for an array of thoughts and musings. They are all on theroad to find their nirvana like many young people did in the sixties so in that regard it is a nice portrait oflife on the road to discovery in the sixties. Carlos Fuentes appears late in the novel as Freddy Lambert, the genius who moves his characters likepuppets on a string through the storied history amidst colorful characters like the Dragoness, Morganna , the White Rabbit and others throughthe dark alleys and streets of Mexico for some good laughs and thought provoking literature. Recommended for a portrait of Carlos Fuentes early on in his brilliant career.

Flawed but interesting delve into Mexico's past
This is a strange, rambling, but entertaining pastiche which is characteristic Fuentes.Even his best works are uneven, and this novel is decidedly so; but Freddy Lambert's narrative drama is sometimes splendid. The plot concerns a group of friends who trade various ideas and historieswith one another (as well as sex) on a long journey into a metaphoricalpast.On the way, there are long asides regarding the conquest of Mexico,fascism, and literature.All goes well until the conclusion: Fuentesinverts the novel by repeating its major incidents with a set of different(and symbolic) characters, in a sequence which is neither insightful norinteresting.In a way, the novel is a very good summation of its author:the man who said "I am abundant," in reference to his virilityhas always had more ideas that he can edit. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The Old Gringo-Envy
The talented author seems to be a latino James Joyce wanabee. OK, but so much time on men's genitals? Excellent images of culture and the times are wasted on sexual rehash, etc. ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description
Baltasar Bustos sets out across Argentina, Venezuela, Chile, Peru, and Mexico on a public and personal campaign of redemption in a novel set during Spanish America's struggle for independence. By the author of Christopher Unborn. Reprint. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Beauty beyond history
I'm writing from the perspective of one who has very little background in Latin American history, and I did appreciate the literary device of sending the novel's protagonist from region to region.From reading this, I had a sense of the vastness of space and variety of experience possible in Latin America; also, I got the point that the revolutionary fervor was sweeping.

Perhaps the tool was contrived, but it worked for me mostly because I loved spending time with Balta Bustos, exploring the depths of human contradiction with him, sorrowing with him, maturing with him.Rarely have I read such beautiful writing, seemingly slow in pace (which normally would send me on to some other book) but in reality very captivating.I was absorbed here, and was rarely tempted to put the book down out of restlessness.Yes, history was obviously an aim here, but for me, the journey was human and full of heart.

History and philosophy in19th Century Americas
Carlos Fuentes creates a historical novel based loosely on events in Latin America in the early 1800's that is both fun and exciting. The novel actually focuses more on his three main charaacters and their relationships and roles in various revolutuionary causes taking place in Latin America; in essence the breaking away from Spain. The main protagonist is Baltazar Bustos, a character who is the son ofwealthy Argentine racnher and a firm believer in the ideas of Rousseau. We see an interesting tranformation of Bustos and all of the characters. Bustos has two friends that play significant roles in the book. Xavier Dorrego and Manuel Varela, who is telling the story, are the vehicles for this novel. Dorrego is from a priveleged family and buys books for his group of intellectuals. He aspires to be a lawyer. All three of the friends are subversivesas each takes a role in reproducing the cherished but dangerous books received from Europe with new ideas. This is only the beginning of their adventures as the story is further propelled by Bustos kidnapping of the Marquise de Cabra's infant child(he swaps infants, replaces one with a mulatos child)but the plan goes awry as a fire destroys a room in which the baby was held. Bustos is tormented by this act and tries to repent by finding the elusive woman. The three friends travel to Chile , Venezuela, Peru and ultimately Mexico. Mr. Fuentes integrates the philosophies of the previously mentioned philosophers throughout his book via the characters. The revolutionary ideals of the time period that ultimately won independence for the nations of Latin America helps drive the novel. Thus Mr. Fuentes weaves a tale cleverly that is both historical and philosophical. I enjoyed this book but not as much as some of his other efforts. I would recommend this book to someone who likes history, specifically the quest for independence from Spain in the new world in the nineteenth century.

Overly Ambitious
In this somewhat allegorical novel of early 19th century Latin American history, Fuentes attempts to produce a hybrid historical and philosophical novel.The protagonist is a young Argentine revolutionary and romanticwhose travels take him throughout Latin America during the revolts fromSpain.The allegory is the protagonist's pursuit of a woman whom heglimpsed only briefly and whom he has wronged.The result is not reallysuccessful, partly because characters and narrative seem to switch from onemode to another without good integration of the philosophical andhistorical elements Fuentes is attempting to combine.Oddly, the booksuffers from being too short.It would have been much better toincorporate the philosophical elements into a longer and more naturalistichistorical novel, a la Tolstoy's War and Peace.This book also containssome magical realist elements, which seem engrafted into the novel andconsequently incongruous.Interesting but not very rewarding reading.

the campaing is one of the most enjoyable books
Bustos being a intrepid person along with Dorrego and Varela, tried to understand and at the same time change the political system that was being experienced back in that time when the spaniards ruled the latin americancountry Agentina. they fought with an intellectuall manner instead of thebrutal, trying to get more knowledge about the political issues even thoughit was prohibited. They were succesful. ... Read more

Product Description
Gustavo Cisneros is one of the most successful business leaders in the history of Latin America. He took the major company built by his father, Diego Cisneros, and transformed it into a diversified,international powerhouse. Indeed, he was perhaps the first entrepreneur to see the potential of the U.S. Hispanic market, and he cofounded Univision, which would become the leading Spanish-language media company in the United States. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

The truth about gustavo cisneros
This person is allied with the dictador chavez. He is a traidor of Venezuela.He ows the TV channel called Venevision and when the students are been attacked, hitted, fired , arrested by the police , Venevision does not inform that. For Venevision only exists the government point of view.This guy has sold his soul to chavez.

