What do you think?
Rate this book
Salvadoreñja
Als junge Frau flieht Ana aus El Salvador in die USA. Beeindruckt von einer Nonne, die ihr dabei hilft, ihr Kriegstrauma zu überwinden, denkt sie selbst über ein Leben im Kloster nach. Doch man fordert
sie auf, die Welt noch besser kennenzulernen. So kommt sie als Kindermädchen in das Haus einer wohlhabenden Familie – und erkennt, dass das Leben noch vieles für sie bereithält …
sie auf, die Welt noch besser kennenzulernen. So kommt sie als Kindermädchen in das Haus einer wohlhabenden Familie – und erkennt, dass das Leben noch vieles für sie bereithält …
364 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
14 people are currently reading
370 people want to read
About the author
Cecilia Samartin
28 books189 followersI 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.
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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
November 13, 2017
Una historia preciosa. De amor, de paciencia. EStá narrada con un aternura que sobrecoge. Y el final, es maravilloso.
Ana es un personaje que consigue trasmitir todo la luz que lleva dentro.
Ana es un personaje que consigue trasmitir todo la luz que lleva dentro.
September 15, 2011
Imagine loving a man for twenty years, but not being able to tell him so. Imagine sleeping in a room down the hall from this man you love for twenty years. Imagine having to watch this man interact day after day with his wife and children. Ana watches.. for twenty years before she finally has the opportunity to act on her love.
The story starts in El Salvador during the time of civil war and brutality. Ana loses her entire village and is the only one to walk away. Why was she saved? She was saved not once, but twice. She takes this as sign that she is to have a higher purpose. She believes she is to be a nun. However, many years after escaping to the U.S, a mere 6 months from the time she is supposed to take her vows, she is summoned to the Trellis household. They need a nanny.
Enter an intriguing household full of characters that all need Ana's help. The man rarely leaves his study. The woman is spoiled, indulgent, and...
To read full review, please click on the link:
http://wwwbookbabe.blogspot.com/2011/...
The story starts in El Salvador during the time of civil war and brutality. Ana loses her entire village and is the only one to walk away. Why was she saved? She was saved not once, but twice. She takes this as sign that she is to have a higher purpose. She believes she is to be a nun. However, many years after escaping to the U.S, a mere 6 months from the time she is supposed to take her vows, she is summoned to the Trellis household. They need a nanny.
Enter an intriguing household full of characters that all need Ana's help. The man rarely leaves his study. The woman is spoiled, indulgent, and...
To read full review, please click on the link:
http://wwwbookbabe.blogspot.com/2011/...
December 14, 2013
Lo he terminado llorando a lágrima viva. Qué libro tan bonito!
July 21, 2009
Vigil was in one word Amazing! In the first pages you will meet a woman, Ana who is sitting vigil by her dying husband's bedside. Along the way she is taken back to her impoverished beginnings in war torn El Salvador. Ana is such a memorable, inspiring character that she becomes real, and instills her story in my mind long after the end of her story. What more could a book and its author hope to be to its reader than to take a place in the heart and mind, and for him or her to take something away from that experience.
I can imagine this book as a movie, but know that it could not be as good as the book.
I can imagine this book as a movie, but know that it could not be as good as the book.
June 28, 2020
Tengo el corazón en un puño y es que esta es una novela de esas que te dejan “resaca” emocional. De esas en las que necesitas un tiempo para procesar los sentimientos. Una historia muy conmovedora y unos personajes que estoy segura se quedarán conmigo por un tiempo.
February 3, 2018
The book is extremely well written, and you're weaving in and out of the lives of Ana and the Trellis family, waiting to see how their fates are revealed. I had some problems connecting emotionally to the book, and still kind of do. I felt too far removed from these people's lives and their emotions to really fully latch on to the story, and while I eventually somewhat warmed up to them I feel like I would have liked to hear more about them to really embrace them with all their faults.
August 29, 2017
4.5 stars
Just like Ghost Heart, this book really got to me. I don’t often read stories about the baby sitter-almost nun falling in love with the father of the household, and I’m really glad I just did. At first I was afraid that the childhood in El Salvador would be glanced over and just there to score some sympathy points, but Cecilia Samartin kept connecting back to her childhood so perfectly to everything related to what was currently going on in Ana’s life.
