- Paperback: 288 pages
- Publisher: Jonathan Cape Ltd (8 Jan 1998)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 022405032X
- ISBN-13: 978-0224050326
- Product Dimensions: 21.4 x 13.4 x 2.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,244,470 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Amazon.co.uk Review
When young Emilia Sauri is born in turn-of-the-century Puebla, Mexico, her father expects great things for this child who will "live her entire life in a new century." Emilia grows up to be an independent woman, a doctor in a time and place when female physicians were few and far between, but history has a habit of sidetracking even the most regulated lives; the outbreak of the Mexican Revolution in 1911 throws the nation into chaos and Emilia's future into uncertainty. Angeles Mastretta's second novel, Lovesick follows the fortunes of Emilia and of Mexico as both are torn by the ravages of war. For Mexico, a dictator's triumphant overthrow slips rapidly into endless bloody revolution; for Emilia, her peaceful life as a healer is disrupted by her conflicting feelings for her lover, a fellow doctor, and Daniel Cuenca, a childhood friend-turned-revolutionary.
In real life, love and war seldom end neatly. So it is with Lovesick, a novel that refuses to give either its characters or readers easy solutions to complex problems. Emilia's choice between the meaningful existence she shares with her lover and the exhilaration she experiences with Daniel is at the heart of this book, yet Angeles Mastretta's novel doesn't wear that heart on its sleeve; like life, Lovesick leaves some questions unanswered. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
The childhood romance between Daniel and Emilia develops with an intensity matched by the parallel stormy revolution in Mexico; however, while the couple's passion remains constant, Daniel displays a fickle allegiance to his political heroes which Emilia soon recognizes as her one, overwhelming rival for Daniel's attention. Threads of close family and friendships weave into the richly described Mexican culture to provide a supportive environment for Emilia during her lover's prolonged absences until she settles into a rewarding compromise as she pursues a career as a doctor. As the story continues, Emilia's patience and tolerance become increasingly frustrating but, even so, the author contrives to reach a fulfilling conclusion. Barely a word is wasted in this love story, which brings alive a Mexico ravaged by war and reveals extremes of poverty and gentility through the turn of the 20th century. (Kirkus UK)
A south-of-the-border Gone With the Wind by one of Mexico's bestselling authors (Mexican Bolero, 1990) describes a spirited girl's love affairs played out against the backdrop of the 1911 revolution - with all the quirky trappings of magic realism and a few postmodern asides as well. Borrowing freely from the mannerisms of Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Laura Esquivel, Mastretta casts a beguiling spell. In a series of loopy thumbnail biographies and quickly sketched scenes, he describes the Cuenca and Sauri families and the progressive, artistic, and Europeanized society of Puebla that they belong to. When young Emilia Sauri pushes snotty Daniel Cuenca into a pond and then jumps in after, we know that one day they'll be tearing at each other's clothes in overheated desire - which they do, with great regularity, as the revolution looms, explodes into war, succeeds, then tragically fails to change anything. But while Daniel grows up to be a revolutionary, Emilia apprentices in medicine with his father, which leaves them poles apart - a pattern echoed in the relationship between Emilia's mother, Josefa, whose world revolves around love, and her sister, Milagros, for whom justice is the soul's rallying cry. Jealous of Daniel's other mistress - politics - Emilia nearly marries the wonderful Dr. Antonio Zavalza, then leaps to join Daniel as he makes plans and plots with various generals, including Zapata and Villa, whose ragtag armies she ministers to. In the end, she refuses to choose at all, living with the doctor, entertaining amorous visits from Daniel, and having many children - by whom? It all feels very much as if arranged by an author determined to have life conform to desire. Vivid, with a knack for memorable aphorism and magical detail, yet curiously unmoving at its "lovesick" heart, this is one epic that, with good casting, may play better on the screen than on the page. (Kirkus Reviews)
A south-of-the-border Gone With the Wind by one of Mexico's bestselling authors (Mexican Bolero, 1990) describes a spirited girl's love affairs played out against the backdrop of the 1911 revolution - with all the quirky trappings of magic realism and a few postmodern asides as well. Borrowing freely from the mannerisms of Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Laura Esquivel, Mastretta casts a beguiling spell. In a series of loopy thumbnail biographies and quickly sketched scenes, he describes the Cuenca and Sauri families and the progressive, artistic, and Europeanized society of Puebla that they belong to. When young Emilia Sauri pushes snotty Daniel Cuenca into a pond and then jumps in after, we know that one day they'll be tearing at each other's clothes in overheated desire - which they do, with great regularity, as the revolution looms, explodes into war, succeeds, then tragically fails to change anything. But while Daniel grows up to be a revolutionary, Emilia apprentices in medicine with his father, which leaves them poles apart - a pattern echoed in the relationship between Emilia's mother, Josefa, whose world revolves around love, and her sister, Milagros, for whom justice is the soul's rallying cry. Jealous of Daniel's other mistress - politics - Emilia nearly marries the wonderful Dr. Antonio Zavalza, then leaps to join Daniel as he makes plans and plots with various generals, including Zapata and Villa, whose ragtag armies she ministers to. In the end, she refuses to choose at all, living with the doctor, entertaining amorous visits from Daniel, and having many children - by whom? It all feels very much as if arranged by an author determined to have life conform to desire. Vivid, with a knack for memorable aphorism and magical detail, yet curiously unmoving at its "lovesick" heart, this is one epic that, with good casting, may play better on the screen than on the page. (Kirkus Reviews)