Excellent !!!
This is a must for any Managing Director that wants to take his business to a totally different level - locally or internationally !!!

Every chapter brings light to whole new scenarios to any business !!!

The book has a lot of tips how to approach opportunities and how to exit from them ( if necessary !!!)

Although along the lines you can taste the business experience and how Mr Cisneros and his team has continuesly grown their empire, the english translator might has lost some key elements that are not evident to a outsider of Venezuela. Some minor mistakes were found but I am sure future reviews should take care of them.

Probably due to time and other factors, details of certain marketing strategies and negotiations were missing so the reader could not taste fully that particular flavour, however, I already have enough ammunition and few new ideas.

This book should also be a must in any MBA program.

business, art, latin america and much success
This book offers a business profile of Gustavo Cisneros, and a detailed description of his ongoing career as an entrepreneur. It develops along three main lines: First, the book tells the story of the growth of Cisneros' web of business concerns on a global scale, and the transformation of what originally was a Venezuelan-based organization into a much bigger corporate structure. In second place the book discusses what may be called Cisneros' business philosophy, his singular way of doing business, the principal elements of his corporate vision, and his willingness to take calculated risks. Finally the author, Chilean journalist Bablo Bachelet, explores Cisneros' wide-ranging educational and cultural activities, and his notion of corporate social responsibility.

The book begins with a summary account of the origins of Cisneros'business empire and of his father's initial steps in Venezuela, then analyzes the complex and fascinating process that led to the Cisneros organization's international expansion. It discusses some of the key business deals achieved by Cisneros over a period of three decades, highlighting the cases of Spalding & Evenflo, DirectTV, the alliance with Coke, AOL Latin America, and Univision.

Of no less interest are the sections describing Cisneros' activities as an art collector and as a member of the boards of Universities, Museums, and other institutions in the United States, his philantropic concerns, the significant educational programs promoted by the Cisneros Foundation in Latin America, and his --and his wife's-- involvement in projects designed to preserve the cultural legacy of native communities in South America. Bachelet's work ends with a long epilogue, updating Cisneros' business trajectory and especulating about the future direction of his efforts.I found the book well-written and attention-catching, and I feel it will be of great interest to those who think lessons can be learned from what others have done.

Global entrepreneur
Before reading this book I had a rather vague idea of who Gustavo Cisneros was. I knew for instance that he was a prosperous Venezuelan enprepreneur who had also made good in the United States, and I had a faint recollection of the impact that his switch from Pepsi to Coke produced on the business community and beyond a few years ago. What I didn't know, and have now learnt, is that Cisneros is a truly innovative figure, who has developed a distinct and highly efficient style of doing businesses, and been involved in a number of impressive financial deals.

For those who are looking for details about Cisneros' private life, or the kind of gossipy chat that is common in many so-called "biographies" of modern capitalism's tycoons, this is clearly not their book. However, if any of you think it feasible to can extract lessons from the accomplishments and the mistakes of others, particularly in the business field, Pablo Bachelet's book will prove a mine of lessons to be learned.

The author, a Chilean journalist especializing on economic issues -and now working for the Reuters news agency in Washington, D.C.- has done his research, and written a lively and at times fascinating book, that takes us from Cisneros' first steps as an avid learner in his father's footsteps, through the key stages of his business career, culminating with an overview of his most recent initiatives. Bachelet goes deep into some of the pivotal moves in Cisneros' career, including his decision to internationalise his businesses, his entry into the U.S. market, the purshase of Spalding & Evenflo, his incursions in Europe, and his visionary ventures in Univision, DirecTV, AOL Latin America -among several others.

The book is copiously illustrated with photographs that show Cisneros in an eclectic company, with friends ranging from former U.S, Presidents Reagan, Carter, Bush and Clinton, to current President George W. Bush, and including Nelson Mandela, the Dalai Lama, David Rockefeller, Henry Kissinger and Margaret Thatcher.

Bachelet insists that there is no single or secret formula that explains Cisneros' achievements, but he points out that a wide and deep pool of contacts extended all over the world, as well as a dedicated concern to cultivate those friendships, go a long way toward explaining Cisneros' remarkable performance as a global entrepreneur.

In sum, I would recommend this book to anybody interested in the study of the attitudes and skills that promote -but can never guarantee- success in business.