I had a bit of a problem, just like with her other books, the focus on connecting personality to appearance. It didn’t bother me too much but I rather books stay away from “the beautiful good people”, “the competition using waaay tooo much make-up” or “the overweight, balding man who can’t speak to women”. I also have yet another problem with a translated Cecilia Samartin novel (read in Swedish). What’s with all the grammar mistakes throughout the book? And it was in PAPERBACK meaning it was NOT the first print. I’ve experienced the same things in ALL books I’ve read by her.
I was impressed by the complexity of the wife. From time to time she had this stereotypical quality of not realizing how amazing her life is and that she spends all her husbands hard-earned money on shopping. But the story kept adding things like depression, boredom, forgiveness, shock, etc. I liked her and would have wanted to know more about her. I did not agree with her choices and I do not like her as a person per se, more like a character. But she was way more interesting that the father. How do we know he was so much better than the wife? The wife told Ana everything. The husband told her nothing. So are we just assuming he’s an angel? Just had to get that out there.
All in all, I really liked this book.
Just like Ghost Heart, this book really got to me. I don’t often read stories about the baby sitter-almost nun falling in love with the father of the household, and I’m really glad I just did. At first I was afraid that the childhood in El Salvador would be glanced over and just there to score some sympathy points, but Cecilia Samartin kept connecting back to her childhood so perfectly to everything related to what was currently going on in Ana’s life.
I had a bit of a problem, just like with her other books, the focus on connecting personality to appearance. It didn’t bother me too much but I rather books stay away from “the beautiful good people”, “the competition using waaay tooo much make-up” or “the overweight, balding man who can’t speak to women”. I also have yet another problem with a translated Cecilia Samartin novel (read in Swedish). What’s with all the grammar mistakes throughout the book? And it was in PAPERBACK meaning it was NOT the first print. I’ve experienced the same things in ALL books I’ve read by her.
I was impressed by the complexity of the wife. From time to time she had this stereotypical quality of not realizing how amazing her life is and that she spends all her husbands hard-earned money on shopping. But the story kept adding things like depression, boredom, forgiveness, shock, etc. I liked her and would have wanted to know more about her. I did not agree with her choices and I do not like her as a person per se, more like a character. But she was way more interesting that the father. How do we know he was so much better than the wife? The wife told Ana everything. The husband told her nothing. So are we just assuming he’s an angel? Just had to get that out there.
All in all, I really liked this book.
November 5, 2009
As her beloved lays sick and dying, Anna recounts vivid details of her life leading up to this moment. From her childhood in El Salvador, to her struggles and travels to the United States first living in a convent, then eventually becoming a nanny for a wealthy southern California family.
Although the synopsis seems really simple, the book itself is not. Cecila Samartin does a fantastic job of weaving together the past with the present of Anna’s life with key overlapping elements. She uses 1st and 3rd person perspective when discussing Anna’s childhood and her life as an adult at the bedside of her love. We learn about Anna’s past, the massacre of her family by renegades in El Salvador, her salvation into the United States and her education and eventual desire to be a nun through snippets of memories and thoughts.
http://thenovelworld.com/2009/08/24/v...
Although the synopsis seems really simple, the book itself is not. Cecila Samartin does a fantastic job of weaving together the past with the present of Anna’s life with key overlapping elements. She uses 1st and 3rd person perspective when discussing Anna’s childhood and her life as an adult at the bedside of her love. We learn about Anna’s past, the massacre of her family by renegades in El Salvador, her salvation into the United States and her education and eventual desire to be a nun through snippets of memories and thoughts.
http://thenovelworld.com/2009/08/24/v...
October 28, 2009
Vigil is an interesting and beautifully written novel. Although you may think this would be a disheartening story, it was not. Yes, there is sadness, but is also a story about happiness, friendship, and family. Each character is carefully developed with Ana as the one moral constant in the family. Eventually she is influenced by the immorality of the family members and conflict occurs.
The story was captivating as Ana reflects back on her life starting as a child in El Salvador hiding from soldiers. As she tends to her dying love, she reflects on her memories of her mother and childhood friends to her life as a postulant. I enjoyed Vigil for its rich descriptions and interesting characters. It was a romantic novel without being a typical “Romance” novel.
The story was captivating as Ana reflects back on her life starting as a child in El Salvador hiding from soldiers. As she tends to her dying love, she reflects on her memories of her mother and childhood friends to her life as a postulant. I enjoyed Vigil for its rich descriptions and interesting characters. It was a romantic novel without being a typical “Romance” novel.
