The Death of Artemio Cruz in Never too Late to Read Classics

Oct 19, 2010 Laura rated it really liked it

Shelves: viciados-em-livros, latin-american-literature, e-books, magic-realism, read-2017, mtbr-challenge-2017, fiction-20th-century, mexico, 1001-books-you-must-read-before-you

A true masterpiece written by Carlos Fuentes who describes the reminiscences of the death of the main character, a Mexican landlord.

As the background, a severe critic to the political Mexican system existing at that time.

4* Aura
4,5* The Death of Artemio Cruz
TR Terra Nostra

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Sep 08, 2019 Kelly_Hunsaker_reads ... rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-in-2019, read-the-world, read-the-world-2018-2020, war, 1001-books, mexican

The Death of Artemio Cruz, by Carlos Fuentes was published in 1962 and is considered a classic and a milestone in Mexican and Latin American literature. It is a book about the Mexican Revolution, about which I know nothing. And I am quite convinced that this is a book I will need to reread some day if I want to take the story in well. It has so much to learn and digest and I think I probably missed a great deal.

The story is told by our main character, Artemio Cruz, who lies on his deathbed remem ...more

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May 24, 2024 Natalie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: classics

I was surprised by how poetic and insightful this book is. From the description, I had no idea. This lyrical book is the story of Artemio, remembering his life, as he lies painfully on his death bed. A few passages are quite graphic, so be warned. But this is the story of a man with a wealth of experiences and a passion for life.
One difficult element is the book moves back and forth through time, sometimes with little warning. So I had to read carefully to figure out what he is describing. Artem I was surprised by how poetic and insightful this book is. From the description, I had no idea. This lyrical book is the story of Artemio, remembering his life, as he lies painfully on his death bed. A few passages are quite graphic, so be warned. But this is the story of a man with a wealth of experiences and a passion for life.
One difficult element is the book moves back and forth through time, sometimes with little warning. So I had to read carefully to figure out what he is describing. Artemio is a wealthy Mexican business man with a cold, opportunistic wife, Catalina, and distracted daughter, Teresa. The two women sit at his bedside, but show little compassion. He also has doctors come in and out to examine him and a priest who comes to record what he says.
There is no definite order to his recollections of his life, but he remembers his happiest moments, with his first wife Regina, then proceeds towards the present. However, in the end, he goes back in time to recall his boyhood. There is also a section about his ancestors. Artemio recalls:
-his deep passion for Regina
-his time fighting in the war (this is covered in several passages)
-meeting and negotiating with Catalina's father to marry her
-loans made to the poor to increase wealth
-women he knew, including young Lilia and Laura
-his business dealings that brought him his wealth
-A New Year's celebration of fine foods and drink for his wealthy guests
-a group of Spaniards making a journey through the mountains to freedom
-his boyhood being raised by Lunero and making candles for a living
There are so many passages of reflection and poetic language:
You will rest with your eyes closed, but you will not stop seeing, you will not stop desiring: you will remember, because that way you will make the desired thing yours: back, back, in nostalgia, you will make yours whatever you desire: not forward, back.
Memory is satisfied desire (57).
and
You will discover that virtue may well be desirable but only pride is necessary (86)
Artemio is a very flawed man. He takes advantage of opportunities that come to him. He thinks first about himself. And he does what he thinks he must to survive. But his viewpoint on life, while not religious or virtuous, comes from his experiences and feelings. His pithy statements are rather touching than anything else.
The prose makes this a wonderful read. It requires close attention but is a pleasure to read! ...more

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