Good Reads / Community Library Notes
Cantoras
Carolina De Robertis
Review by Priscilla Comen
Cantoras
Carolina De Robertis
Review by Priscilla Comen
Cantoras, by Carolina De Robertis is the story of five women: Romina, Flaca, Anita, Paz, and Malena. They are all lesbians and in the rebel government of Uruguay, could be kidnapped, raped, and tortured. But they find an idyllic spot on an isolated beach called Polonio, where they can be themselves. They buy fish from a fisherman, bury their waste in a hole in the sand, and swim in the ocean freely.
They tell how they met one another, and Anita tells how she met her husband. Author De Robertis makes us feel their closeness. Paz goes to the little store on the beach to get provisions. The old man, El Lobo, is kind and friendly. He tells her stories of the shipwreck that had occurred there. When she returns to the group, Malena tells her story of her life. She had been a novice in a convent but left. El Lobo tells Paz about a hut that is for sale. The women go to look at it. No one wants to leave this magic place. Romina is excited about it. She detests the dictatorship. The women are all different. Paz kisses Malena; La Venus (Anita) goes home to her husband. He is a disappointed musician who hates his paperwork job. She can’t stand being with him.
Romina recalls her arrest and three time rape. Paz recalls her mama’s kitchen, the burning of her mama’s favorite books. Bored, she goes to work with Flaca at her butcher shop. Soon, the women meet at Flaca’s bedroom to talk about “the hut.” They decide to pool all their money, the small amounts, and hope the house waits for them.
After they move to their new home, they plan a party to celebrate. They invite all the inhabitants to Benito’s bar for the party. Except for the lighthouse keeper. He’s being replaced by a troop of soldiers. Months later, the rumor is that La Venus (Anita) has a crush on a famous singer. Flaca is jealous. Romina and Paz and Malina discuss the situation on their walk to the ocean. When they are preparing dinner, soldiers open the door (no lock). The soldiers grab Paz and take her away. When Flaca tries to stop them, a soldier punches her in the face. Romina is taken to another hut and interviewed. Afterward she is walked back to her home hut. Paz is taken to the city police station and later, released to her mother. She can’t stand being with her mother who doesn’t understand her. After her 18th birthday she goes back to Polonia. Romina and Malena are always together, like glue. La Venus is with Ariela, the singer. Paz now ships seal skins to the city and manages all the business details herself. Paz fixes up the hut as she often goes there, and has the money from her business.
Elections are coming up. Will democracy come to Uruguay? Will the women make their home at Polonia? Will the five original Cantoras remain together? Find this amazing story on the new fiction shelf of your Mendocino Community Library.
They tell how they met one another, and Anita tells how she met her husband. Author De Robertis makes us feel their closeness. Paz goes to the little store on the beach to get provisions. The old man, El Lobo, is kind and friendly. He tells her stories of the shipwreck that had occurred there. When she returns to the group, Malena tells her story of her life. She had been a novice in a convent but left. El Lobo tells Paz about a hut that is for sale. The women go to look at it. No one wants to leave this magic place. Romina is excited about it. She detests the dictatorship. The women are all different. Paz kisses Malena; La Venus (Anita) goes home to her husband. He is a disappointed musician who hates his paperwork job. She can’t stand being with him.
Romina recalls her arrest and three time rape. Paz recalls her mama’s kitchen, the burning of her mama’s favorite books. Bored, she goes to work with Flaca at her butcher shop. Soon, the women meet at Flaca’s bedroom to talk about “the hut.” They decide to pool all their money, the small amounts, and hope the house waits for them.
After they move to their new home, they plan a party to celebrate. They invite all the inhabitants to Benito’s bar for the party. Except for the lighthouse keeper. He’s being replaced by a troop of soldiers. Months later, the rumor is that La Venus (Anita) has a crush on a famous singer. Flaca is jealous. Romina and Paz and Malina discuss the situation on their walk to the ocean. When they are preparing dinner, soldiers open the door (no lock). The soldiers grab Paz and take her away. When Flaca tries to stop them, a soldier punches her in the face. Romina is taken to another hut and interviewed. Afterward she is walked back to her home hut. Paz is taken to the city police station and later, released to her mother. She can’t stand being with her mother who doesn’t understand her. After her 18th birthday she goes back to Polonia. Romina and Malena are always together, like glue. La Venus is with Ariela, the singer. Paz now ships seal skins to the city and manages all the business details herself. Paz fixes up the hut as she often goes there, and has the money from her business.
Elections are coming up. Will democracy come to Uruguay? Will the women make their home at Polonia? Will the five original Cantoras remain together? Find this amazing story on the new fiction shelf of your Mendocino Community Library.