June 11, 2015
Me ha encantado esta novela. Me ha parecido preciosa. Es muy pausada, tranquila y tierna. Pero no por ello decae el interés en ningún momento. Es el primer libro que leo de esta autora y me ha resultado todo un descubrimiento. Leeré más de ella.
July 13, 2015
Sin palabras
July 24, 2022
5 stjerner <3
En smuk og fængende historie
Ana lever en stille tilværelse i en lille landsby i El Salvador. Hun bor sammen med sin mor, sin fætter, Carlitos og hans mor. Carlitos og Ana leger rigtig godt sammen. Anas mor er skræder og drømmer om at åbne sin egen tøjbutik. Men en dag ændrer alt sig, der udbryder krig og moderne og de andre voksne må kæmpe. Ana mor beder hende om at gemme sig i syskabet, hvorefter mor er væk. Ana venter i timevis på at hendes mor skal komme tilbage til hende, indtil fader Lukas finder hende. Ana kommer derefter på et børnehjem for børn, som mistede deres forældre i krigspatruljen. Børnene på stedet er meget triste og savner deres forældre. Alt imens nonnerne prøver at passe på dem, mens krigen hærger landet. Ana opbygger en tæt relation til den amerikanske nonne, Josepha. Josepha er mild og tager sig godt af børnene. En nat sker der noget uventet. Ana hører en lyd, derfor går Josepha og Ana ud for at se hvad der sker. Udenfor venter der sig dem en ubehagelig overraskelse. Det var nogle soldater. Josepha og Ana er meget bange. “BANK!” lyder det. De har skyldt Abedissen. Josepha og Ana er skrækslagne og flygter ud i junglen.
Sammen tager de til USA, hvor de bor på et nyt kloster. Efter noget tid drager Josepha tilbage til El Salvador, for at fortsætte sit arbejde derhenne. Ana færdiggør high-school og drømmer nu om at være nonne ligesom Josepha. I klosteret passer Ana nu børn og hun er rigtig god til det. En dag tager Anas stille liv en drejning, da klosterets Abesisse opfordrer hende til at komme lidt væk fra klosteret og ud i den virkelige verden. Ana er chokeret og forstår ikke Abbedissens opfordring. Abbedissen fortæller at de andre nonner har levet et liv udenfor klosteret før de tilvalgte klosterlivet. Ana er derimod opvokser i det og har aldrig aktivt tilvalgt det. Hun foreslår at Ana skal være barnepige hos familien Trellis, imens deres barnepige er bortrejst. Deres barnepige vil være væk i 6 måneder. Så kunne hun komme tilbage til klosteret derefter. Efter noget betænkningstid, vælger Ana at tage imod arbejdet. Men hvad hun ikke ved er at denne beslutning vil få en gørende betydning for Ana fremtid.
Vudering
Jeg synes at bogen var interessant, fængende og overraskende. Jeg er meget positivt overrasket over hvor meget jeg nød læsningen af denne bog. Efter de første 30 sider af bogen tænkte jeg at denne bog nok ikke er noget for mig og at den er lidt kedelig. Der tog jeg godt nok fejl. Bogen har en virkelig interessant historie.
Gennem bogen skiftes hvert kapitel mellem to tider; nutiden og fortiden. Vi starter med at være i nutiden, hvor en person er indlagt, som Ana kender. Som læser finder man først senere ud af hvem der er indlagt og hvilken tilknytning Ana har til personen. Den forhenværende historie, som ledte op til nutiden fortælles derefter. Desto mere man læser desto mere forstår man omkring nutiden og indlæggelsen. Dette gør bogen til en vaskevægte pageturner, fordi man som læser bare vil læse mere for at forstå nutiden.
Jeg elsker at bogens karakterer er runde og personlige, og at vi får indblik i hvorfor karaktererne handler som de gør. Hvilket gør at man forstår karaktererne på et dybere plan og også kan forstå deres besynderlige handlinger, fordi der ligger mere bag handlingerne.
Sproget i bogen er meget let at forstå og levende. Jeg vil også mene at bogen er lidt filosofisk, eftersom Ana og Josepha tit siger nogle meget filosofiske ting tit baseret på kristne principper.
Jeg giver derfor bogen 4.5 ud af 5 stjerner, fordi jeg synes at historien var virkelig smuk og gribende. Den eneste grund til at jeg ikke giver den 5 stjerner er fordi den ikke har gjort et meget stort indtryk på mig. Jeg vil derfor anbefale bogen til alle der elsker bøger med kærlighed, runde karakterer, gode beskrivelser og en fængende pageturner historie.
