La Peregrina

Peregrino #2

by Cecilia Samartin

Set in the United States, Spain and Mexico. Jamil has moved from Mexico to Los Angeles where she works to earn enough money to get the surgery over a birthmark that covers almost half her body. Here she is adopted as barnebarbarnebarnet to señor Peregrino, unless she completely understands why. Peregrino has had a long stay in a mental hospital, but is now out and healthy. He carries a great sorrow for his lost love, Rosa, whom he met in his youth in Spain, the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. Without that she completely understands why, well Jamil mysterious connections between their own lives and destinies of Peregrino and Rosa. Rosa has been dead for over 40 years. According to Nurse B. She is the manager of the mental hospital where Peregrino has been hospitalized. Peregrino and Nurse B. has been married. Nurse B. adding a dunk's veil over this whole pink, but it does Jamil anxious to find out more.

Marked for life
parallel, we follow the story of Rosa, many, many years earlier. We meet her in the Spanish village Sombrevista in the La Mancha region. Here she grows up with her ​​parents and two older sisters Manuela and Nina. The father is unemployed and drinks. Her mother is a washerwoman and turn pink. Pink is blamed for everything. And it is also Rosa's "guilt" that they all live in Sombrevista. Rosa was born with a terrible, meandering and raised birthmark. It stretches from the edge of her neck, down across your back and knees. With a daughter in the family, it is impossible to get married off the other daughters. Rosa is obviously no hope for, even if she is otherwise exceptionally beautiful, but the others should at least be there. It's just that birth mark, which is also linked to the devil, can be something that runs in the family. And although neither Manuela or Nina fødelsmerke, no one is going to dare to marry them, for fear that future children will be able to get it. So they moved.

Genres: Fiction, Roman, Historical Fiction, Latino, Novels

523 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

I was born in Cuba at the height of the revolution. My family left when I was nine months old so I have no memories of my own, although I "borrowed" countless memories from my parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.
I grew up in a quiet Los Angeles suburb and secretly dreamed of becoming a writer, but after high school I decided to study psychology instead and became a marriage and family therapist. I'm glad I did because my experience as a therapist is what finally inspired me to face my fears, and embrace my dream of becoming a writer.
Most of my clients over the years have been immigrants like me so many of my stories reflect the themes of lost homeland, and the search for meaning/identity in a new world.
I think of myself more as a story teller than a writer. Perhaps because as a story teller it is easier to envision myself engaging in a two way conversation with my readers, much as I do with my clients. Nothing is more gratifying for me than to receive comments and messages from my readers. I learn so much, and it inspires me as nothing else to keep writing.

Reviews

[Moony (Captain Mischief) MeowPoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did really enjoy this book even though i had hoped it would end otherwise.
I loved those words that came ..
I was terrible glad that they found each other.
But this book can prove how terrible anyone can be, just because of jealousy.

[Selinapedersen · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, I just want to say thank you to Cecilia Samartin for the experience that this book gave me. The story of this book is so amazing, beautiful and touching, I actually have no better words to describe it. Therefore, I really don't want to say anything bad about this book, not at all, but in a way I found the ending (last 150-200 pages) a little bit rushed? I don't really know. I don't think it could've been written in another way though. Maybe I only felt like that because it happened so much at the end, I don't know. And, I also got a little bit disappointed/frusterated when I read the last ten pages, because I didn't fully understand how it all made sense at the end? I found it very confusing actually... But besides the last ten pages it really touched me in so many different ways and as I said, the experience of reading this beatiful book was so amazing. I cried more during the last 100 pages of the book, than I've cried over any book earlier. But besides crying the book has also made me laugh so many times. Haha, I found Carmen and her personality hilarious. I laughed more times of her comments than I can count. Cecilia Samartin is now one of my favorite authors!
(I would give the book five stars if it weren't for the last ten pages!)

[Monika · Rating 3 out of 5]

För nästan två år sedan läste jag första delen i den här serien och föll pladask, då var jag väldigt glad över att jag redan hade andra delen i hyllan. Det tog ändå ända till nu innan jag läste den. Lite grämer det mig att jag lät så mycket tid gå mellan böckerna. Läs mer på min blogg

[Ida Marie Heggem · Rating 5 out of 5]

A true Samartin novel, and a wonderful dive into the world of Señor Peregrino, Rosa and Jamilet. It was a beautiful and well-written story, but I am a little confused and frustrated about the ending, when the line between fantasy and reality is removed and the reader is left uncertain about which events that actually took place. That beeing said, it fulfilled all my wishes for a sequel to Señor Peregrino <3

[Loukas Tatidis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good unpredictable plot, at times quite exciting with some supernatural elements. But the characters where not that interesting, a few of them yes but kind of either black or white, no or little gray zones. The villain Mrs B was just evil with no real apparent reason. People where either good or bad. The most interesting charachter was tia Carmen although she was illustrated with some contempt. Entertaining but a bit shallow.