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lovesick,
By OC (Sandy) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Lovesick (Paperback)
Emilia is torn between her two loves, Daniel, and headstrong revolutionary from her youth, and the steady Dr Zavalza who can help become the doctor she desires to be. This book was a massive hit in Latin America, and I cannot see why it should not be here too.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
4.2 out of 5 stars (5 customer reviews) 3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Love, Politics, Medicine & Mexican Historical Novel in 1,
By Lee Armstrong - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Lovesick (Hardcover)
This novel is a fascinating mix, a great story populated with fascinating characters. At the heart of the story is the main character, Emilia. She is a combination of science, intuition and emotion that more than holds our attention and whose story we are sorry to see end. Her love life is a mix between torrid chemical passion with childhood sweetheart Daniel Cuenca and a more calm romance with medical colleague Antonio Zavalza. I enjoyed being transported into the rhelm of instability in Mexican politics of the late 19th and early 20th century. Daniel's passion for the political was a wonderful wanderlust. Emilia's parents were also great characters: Diego the pharmacist and Josefa, a mix of practicality and emotion. Several medical issues were also fascinating. One is the role of women in medicine and the difficulties of early female physicians to get education and be accepted. Another was the development of medical theory with Emilia's research encompassing the herbal, mystical, massage, etc. At one point the male doctors are amazed as her directness in asking a patient, "Where does it hurt?" Another tidbit was excluding women medical students from lessons on male reproductive organs; this highlighted a sense of history in a novel that spans years from 1874 to 1963. In Margaret Peden's English translation, there is a good sense of rhythm and pacing. This is an excellent novel that rivits our attention with the love story and many strong characters, and has enough historical, political and medical information to stimulate the intellect at the same time. Seek it out!
4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A must read!,
By A Customer - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Lovesick (Hardcover)
At the beginning of the twentieth century, Mexico is torn apart by a civil war that war effects all aspects of society, including the wealthy. Emilia Sauri is the daughter of a Mayan herbalist and a Spanish mother. She loves her childhood friend, Daniel Cuenca. As Emilia studies to become a physician and turns into a political rebel, Daniel runs off to fight, joining whomever he thinks makes the best leader of the month. He constantly returns home when his current favorite leader fails to live up to his expectations. At home, Daniel makes passionate love with Emilia, only to quickly desert her, leaving her lonely and angry. However, she loathes herself more for wanting and loving him even deeper after each departure.
...... While Daniel is away on one of his long term excursions, Emilia meets Antonio Zavalza, a physician who abhors violence. When Antonio opens up a local hospital, she joins his efforts to help the poor. Working side by side, the two doctors fall in love with each other. However, Emilia must choose between a man of peace offering to share a serene and professional future together or a man of war offering spurts of feverish love.
...... LOVESICK is a great work written in the Mexican form of historical fiction that will thrill readers who enjoy a novel written from a different perspective and writing style. Angeles Mastretta writes like an angel as she brings a unique, refreshing style to the genre. This reviewer strongly recommends this book and another tale by Ms. Mastretta, TEAR THIS HEART OUT, when it is translated into English.
.......Harriet Klausner
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
captivating!,
By cynthia herber - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Lovesick (Thorndike Press Large Print Basic Series) (Hardcover)
Reading Angeles Mastreta is like listening to a grandmother tell the story of her life. Anyone who has visited Mexico and knows the way Mexicans see the world, will clearly agree that this book, as well as any of her other works is a masterpiece. Everytime I read anything by her (and I always do it in Spanish) I marvel at the exquisitness of her carefully chosen language and at the perfect way she tells the story of life in Mexico. This book comes to remind us of what it is to transorm everyday life into literary masterpieces.
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