*OPDATE
Her I dag den 24 juli, har jeg besluttet mig for at give bogen 5 stjerner. Jeg tænker stadig over bogen i ny og næ. Jeg ændrer min vurdering, fordi jeg ikke havde regnet med at bogen skulle gøre et indtryk på mig.
Citater
“Når Gud taler til én, hører man Ham ikke med ørene,sagde hun og pegede på et af sine ører. Man hører Han i sit hjerte.”
s. 44 - Ana
“Jeg tror, der er stor magt i mildhed”
s. 70 - Ana
“Ana sagde han og tog min hånd. - Da mine forældre blev slået ihjel, døde kærligheden i dette hus sammen med dem. Men da du kom, bragte du kærligheden tilbage og gjorde det atter til et hjem.”
s- 391 - Adam til Ana
En smuk og fængende historie
Ana lever en stille tilværelse i en lille landsby i El Salvador. Hun bor sammen med sin mor, sin fætter, Carlitos og hans mor. Carlitos og Ana leger rigtig godt sammen. Anas mor er skræder og drømmer om at åbne sin egen tøjbutik. Men en dag ændrer alt sig, der udbryder krig og moderne og de andre voksne må kæmpe. Ana mor beder hende om at gemme sig i syskabet, hvorefter mor er væk. Ana venter i timevis på at hendes mor skal komme tilbage til hende, indtil fader Lukas finder hende. Ana kommer derefter på et børnehjem for børn, som mistede deres forældre i krigspatruljen. Børnene på stedet er meget triste og savner deres forældre. Alt imens nonnerne prøver at passe på dem, mens krigen hærger landet. Ana opbygger en tæt relation til den amerikanske nonne, Josepha. Josepha er mild og tager sig godt af børnene. En nat sker der noget uventet. Ana hører en lyd, derfor går Josepha og Ana ud for at se hvad der sker. Udenfor venter der sig dem en ubehagelig overraskelse. Det var nogle soldater. Josepha og Ana er meget bange. “BANK!” lyder det. De har skyldt Abedissen. Josepha og Ana er skrækslagne og flygter ud i junglen.
Sammen tager de til USA, hvor de bor på et nyt kloster. Efter noget tid drager Josepha tilbage til El Salvador, for at fortsætte sit arbejde derhenne. Ana færdiggør high-school og drømmer nu om at være nonne ligesom Josepha. I klosteret passer Ana nu børn og hun er rigtig god til det. En dag tager Anas stille liv en drejning, da klosterets Abesisse opfordrer hende til at komme lidt væk fra klosteret og ud i den virkelige verden. Ana er chokeret og forstår ikke Abbedissens opfordring. Abbedissen fortæller at de andre nonner har levet et liv udenfor klosteret før de tilvalgte klosterlivet. Ana er derimod opvokser i det og har aldrig aktivt tilvalgt det. Hun foreslår at Ana skal være barnepige hos familien Trellis, imens deres barnepige er bortrejst. Deres barnepige vil være væk i 6 måneder. Så kunne hun komme tilbage til klosteret derefter. Efter noget betænkningstid, vælger Ana at tage imod arbejdet. Men hvad hun ikke ved er at denne beslutning vil få en gørende betydning for Ana fremtid.
Vudering
Jeg synes at bogen var interessant, fængende og overraskende. Jeg er meget positivt overrasket over hvor meget jeg nød læsningen af denne bog. Efter de første 30 sider af bogen tænkte jeg at denne bog nok ikke er noget for mig og at den er lidt kedelig. Der tog jeg godt nok fejl. Bogen har en virkelig interessant historie.
Gennem bogen skiftes hvert kapitel mellem to tider; nutiden og fortiden. Vi starter med at være i nutiden, hvor en person er indlagt, som Ana kender. Som læser finder man først senere ud af hvem der er indlagt og hvilken tilknytning Ana har til personen. Den forhenværende historie, som ledte op til nutiden fortælles derefter. Desto mere man læser desto mere forstår man omkring nutiden og indlæggelsen. Dette gør bogen til en vaskevægte pageturner, fordi man som læser bare vil læse mere for at forstå nutiden.
Jeg elsker at bogens karakterer er runde og personlige, og at vi får indblik i hvorfor karaktererne handler som de gør. Hvilket gør at man forstår karaktererne på et dybere plan og også kan forstå deres besynderlige handlinger, fordi der ligger mere bag handlingerne.
