Reviews

El Mal de la Taiga / The Taiga Syndrome by Cristina Rivera Garza

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thewizardem's review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

readingcities's review against another edition

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5.0

Wow. My first book read in 2019, and what a way to kick off the year of reading.

mrsenginerd's review against another edition

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4.0

A good friend recommended this book praising it for all its literary virtues, yet I had some trouble contextually because I lacked the training to understand its relevance and brilliance. After some research and analysis, I realized that what makes the narrative compelling is the intrigue of the arguments made by the author, the sometimes disjointed time and space continuum of the story. Is The Taiga Syndrome real? How does it affect the characters? Was I finding the truth hidden between the lines? The idea that the novel made me think and question its reliability is what made the reading experience memorable to me. I kept searching the pages for the details I may be missing, and the internet for the story behind the story.

If you want to maximize your understanding of the tales and the satisfaction with the novel, read up on the author or purchase the original Spanish edition. In essence, the sensory aspects and images of the aforementioned version are what make the text groundbreaking and so well respected in the community. Miss out on any of the elements and you will find the development of events flat, confusing and insufferable.