Divisorias De Jundiai - A Novel Review
Divisorias de Vidro is a fictional radio show that revolves around the idyllic Spanish hamlet of Jundia. The story begins with the usual stuff: an extended metaphor regarding two families, both of which are living in very different but similar environments. After the extended metaphor, however, takes a turn for the worse, and a murder mystery unfolds. This serial begins in a typical rural hamlet, where the main characters, headed by Father Miguel Pimiento, try desperately to hold together their diminishing community.
One of the central characters, a young woman called Anna Pimiento, appears from nowhere to claim her own inheritance. What follows is a series of events that will leave the readers spellbound: Anna's discovery of the illicit affair between her own brother, Paco, and his associate, Paco's wife; Paco's murder; and the horrifying discovery of a mass grave containing the bodies of several small children killed by child killers over three decades ago. The gruesome scenes in the midst of this tragic event are agonizing and upsetting to experience, but what really makes this novel an unforgettable work of fiction is the way it evolves around the central conflict. In one short scene after one of the brutal murders, Anna's brother, Paco, is visited by his own butcher's boy, Gerber, who is searching for information about a recent killing.
The boy tells his story of how the butcher killed the children, and how Paco, having witnessed the murder, has sought revenge on the family. The subsequent conversations between Paco and Gerber, Paco's reflection in a mirror, and Anna's discovery of Paco's hidden stash of weapons strengthen the case against the Pimiento family. But when Anna learns of a second massacre perpetrated by Paco and his men against another Spanish family on the same night as the first, the investigation becomes even more complicated and shocking. When a vanloads several vans with arms and ammunition bound for the Spanish Resistance, Anna and Paco must use every bit of courage they have to prevent the soldiers from killing innocent civilians.
I cannot say that Divisorias de Jundiai is a wonderful retelling of a Spanish tragedy. The book does follow a familiar story formula, especially considering how often romance stories are rehashed and updated. The storyline could be stretched and changed to include a few new characters and a greater depth of character; however, Divisorias de Jundiai maintains its basic plot very well. The violence is graphic and upsetting, but it serves the purpose of delivering the story. The most disturbing scene occurs when the vanloads the weapons at the beginning of the story.
This novel takes place primarily in Spain, but the events are clearly taking place in parts of Africa and the rest of Europe. It is also important to note that despite the overall setting and period, the main characters, such as Paco and Gerber, do not speak any English. That is, of course, provided that you enjoy the use of subtitles. The language itself can sometimes be hard to understand, but it is possible to read with the aid of subtitles. If you prefer to skip the storyline and go straight to the action, then this book is for you.
Although it has received critical acclaim, Divisorias de vidro em jundiai does face some criticism. One character, for instance, uses the N word repeatedly, even when it is not needed. The language is often compared to that of Arabic, though the story is in Spanish, and there is no basis for such a comparison. In addition, the novel's brief length may deter some readers from finishing it quickly enough to keep them interested in the ongoing story.
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