Sproget i bogen er meget let at forstå og levende. Jeg vil også mene at bogen er lidt filosofisk, eftersom Ana og Josepha tit siger nogle meget filosofiske ting tit baseret på kristne principper.
Jeg giver derfor bogen 4.5 ud af 5 stjerner, fordi jeg synes at historien var virkelig smuk og gribende. Den eneste grund til at jeg ikke giver den 5 stjerner er fordi den ikke har gjort et meget stort indtryk på mig. Jeg vil derfor anbefale bogen til alle der elsker bøger med kærlighed, runde karakterer, gode beskrivelser og en fængende pageturner historie.
*OPDATE
Her I dag den 24 juli, har jeg besluttet mig for at give bogen 5 stjerner. Jeg tænker stadig over bogen i ny og næ. Jeg ændrer min vurdering, fordi jeg ikke havde regnet med at bogen skulle gøre et indtryk på mig.
Citater
“Når Gud taler til én, hører man Ham ikke med ørene,sagde hun og pegede på et af sine ører. Man hører Han i sit hjerte.”
s. 44 - Ana
“Jeg tror, der er stor magt i mildhed”
s. 70 - Ana
“Ana sagde han og tog min hånd. - Da mine forældre blev slået ihjel, døde kærligheden i dette hus sammen med dem. Men da du kom, bragte du kærligheden tilbage og gjorde det atter til et hjem.”
s- 391 - Adam til Ana
February 4, 2023
Kirja alkaa mielenkiintoisella jaksolla Anan lapsuudesta El Salvadorissa, jossa on sisällissota. Ana selviytyy piiloutumalla, mutta muut perheenjäsenet kuolevat. Anan pelastaa amerikkalainen nunna ja hän vie Anan Kaliforniaan. Ana käy nunnaluostarin koulua ja aikoo ryhtyä nunnaksi. Loppujen lopuksi Ana työskentelee rikkaan perheen palveluksessa 20 vuotta. Hän on luonteeltaan hyvä kasvattaja ja tärkeä täti perheen lapsille. Ana kertoo tarinaansa rakastamansa miehen kuolinvuoteella. Kirja on rakkuskirja mitä parhaimmillaan. Kirjan juoni on ennustettavissa. Kirja hyppää alussa liian aikaisin Kaliforniaan. Olisi ollut mielenkiintoista lukea enemmän El Salvadorista. Kirjan kansi ei kuvaa kirjan sisältöä. Kirja on viihdyttävä.
Helmet-lukuhaaste 2016 kohta 4: kirja keroo maahanmuuttajasta, pakolaisesta tai turvapaikanhakijasta
Helmet-lukuhaaste 2016 kohta 4: kirja keroo maahanmuuttajasta, pakolaisesta tai turvapaikanhakijasta
February 1, 2020
I’ve always loved Cecilias books, but this one is different. This one is more cliché with love, good vs evil, too-much-make up vs natural beauty etc. Actually, Samartin plays with everything I hate but makes a great book out of it. I hate this kind of story but I love this book. I was kind of done with it after a while, but when I thought it was ”just the end” left it turned into such a beautiful ending and I really just love all of it. I was prepared to be dissapointed, I bought the book ten years ago when it was published but never had the guts to read it because I was too afraid that samartin was going to disappoint me after ghost heart and senor peregrino. This was very different but I wasn’t dissapointed.
August 1, 2025
Handling & Tema : 4/5
Karaktärerna: 3/5
Miljöbeskrivning: 3/5
Språk och berättarkonst 4/5
Tycker jätte mycket om författarens sätt att skriva, hon fångar läsaren genom sina beskrivningar och en känsla att man befinner sig inne i historien. Vi får följa huvudpersoner Ana från att hon är liten flicka som tillsammans med sin mamma bor i en by i El Salvador. Deras liv avbryts på ett brutalt sätt på grund av kriget. Hon lär känna en nuna som kommer bli en mycket viktig person i hennes liv och för in henne på Guds väg och inspirerar henne atr bli nunna.