[Oda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Glad as I am that the character of Rosa gets some flesh, this story should have ended with the first book. This is really unoriginal and basic. Useless ending. And why are all the ladies throwing themselves at the spineless Anthonio and Eddie? Why are we told to find Carmen so disgusting? With these virginal Mary Sue heroines I'm starting to wonder if the author is mormon or something.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another amazing book by the amazing Cecilia Samartin! Ending left me a bit confused... and in tears.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another WONDERFUL book my Cecilia Samartin. Absolutely loved reading more about Rosa, Jamilet ans Senor Peregrino.

[Tuva Lund · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic!

[Anne Cathrine Holm-Nielsen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Captivating, yet also increasingly cliché and pulpy. "To be continued"...but this peregrina thinks not

[Sanna Rantasaari · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful continuance to Señor Peregrino, which didn't grab me as much as this one. Book was lovely to read and the story took surprising and interesting turns.

[Emilie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5-4 stjärnor

Det var några år sedan jag läste Señor Peregrino, som jag gillade väldigt mycket. För inte så länge sedan läste jag Drömhjärta som jag gillade supermegamycket. Med andra ord betar jag mig igenom Cecilia Samartins böcker nu i full fart.

Okej så detta är andra delen i en serie. Trots att det var år sedan jag läste första delen kom jag in i berättelsen ganska snabbt och blev inte speciellt förvirrad. Den var spännande och språket var fantastiskt…

Däremot har jag två saker att peka på. Först, slarvfelen. Jag har en talang att upptäcka slarvfel när jag läser och efter två-tre blir jag provocerad. Självklart inte när någon skrivit en text någonstans, slarvfel gör vi alla, jag också. Men en publicerad bok med flera korrläsare som dessutom är i pocket menat att det inte är första upplagan. COMMON! Den andra är ordvalen… Ja, ordvalen. Många av dom används inte längre. Beskrivningen av folk som fula och vackra kändes väldigt gammaldags och obehaglig. Ja nästan lite bröderna Grimm då alla med dåliga egenskaper är fula beyond compare och alla med bra egenskaper så sjukt vackra. Var första boken så? Förmodligen… Och ord som numera är slurs som man inte längre skriver. Jag förstår att man kan gå med tiden och använda dessa begrepp på homosexuella, romer och svarta men alltså om dessa ord ska med vill jag ha en disclaimer att dessa ord i dagsläget inte är ok att använda och problematiska. Satt hela tiden och undrade ”använder karaktären dessa ord för att det var då eller är författaren/översättaren ignorant?”

Om vi bortser från detta (som jag ändå inte vill bortse för mycket ifrån) så var boken spännande. Hade dock ingen aning om vad som hände i slutet och hoppas det förklaras mer i bok tre. Det var en bra bok, men drar bort i betyg för språket och användandet av problematiska ord.

[Iida · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lumoava tarina, viihdyttävä juoni, henkilöhahmotkin vähintään jees.

seuraavassa lieviä spoilereita:

Luin tätä realistisena kertomuksena, joten fantastiset/maagiset elementit tuntuivat todella oudoilta. Näyt, unet ja sydämen tieto vailla empiirisiä todisteita käyvät päinsä, mutta "ne olivat minun luuni" oli jo vähän liikaa. Ehkä tämän voisi tulkita symbolisella tasolla, mutta mielestäni teksti tukee vahvemmin kirjaimellista tulkintaa ja sopii yhteen kreisin lopetuksen kanssa, ja näiden seikkojen yhteisvaikutuksesta sekä kummallisesta seksuaalisesta sävystä Carmenin ja herra Peregrinon välillä annan vahvan neljän tähden sijasta kolme.

