A Beauty That Hurts: Life and Death in Guatemala

The Linda Schele Series in Maya and Pre-Columbian Studies

by W. George Lovell

The bloody civil wars of the 1980s saw Central America emerge from the shadows of history to enjoy a brief hour in the media sun. But one country seemed always to elude the regional spotlight. Today Guatemala is still one of the world's most flagrant violators of human rights. The tragedy of Guatemala continues to unfold as negotiations to end thirty years of civil war drag on.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Politics

176 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1995

Reviews

[Yanique Gillana · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars

I am grateful to the publisher for sending me an advanced copy of this audiobook for review.

What a truly informative and harrowing read. Prior to reading this, I had some knowledge about the broad strokes of what had occurred in the history of this country; however, in order to better understand the current state of affairs in Latin America and Central America specifically, I really wanted to get a better understanding of the details and the sequence of events that lead to modern day Guatemala. This book was a great resource for exactly that information that I was seeking.

The author did a great job of incorporating first-person accounts and documentation of events , then patched the pieces together to really allow us to understand how everything eventually resulted in the horrific, historical events that are covered in this book. I like the way he incorporated both past and modern-day Guatemalan people. Telling the stories of people who were alive at different stages of Guatemalan history, really let us see how things changed and how the society’s response to these changes manifested. It's hard to read. It's hard to read how people were forced to adapt to such terrible conditions not only economically and socially, but also to live under a regime of fear and to accept these sorts of changes as normal and inescapable.

The author goes through step-by-step each defining period in Guatemalan history , and spoke about how each of these things affected the people at different levels of society in. He also did not shy away from mentioning the involvement of external powers, like industries from first world countries, who in the interest of their profits helped to destabilize an already struggling country, and lead to the deaths of so many. It is also hard to read about how people can become so deranged when given power over others and to see how the Mayan population of Guatemala were treated when they were caught between the military state and the guerrilla opposition efforts. Guatemala is a country that has witnessed some of the worst human rights violations at the hands of the military. These people were living in a state of uncertainty and terror for decades.

I think this is going to be a hard book for many people to read, and it hurts me to say this, but I feel like it's also the kind of book that a lot of people who should be reading it are not going to be interested in. I think that we as people owe it to ourselves to be educated in historical situations like this , I think we need to make sure we understand how these things happen and what the signs of these kinds of situations look like. I think it's also important for people from other countries to be aware that people are going through this currently, and when people are discussing topics of migration and immigration, that we take into account that we as a whole have all contributed in some way to the state of things in these countries.

I recommend this book to everyone. I think everyone can benefit from knowing the history of this country and how everything played out. I will say that this subject matter is very hard to read and graphic so I would caution with that. I specifically recommend this to people who are interested in history, politics, and humanitarianism.

[Megan Bowers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, this book does give you a good feeling for Guatemala and its history. It is clear that the authour is quite an expert about the country. Yet, the way the book is organized is kind of weird and has little cohesiveness... At first, the book is composed of short vignettes about Guatemalan people, then the book turns into a collection of newspaper clippings, and at the end it is like an academic essay on the historical context. It's all interesting, it's just kind of a strange way to organize a book.

[Ana-Maria Bujor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to see Guatemala and was looking for a book to help me understand what happened. This is exactly what I was looking for and this is why it gets 4 stars. It combines old history with recent history, politics and personal accounts to create a complex image of a troubled country. I learned a lot and know where to research further.
I only wish someone else was narrating the audiobook, I must admit I had my mind roam at times and had to go back. But that should not keep you away from trying it if interested in the region.

[Thomas Ray]

F1466.5 L68 2010 Second revised edition
Memorial Library

[Riley Potter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adds helpful nuances to my understanding of Guatemala in all her pain and glory.

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book in order to prepare for a counseling course I am taking in Guatemala. I read it with the intention to understand the history and culture of the Guatemalan people. After finishing the book, I cannot help but recognize my connection to the devastation and ignorance to what was happening. This book has left me frustrated, apologetic, and humbled. I am born of Spanish ancestry, and have recently become aware of the oppressive nature of my culture. I have for a majority of my life been able to recognize how my community and culture have been marginalized by white people, but this book is a scary revelation of our own discrimination against the indigenous peoples of Spanish conquered regions. It has enough political, social, and humanistic content to appease most seekers of social justice. I honor those who obscenely lost their lives, those who courageously clung to their integrity, and those who are still suffering the consequences of injustice. The book leaves me praying that I never reach the point of consciousness that would allow me to participate in such brutality. I hope this book sustains my desire to battle tyranny.

[Jenny Lopez · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a compelling read for anyone interested in the politics and socio-economic dimensions of Guatemala. The killings, the disappeared, the injustice at the hands of the Guatemalan government of so many Mayan is written about with concise analysis. That said I heard the author speak about this book and he is the one and only academic I have ever heard mention a particular concept and word about why he wrote this book and what is needed to dissect the unraveling of a country in order to help it: compassion. Lovell is not only a scholar but an individual whose kindness shines through his writing in this book.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed each of the three sections less than the one that came before it. Section one is a nice collection of personal vignettes that appeal to me on a professional and a human level.

The subsequent sections are less personal, and also less accessible, in my opinion. But it is a solid primer on Guatemalan life and history for novices like me.