Con Frida en el altiplano

by Dolores Soler-Espiauba

Un encuentro casual entre un estudiante holandés y una chica boliviana que está de viaje por Holanda desemboca en una apasionante aventura en el altiplano boliviano.

Genres: Spanish Literature

43 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Alberto · Rating 2 out of 5]

A fine book if you're learning beginner Spanish. The language is basic, the footnotes are helpful. That being said, the book is clearly only for that one purpose: reading SOMETHING in Spanish. The story lacks substance, characters are shallow, the book lacks an ending. Not worth your time unless you're a beginner Spanish student.

[✨️Isi✨️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Die Story war eigentlich sehr angenehm und das Spanisch auch verständlich

[Amina Elidrissy · Rating 4 out of 5]

un cuento para aprender español y descubrir la cultura boliviana

[Ele_Gardener · Rating 0.25 out of 5]

Ultimately, characters try to persuade Mikil into growing up in the Andes, and back at home he isn't required to; he ends up chasing a lustful, childish desire to be with Tecla. They will go as far as to work together to get Mikil, near Yanacachi, to a small village where Tecla grew up, by stealing his bike named Frida. Believing that he would be the answer to their desperation and crisis. Assisting children in being vaccinated was the solution to help mothers get contraception. They see Mikil as a solution, as a man who will bring hope to their little nation. However, compared to Hilde, Marijike, and la abuela, they baby him. Marijike, the flight attendant, had to tell him what to bring on his flight, besides his bike, Frida. Hilde and his abuela, they worried about him so much that they constantly sent text messages to him. Clearly, this story is about a man who is trying to decide if they want to stay a boy and not do any research or show any tenacity of growing up, or would he choose to be the man that everyone needs. There is a pull to Tecla because he wants to be a man already; however, by doing so, he is arguably choosing the wrong reason to help Tecla and her people, instead he should do the grown-up thing and care about the Andes. Therefore, there should have been a real moral dilemma when Eduardo brought up how cultural identity is lost when technological advancements came to play. That is where Mikil could have made the decision to either leave the culture alone or reflect on the people he saw struggling and decide that becoming modern is the solution. This is where he could have chosen to grow; however, in the end, he showed no real character growth by not taking a stance. He also admitted that he didn't know if Tecla would move with him; he didn't see a future with her, only a lust for her, the version he has in his mind.

-For the ending, I would write as if they do not have an ending-
Mikil is in the hospital with his grandma; he asks about her opinion; she says she doesn't know. He strokes her wrinkly hand and looks out the window; his thoughts wander endlessly. Hoping someone outside of the book can answer for him.

[Vlad · Rating 3 out of 5]

What do you know about Bolivia? It was rather a quick one-day reading: an encounter between a Dutch student and a Bolivian girl on a trip to the Netherlands leads to an exciting adventure in the Bolivian highlands. This book contains numerous cultural, geographical, historical and gastonomic remarks.
Rating: 3.5/5

[Ioana · Rating 2 out of 5]

No fue tan divertido para leer.

[Athena Contreras · Rating 2 out of 5]

Plot/drama was mediocre, cliffhanger/open-ended ending.
As other reviews said: this is just something to give someone to read.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book for an early Spanish class. Interesting and gets some social issues presented.