Niin, lopetus! Lopetus oli hyvin hämmentävä – en yhtään innostunut ajatuksesta, että Rosa olisi kyennyt loitsimaan menneisyyteen niin suuria muutoksia, joiden pitäisi kaiken lisäksi kumota päähenkilön syntymä. Tarinalle tarjottiin kahta lopetusta, enkä tiedä, kumpi niistä on oikea – mUtTa eHkÄ tOtuUS aSustELee sYvÄLLä LuKiJAn sYdÄmEsSä eiKä siTä vOi LöYtÄä kiRjaN siVuiLta. ✨ Nyt pitää lukea kolmas Peregrino-sarjan osa, ihan vain siksi, että saan tietää tarinan todellisen lopun.

[Mari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even with being dissapointed by odly rushed and highly confusing ending, I enjoyed this story more than Señor Peregrino. It had more humor in it and I liked reading about Rosa’s past and familiar things (from the first book) happening from her point of view.

This series is surprisingly deep at times even though it’s still something lighter to read between heavier subjects I usually prefer the most, so I’ll definitely want to read also the third book someday.

[Tankesultan · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lignet litt for mye på andre bøker jeg har lest.
Jeg skjønte ingenting av slutten. Det virket som slutten av historien ikke hadde skjedd.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Denne ble jeg ikke helt klok på...

[Jen Juniper · Rating 4 out of 5]

La Peregrina jatkuu luontevasti siitä, mihin sarjan ensimmäinen jäi. Kerronta on sujuvampaa ja peilaa paljon aiemmin toisesta näkökulmasta kerrottuja tapahtumia. Loppu on hämmentävä.

[Ragnhild Nag]

Nydelig historie

[Ludmila · Rating 1 out of 5]

Final-f*ckin-ly, took me ages to finish it i wondet why lol

[Jenny Fernebring · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hade blivit 4 stjärnor om den inte slutade exakt så som man tänkt, kliché.

[Smilla · Rating 2 out of 5]

Blev lite för mycket, för invecklad, lite osammanhängande och för lång.

[Katri · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kaksi tai kaksi ja puoli tähteä.

Aiemmin olin pitänyt Samartinin sopivasti viihteellisistä kirjoista hetkenä, kun kaipaa kevyttä luettavaa, mutta La Peregrina tuntui hieman turhankin viihteelliseltä. Kerronta ja kieli tökkivät monella tavalla (liekö vika enemmän alkuteoksen vai suomentajan), tekstin sävy oli oudon humoristinen ja perverssi kun ajattelee tarinaa, alku oli tylsä ja loppu ei kovin uskottava.

Pisteitä siitä, että kirjan viimeisen osuuden luki yhtä kyytiä ja että luultavasti on pakko lukea jatko-osakin.

[Birgitte Bach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meget poetisk og flot skrevet bog. I den første ser og hører vi kun tingene fra Jamilets synspunkt, men i denne følger vi alle personerne og vi får Rosas historie. Jeg er ikke helt tilfreds med slutningen, hvad skete der lige der? Det var lidt for nemt efter den lange 600 siders opbygning. Og gud hjælpe mig om der ikke står "fortsættes" til sidst. Efter 625 sider havde jeg forventet en konklusion af en eller anden art.

[Sanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ihana jatko-osa Senor Peregrinolle. Samartinille tuttu maaginen realismi näkyi tässäkin, tosin tuota maagisuutta koin tässä kirjassa olevan vielä enemmän kuin aiemmissa. Espanjalainen mustalaiskulttuuri oli kiehtovasti kuvailtu ja kirjan tunnelma taas upea. Loppuratkaisua jäin kovasti miettimään, enkä oikein tiedä mitä mieltä siitä olin... Hieno kirja kuitenkin!

[Helena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ei voi kuin ihailla sitä tarinan imua, jonka Samartin kykenee luomaan. Romantiikkaakin vierastavalle lukijalle tästä kehkeytyi lukunautinto :) Lykkäsin kirjaan tarttumista, koska se vaikutti ulkonaisesti turhan tiiliskiveltä, mutta hujauksessa tämän sitten luki.

[Laura Walin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Petyin tähän sarjan kakkososaan. Samartin yritti kulkea maagisen realismin jalanjäljissä, mutta minulle lukukokemus jäi vaisuksi ja tarina pelkästään epäuskottavaksi. En pid siitä, kun jo kirjan alussa näen, mihin sen asklemerkit ovat johtamassa. Sujuvalukuista hömppää toki.

[Anne M. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Second half better than the first half.

[Gunnår Fodstad · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kunne vært bedre med færre uvesnetlige detajler og en slutt som bærer preg av å prøve å finne på noe i all hast.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

ok, but not perfect.