En vacker berättelse som var en njutning att läsa. : Svag 4/5 i helhetsbetyg
Karaktärerna: 3/5
Miljöbeskrivning: 3/5
Språk och berättarkonst 4/5
Tycker jätte mycket om författarens sätt att skriva, hon fångar läsaren genom sina beskrivningar och en känsla att man befinner sig inne i historien. Vi får följa huvudpersoner Ana från att hon är liten flicka som tillsammans med sin mamma bor i en by i El Salvador. Deras liv avbryts på ett brutalt sätt på grund av kriget. Hon lär känna en nuna som kommer bli en mycket viktig person i hennes liv och för in henne på Guds väg och inspirerar henne atr bli nunna.
En vacker berättelse som var en njutning att läsa. : Svag 4/5 i helhetsbetyg
Read
June 18, 2020Novela que te llega dentro. Está muy bien para leer después de alguna novela negra.
Se narra la vida desde niña de Ana , una pequeña salvadoreña que ve las atrocidades del conflicto de su país. Desde pequeña siente la vocación religiosa, pero antes de confirmar su noviciado, pasa a probar la vida seglar y así llega a una casa donde una familia necesita ayuda con su niño pequeño y con otro por nacer. Poco a poco se va haciendo parte de esa familia.
https://sonrieangela.blogspot.com/202...
Se narra la vida desde niña de Ana , una pequeña salvadoreña que ve las atrocidades del conflicto de su país. Desde pequeña siente la vocación religiosa, pero antes de confirmar su noviciado, pasa a probar la vida seglar y así llega a una casa donde una familia necesita ayuda con su niño pequeño y con otro por nacer. Poco a poco se va haciendo parte de esa familia.
https://sonrieangela.blogspot.com/202...
May 11, 2025
Très belle histoire. Bien qu'elle soit assez prévisible, c'est quand même un grand roman, sans doute grâce au talent de la plume de son autere.
C'est une histoire d'amour, de loyauté, de résilience, ...
Un hommage aux mères, qui prennent soin de leurs enfants, qui les guident même si elles ne sont plus là.
Ce roman m'a attrapé depuis la première page.
Anna est un femme qui emmet de la lumière même si elle préfère rester dans l'obscurité. J'adore les" Annas " de ma vie, ces personnes qui sont là, et avec ça on n'a besoin de rien de plus.
C'est une histoire d'amour, de loyauté, de résilience, ...
Un hommage aux mères, qui prennent soin de leurs enfants, qui les guident même si elles ne sont plus là.
Ce roman m'a attrapé depuis la première page.
Anna est un femme qui emmet de la lumière même si elle préfère rester dans l'obscurité. J'adore les" Annas " de ma vie, ces personnes qui sont là, et avec ça on n'a besoin de rien de plus.
August 29, 2018
Ana on hieno hahmo, hyväsydäminen ja aito ja kadehdin hänen kykyään kääntää vaikeudet voimaksi ja heikkoudet mahdollisuuksiksi. Saattoi olla korostettu uskonnollisuus mikä vieraannutti minua tarinasta.
October 2, 2022
Rare vergelijkingen: "De zon stond al hoog genoeg om door de bovenste takken van de eik te schijnen, als een glanzende uil die haar gadesloeg. Over een uurtje zou zij boven de cameliaboom hangen, ..."[return]Recht-toe-recht-aan verhaal
April 2, 2020
2.5
It started out well enough, but then seemed to turn into a soap opera in book form and got too easy and predictable.
It started out well enough, but then seemed to turn into a soap opera in book form and got too easy and predictable.
December 3, 2020
Vigil is a well crafted novel however it wasn't a book for me, nothing bad about it though
March 23, 2021
It was a bit slow. It was a nice story told in a talented way.
October 25, 2021
Increíble, la descripción de los escenarios y el grado de empata que logra generar la autora para con el personaje.
Read
April 8, 2022God
June 21, 2022
Samartin slutar aldrig att överraska. Finns få som skriver med sånt flyt. Från allvarlig fara till kärlek till sorg, she’s got it all och jag älskar det!!!
January 8, 2025
On aimerait tous avoir une Anna dans sa vie. Un livre qui nous fait prendre du recul et qui apporte aussi de la douceur.
May 11, 2025
Siis rakastin tätä tarinaa! Ihanasti yhdistyi nykyhetki ja mennyt. Osan lopputulemaa saattoi arvata, mutta silti oli myös yllätyksellinen. Kaunis tarina ja kauniisti kirjoitettu!
May 25, 2020
For from og stille for mig. Personerne var enten gode eller ikke, og det blev lidt kedeligt. Manglede mere dybde.
February 27, 2013
Simply the best book I have ever read.