Success Story
Anyone interested in Latin America or global business and politics will find Pablo Bachelet's biography of Venezuelan billionaire Gustavo Cisneros fascinating reading. Bachelet, a Chilean journalist, provides an insider's view of Cisneros's remarkable career. The roots of that career were firmly planted in the initial successes of Gustavo's father Diego Cisneros, whose astute ability to anticipate market demands in Venezuela was inherited by his son and then developed on an international scale. Gustavo Cisneros is perhaps best known as the co-founder of the Spanish-language media company Univision, though his choices have included an ever-shifting kaleidoscope of business interests.

Despite the high stakes involved in what he does, there is a sense of highly intelligent playfulness about Cisneros's approach - a man who uses his heart and his (very good) instincts as much as his head in business. It's a creative, even visionary approach that has allowed him the flexibility to make some unexpected and highly profitable moves at the right moments and with the right partners. He's also a man with many good friends in high places and there are numerous photos of Cisneros with world-renowned celebrities, dignitaries and high rollers, as well as with his family. His wife Patricia Cisneros is a well-known and highly respected collector of Latin American art; the glimpses we get of her life in Gustavo Cisneros: Pioneer are intriguing. Together with Gustavo's brother Ricardo, Patricia and Gustavo founded the Fundacion Cisneros, which carries out their many philanthropic activities in education, culture, environment and health.

Although the very uniqueness of Gustavo Cisneros's life and approach to business make it impossible to replicate his success, there are so many valuable lessons here (diversification and vertical integration of businesses being paramount) that it should be required reading in MBA programs. But even for the rest of us it's an absorbing story with more surprises than a telenovela.
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Customer Reviews (1)

A Fan of Fuentes
For context I have to say that "Cuerpos y Ofrendas" is a book that has special meaning to me.I bought it while traveling throughout South America.I picked it up at a book fair in Lima and it stuck with me throughout stays in Ecuador, Cuba, and Costa Rica.As a native English speaker I found that reading short stories in Spanish is much easier on my brain than tackling "Cien anos de Soledad."I could finish each one in a day or two, then go back and read it again, picking up what I missed the first time. My Spanish is fluent, but just barely, such that I miss enough of the story to make it slightly surreal and magical.

Although my introduction to Fuentes started more as a lesson in Spanish, I soon was reading simply for pleasure and stopped making notations altogether.The stories amazed me.The majority hint at the mystical and the inevitable.Not only is each story compelling alone, but together they provide some small snapshots into the modern life and the underpinning mythology of Mexico.

"Una Alma Pura" perhaps was my favorite.This is the story of a man's flight from Mexico to Geneva in search of a different life.Told in the 2nd and 3rd person, reading this story is much like receiving a moving letter from a dear old friend.We learn of his situation through letters written to and from his childhood girlfriend.Although simple in design it is very moving.This character's flight struck me as frighteningly similar to my current travels and escape from the US.As in the story, I feared that perhaps those things from which I was meaning to escape were the very things about myself I couldn't change.

Other stories are more playful, some horrific, and some nostalgic.Unlike some collections of short stories, Fuentes' tales show a variety of skill.I got a lot out of this book.It proved a worthy travel companion and introduced me to an author I plan to read much more of! ... Read more

Product Description
Two stories, two couples, two eras, and two passions. One is embodied by Gabriel Atlán-Ferrera, Orchestra Director, and Inez Prada, eminent opera singer. The other alludes to the first encounter between a man and a woman in the history of mankind. These passions break all barriers, to unfold as a story that dates back and continues on in an endless spiral towards the future. A love story that crosses geographical and historical boundaries to evoke the primitive stages of humanity that are in search of original passion, those that mix art and the transgressions of the soul.

Description in Spanish: Dos historias, dos parejas, dos tiempos y dos pasiones. Una de éstas se encarna en Gabriel Atlan-Ferrara, director de orquesta, y en Inez Prada, una excelsa cantante de ópera. La obra remite al primer encuentro de la humanidad entre un hombre y una mujer; esas pasiones rompen con todos los límites para consagrarse en una historia que comenzó en la prehistoria y que continúa en un espiral infinita hacia el futuro. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Not the best... no lo mejor de Fuentes
I have to start by saying that Fuentes is one of my favourite authors, and I usually enjoy his books, because they immerse me in a parallel world, where nothing is what it seems and yet I recognise everything.
Having said that, I also have to say that Instinto de Inez is not one of his greatest works. It is confusing, the characters are very shallow and unbelievable, and the stories seem to have no beginning and no end... which is sometimes good, but it doesn't work in this case.

I also have to say that Fuentes still writes beautifully, he is a virtous writer and his choice of words is exceptional, but all in all, I wouldn't reccommend this book unless you are a true fan; but if you are just getting to know him, please read Aura,magical realismat its best!(...)

Crystal seal
This is a book about remembering.The protagonist is always looking back to the moments in life that changed his perspective.Here is stated the eternal conflict of the innocence of women, which bring us to the anthropological view of the first couple in history.Is it a revenge what women do doing with men?Why are they so difficult to understand?A crystal seal is the connector and symbol of two distant worlds and a third one, the memory of the protagonist.Undoubtlywe find a pretty interesting but difficult novel as the new proposal that Carlos Fuentes give us in Instinto de Inez. ... Read more