Beautiful, heart-breaking, hopeful, full of love, full of life... I don't know where to start, except to tell you all to read Cecilia Samartin now. She is an amazing writer.
The beauty of Samartin's writing is that she makes you love all the character, and not in a literary wow-this-is-a-good-character-and-i-feel-sorry-for-her kind of way, but in a way you love your siblings and your friends. The characters are, simply put, real, they come alive from the page, and you love them no matter what they do or how terrible they are (Samartin always makes me love her villains just as much as her protagonists). I have never experienced anything like this before, and I have read my fair share of amazing characters.
The main character, Ana, is perfect and has more inner beauty than a saint, always does the right thing, and is loved by everyone. Normally, I would call her a Mary Sue, but it is not possible in Vigil. I love her character, the way she has been built - from her tragic childhood to her finding her place in the world. I want her to be happy, I want to keep reading about her... I love everything about her.
The plot is beautifully woven, the past and the present are presented in a harmonious way that never tells anything too soon, nor keeps you waiting for a detail until you are annoyed. It makes the reader see that we as human beings carry everything that has happened to us with us, we can try to hide but it is not possible. What is possible is to love, and help each other, and share our burdens, and finally learn to live with them.
Samartin is one of the best authors I've ever read, if not THE best. I can recommend her books to everyone! Broken Paradise: A Novel is one of my favorite books and I didn't think this could be as good - but somehow it managed to be even better. I feel privileged to read such prose, her language kind of floats around you, beautifully and effortlessly, and it is easy to forget that you are only reading a book.
A perfect story, a perfect book.
Beautiful, heart-breaking, hopeful, full of love, full of life... I don't know where to start, except to tell you all to read Cecilia Samartin now. She is an amazing writer.
The beauty of Samartin's writing is that she makes you love all the character, and not in a literary wow-this-is-a-good-character-and-i-feel-sorry-for-her kind of way, but in a way you love your siblings and your friends. The characters are, simply put, real, they come alive from the page, and you love them no matter what they do or how terrible they are (Samartin always makes me love her villains just as much as her protagonists). I have never experienced anything like this before, and I have read my fair share of amazing characters.
The main character, Ana, is perfect and has more inner beauty than a saint, always does the right thing, and is loved by everyone. Normally, I would call her a Mary Sue, but it is not possible in Vigil. I love her character, the way she has been built - from her tragic childhood to her finding her place in the world. I want her to be happy, I want to keep reading about her... I love everything about her.
The plot is beautifully woven, the past and the present are presented in a harmonious way that never tells anything too soon, nor keeps you waiting for a detail until you are annoyed. It makes the reader see that we as human beings carry everything that has happened to us with us, we can try to hide but it is not possible. What is possible is to love, and help each other, and share our burdens, and finally learn to live with them.
Samartin is one of the best authors I've ever read, if not THE best. I can recommend her books to everyone! Broken Paradise: A Novel is one of my favorite books and I didn't think this could be as good - but somehow it managed to be even better. I feel privileged to read such prose, her language kind of floats around you, beautifully and effortlessly, and it is easy to forget that you are only reading a book.
A perfect story, a perfect book.
February 14, 2010
Cecilia Samartin's novel chronicles the deathbed vigil a Salvadoran woman holds for her employer of 20 years. Through an excellent use of flashbacks, we learn where Ana comes from and how she ends up in her employer's household. The beauty of Vigil is found in the incredible strength and wisdom Ana finds from her own personal tragedies. Unlike 95% of contemporary fiction written today, Ana doesn't whine, blame or otherwise annoy her reader with baggage. Instead, she honors her losses by living up to her simple principles and helps her employer's family do the same.
This story is tragic, poignant and inspiring. I laughed; I cried; I was sad when it ended. The ending was sadly realistic and, at the same time, hopeful. Anyone who aspires to be an author should pay close attention to how Samartin creates a true ending. No cliffhangers, no abrupt, silly closures, no letdowns.
Vigil is an excellent read for the discerning reader. For those of us who love fairy tales, it's a wonderful dip in the reality pool.
This story is tragic, poignant and inspiring. I laughed; I cried; I was sad when it ended. The ending was sadly realistic and, at the same time, hopeful. Anyone who aspires to be an author should pay close attention to how Samartin creates a true ending. No cliffhangers, no abrupt, silly closures, no letdowns.
Vigil is an excellent read for the discerning reader. For those of us who love fairy tales, it's a wonderful dip in the reality pool.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews