What do you think?
Rate this book
Mario Conde #6
La neblina del ayer
Scorching novel from a star of Cuban fiction. The return of Mario Conde.
368 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
113 people are currently reading
1232 people want to read
About the author
Leonardo Padura
103 books1,391 followersLeonardo Padura Fuentes (born 1955) is a Cuban novelist and journalist. As of 2007, he is one of Cuba's best known writers internationally. In English and some other languages, he is often referred to by the shorter form of his name, Leonardo Padura. He has written movie scripts, two books of short stories and a series of detective novels translated into 10 languages. In 2012, Fuentes was awarded the National Prize for Literature, Cuba's national literary award and the most important award of its kind.
Leonardo Padura nasceu em Havana, em 1955. Licenciado em Filologia, trabalhou como guionista, jornalista e crítico, tornando-se sobretudo conhecido pela série de romances policiais protagonizados pelo detetive Mario Conde, traduzidos para inúmeras línguas e vencedores de prestigiosos prémios literários, como o Prémio Café Gijón 1995, o Prémio Hammett em 1997, 1998 e 2005, o Prémio do Livro Insular 2000, em França, ou o Brigada 21 para o melhor romance do ano, além de vários prémios da crítica em Cuba e do Prémio Nacional de Romance em 1993.
Sua tetralogia Las cuatro estaciones, com histórias do detetive Mario Conde, começou a ser publicada em inglês. Os livros são:
Pasado perfecto ("Havana Blue", 2007), 1991
Vientos de cuaresma ("Havana Yellow", 2008)), 1994
Mascaras ("Havana Red", 2005), 1997
Paisaje de otoño ("Havana Black", 2006), 1998.
Padura publicou também dois livros subseqüentes apresentando o detetive Conde: Adios Hemingway e La neblina del ayer Neste momento, Padura está a finalizar um romance em que os protagonistas são o revolucionário russo León Trotsky e o seu assassino, Ramón Mercader.
Livros de Padura editados em português (Portugal, Edições ASA)
Adeus, Hemingway
Morte em Havana (Máscaras)
A neblina do passado
Paisagem de Outono
O Romance da Minha Vida
Um Passado Perfeito
Ventos de Quaresma
http://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonardo...
Leonardo Padura nasceu em Havana, em 1955. Licenciado em Filologia, trabalhou como guionista, jornalista e crítico, tornando-se sobretudo conhecido pela série de romances policiais protagonizados pelo detetive Mario Conde, traduzidos para inúmeras línguas e vencedores de prestigiosos prémios literários, como o Prémio Café Gijón 1995, o Prémio Hammett em 1997, 1998 e 2005, o Prémio do Livro Insular 2000, em França, ou o Brigada 21 para o melhor romance do ano, além de vários prémios da crítica em Cuba e do Prémio Nacional de Romance em 1993.
Sua tetralogia Las cuatro estaciones, com histórias do detetive Mario Conde, começou a ser publicada em inglês. Os livros são:
Pasado perfecto ("Havana Blue", 2007), 1991
Vientos de cuaresma ("Havana Yellow", 2008)), 1994
Mascaras ("Havana Red", 2005), 1997
Paisaje de otoño ("Havana Black", 2006), 1998.
Padura publicou também dois livros subseqüentes apresentando o detetive Conde: Adios Hemingway e La neblina del ayer Neste momento, Padura está a finalizar um romance em que os protagonistas são o revolucionário russo León Trotsky e o seu assassino, Ramón Mercader.
Livros de Padura editados em português (Portugal, Edições ASA)
Adeus, Hemingway
Morte em Havana (Máscaras)
A neblina do passado
Paisagem de Outono
O Romance da Minha Vida
Um Passado Perfeito
Ventos de Quaresma
http://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonardo...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 178 reviews
December 12, 2017
" Κάθε βιβλίο, οποιοδήποτε, είναι αναντικατάστατο, κάθε ένα περιέχει μια λέξη, μια φράση, μια ιδέα που περιμένει τον αναγνώστη της."
March 24, 2017
Το έχω ξαναγράψει πως θεωρώ τον Παδούρα κορυφαίο συγγραφέα κ το Παρελθόν Χαμένο Στην Ομίχλη, η έκτη περιπέτεια που έγραψε με πρωταγωνιστή τον Μάριο Κόντε (κ έβδομο βιβλίο του που διαβάζω μετά κ τον αριστουργηματικό Ανθρωπο που Αγαπουσε τα Σκυλια), είναι μια ακόμα απολαυστική στιγμή στην πορεία του. Όπως συνηθίζει, ο Παδούρα γυρίζει πίσω στην προ-επαναστατική Κούβα κ στο κύκλωμα της νύχτας της εποχής, όπου ξεκινώντας από μια πανέμορφη τραγουδίστρια των μπολερό κάνει ένα έξοχο κοινωνικοπολιτικό σχόλιο για το παρελθόν της χώρας του, με μεγαλύτερο του όπλο την ανατριχιαστική του πρόζα που γεμίζει τον Κόντε με υπαρξιακές σκέψεις κ μια πολύ γοητευτική πάλη που βιώνει καθώς προσπαθεί να διατηρήσει την ακεραιότητά του κ τη συνείδησή του καθαρή.
Η ιστορία ξεκινάει όταν ο Κόντε, λαγωνικό παλιών βιβλίων πια, εντοπίζει μια απίθανη βιβλιοθήκη που περιέχει τη ζωντανή ιστορία της βιβλιογραφίας κ τυπογραφίας της Κούβας. Καθώς διαλέγει τα βιβλία που θα αγοράσει απ'τους πεινασμένους ιδιοκτήτες, πέφτει πάνω στη φωτογραφία της εκθαμβωτικής Βιολέτα δελ Ρίο κ αποφασίζει να ψάξει το παρελθόν της. Καθώς ξετυλίγει το κουβάρι της υπόθεσης, στοχάζεται καίρια πάνω στη σημερινή Κούβα, στις πολλαπλές προδοσίες που βίωσε αυτός ο πολύπαθος λαός κ στους τρόπους που βρήκε ο καθένας για να επιβίωσει (φεύγοντας για Αμερική, πιστεύοντας σε ένα Θεό, βουτώντας στην παρανομία κοκ). Όταν καταφέρνει να βρει μια ηχογράφηση της Βιολέτα, ο Παδούρα καταφέρνει να ζωντανέψει το τραγούδι μπροστά στα μάτια του αναγνώστη που σχεδόν ακούει τη φωνή της τραγουδίστριας. Είμαστε πραγματικά τυχεροί που τη μετάφραση την ανέλαβε ο Αθανασίου, ο οποίος για άλλη μια φορά έχει κάνει καταπληκτική δουλειά.
Το μοναδικό άσχημο που έχει συμβεί τώρα είναι πως απ'τη βιβλιογραφία του συγγραφέα σε ελληνικά κ αγγλικά μου έχουν μείνει μόνο οι Αιρετικοί (μεσολαβεί μια ακόμα ιστορία με τον Κόντε που δυστυχώς δεν έχει μεταφραστεί ούτε στα αγγλικά), οι οποίοι έχουν ήδη κλείσει θέση στη βαλίτσα που θα πάρω μαζί μου τον Αύγουστο.
Η ιστορία ξεκινάει όταν ο Κόντε, λαγωνικό παλιών βιβλίων πια, εντοπίζει μια απίθανη βιβλιοθήκη που περιέχει τη ζωντανή ιστορία της βιβλιογραφίας κ τυπογραφίας της Κούβας. Καθώς διαλέγει τα βιβλία που θα αγοράσει απ'τους πεινασμένους ιδιοκτήτες, πέφτει πάνω στη φωτογραφία της εκθαμβωτικής Βιολέτα δελ Ρίο κ αποφασίζει να ψάξει το παρελθόν της. Καθώς ξετυλίγει το κουβάρι της υπόθεσης, στοχάζεται καίρια πάνω στη σημερινή Κούβα, στις πολλαπλές προδοσίες που βίωσε αυτός ο πολύπαθος λαός κ στους τρόπους που βρήκε ο καθένας για να επιβίωσει (φεύγοντας για Αμερική, πιστεύοντας σε ένα Θεό, βουτώντας στην παρανομία κοκ). Όταν καταφέρνει να βρει μια ηχογράφηση της Βιολέτα, ο Παδούρα καταφέρνει να ζωντανέψει το τραγούδι μπροστά στα μάτια του αναγνώστη που σχεδόν ακούει τη φωνή της τραγουδίστριας. Είμαστε πραγματικά τυχεροί που τη μετάφραση την ανέλαβε ο Αθανασίου, ο οποίος για άλλη μια φορά έχει κάνει καταπληκτική δουλειά.
Το μοναδικό άσχημο που έχει συμβεί τώρα είναι πως απ'τη βιβλιογραφία του συγγραφέα σε ελληνικά κ αγγλικά μου έχουν μείνει μόνο οι Αιρετικοί (μεσολαβεί μια ακόμα ιστορία με τον Κόντε που δυστυχώς δεν έχει μεταφραστεί ούτε στα αγγλικά), οι οποίοι έχουν ήδη κλείσει θέση στη βαλίτσα που θα πάρω μαζί μου τον Αύγουστο.
September 5, 2017
Havana Fever is literally a literary mystery. Written by a bibliophile for bibliophiles, it takes the reader on a 4 dimensional journey around Cuba, a journey in which we get to experience the good, the bad and the ugly realities of that land, a journey in which we are allowed to experience the music, the food, the city that is and was Havana.
Life under Castro although that name is never mentioned in the book only the Crisis: (Page 160)
"Life was passing us by on all sides," said Rabbit, "and to protect us, they gave us blinkers. Like mules. We should only look ahead and stride towards the shining future awaiting us at the end of history and, obviously, we weren't allowed to get tired on that road. Our only problem was that the future was very far off and the path went uphill and was full of sacrifices, prohibitions, denials and privations. The more we advanced, the steeper the slope and more distant the shining future, which was fading quickly away. The bastard had run out of petrol. I sometimes think they dazzled us with all that glare and we walked past the future and didn't even see it . . . Now we're halfway round the track and are going blind, as well as bald and cirrhotic, and there's not all that much we want to see anymore."
Page 193:
"The world, Conde, is as it is, independent of any specific thought one may have about it. And you're full of specific thoughts, you even want your thoughts to change the world, and forget that all your mind can change is yourself."
Life under Castro although that name is never mentioned in the book only the Crisis: (Page 160)
"Life was passing us by on all sides," said Rabbit, "and to protect us, they gave us blinkers. Like mules. We should only look ahead and stride towards the shining future awaiting us at the end of history and, obviously, we weren't allowed to get tired on that road. Our only problem was that the future was very far off and the path went uphill and was full of sacrifices, prohibitions, denials and privations. The more we advanced, the steeper the slope and more distant the shining future, which was fading quickly away. The bastard had run out of petrol. I sometimes think they dazzled us with all that glare and we walked past the future and didn't even see it . . . Now we're halfway round the track and are going blind, as well as bald and cirrhotic, and there's not all that much we want to see anymore."
Page 193:
"The world, Conde, is as it is, independent of any specific thought one may have about it. And you're full of specific thoughts, you even want your thoughts to change the world, and forget that all your mind can change is yourself."
July 27, 2017
Ο Μάριο Κόντε, μετα απο 10 χρόνια ως ντετέκτιβ της Αστυνομίας, αποφασίζει να ασχοληθεί με την άλλη μεγάλη του αγάπη. Την μεταπώληση παλαιών και ενίοτε σπάνιων βιβλίων. Βρίσκεται εντελώς τυχαία σε μια βιβλιοθήκη που περιλαμβάνει πολλούς κρυμμένους "θησαυρούς". Το όνομα μιας τραγουδίστριας των μπολέρο, τον κάνει να την αναζητήσει και να προσπαθήσει να ανακαλύψει τους λόγους της εξαφάνισης της. Κι εδώ αρχίζει το μυστήριο και τα πραγματα περιπλέκονται.
Σαν πρώτη επαφή με το συγγραφέα, έμεινα ικανοποιημένη.
Σαν πρώτη επαφή με το συγγραφέα, έμεινα ικανοποιημένη.
August 22, 2018
A priceless adventure in an ever-changing Cuban background, where even the locals feel lost due to the rapid loss of all moral values and degradation of the human being. As this was my first Padura read I felt a warm welcome to this world as if the writer is holding your hand through the dangerous areas of the city, guiding you via nostalgic tunes to the past where Violeta del Rio performs and you get lost in the magical Cuban ethereal nights. This was definitely not a fast read for me cause some parts felt too detailed (I didn't appreciate the inclusion of the love letters,but they sure did create an aura of mystery ), but mainly because I really didn't want it to end. My favourite part was scavenging through the bookcases for precious books,as well as the story of Violeta. I'm definitely continuing with the rest of his work.
July 11, 2018
Το βιβλίο έχει μια βασική αδυναμία, στηρίζει όλο το ξετύλιγμα και την λύση της πλοκής σε γράμματα ξεκάρφωτα με την κύρια διήγηση της ιστορίας, που εμένα μου φαίνεται λίγο αδύναμος και τεμπέλικος τρόπος να χτίσεις ένα βιβλίο μυστηρίου. Γιατί καταλήγει να είναι όλο "λέω και δεν δείχνω", δεν ζεις το μυστήριο διαβάζοντας, απλά στο εξηγούν τα γράμματα ενώ διαβάζεις μια άλλη ιστορία. Δεν διαφωνώ ότι θα μπορούσαν τα δυο να συνεργαστούν καλυτερα και να δέσει το μίγμα αλλά δεν νομίζω ότι τα κατάφερε ο Παδούρα, δεν μου φαίνεται και μετρ του μυστηρίου, σε αντίθεση με την γλώσσα που την δουλεύει πολύ καλά και δεν με άφησε παραπονεμένη. Αν και κάτι δεν μου κολλάει στη γλώσσα και στην ιστορία, έχω μια αίσθηση ότι είναι δυο διαφορετικά πράγματα.
January 24, 2023
4.5 ⭐️
September 14, 2017
Εξαιρετικό ανάγνωσμα, από αυτά που θέλεις να τα ξαναδιαβάσεις κάποια στιγμή στη ζωή σου, καθισμένος σε μια βουλιαχτή πολυθρόνα και κηρύσσοντας εμπάργκο σε κάθε είδους θόρυβο και απόσπαση.
Η μοναξιά ως απόλαυση!
Αντιθέτως, η πρώτη ανάγνωση για μένα ήταν ως audio book, πέρα δώθε στη δουλειά μου ή τηγανίζοντας κολοκυθάκια, ασχολίες που μετρίασαν αισθητά την απόλαυση και επιπλέον έκαψαν τα κολοκυθάκια και ίσως να προσέθεσαν και ένα τριγωνικό κάψιμο σε ένα πουκάμισο.
Ο Μάριο Κόντε, πρώην αστυνομικός στην Αβάνα, με αφορμή κάποιες συγκυρίες, στρέφεται στις αγοραπωλησίες βιβλίων από δεύτερο χέρι ή ακόμα καλύτερα σπάνιων εκδόσεων, όπου αυτές μπορούν να βρεθούν.
Πρόκειται για έναν από τους πιο ολοκληρωμένους χαρακτήρες βιβλίων που έχω διαβάσει. Αμέτρητα συμπαθής προς τον αναγνώστη, συγκεντρώνει χάρες που έχουν να κάνουν με αξίες που εξανεμίζονται ταχύτατα και κάνουν αυτούς τους ήρωες να χαρακτηρίζονται γραφικοί από ορισμένους.
Ο Κόντε, δε διστάζει να παραιτηθεί από την αστυνομία για λόγους τιμής και να ασχοληθεί με αυτό που κατά βάθος ήθελε όλη του τη ζωή : τα βιβλία. Δηλαδή όπως οι περισσότεροι από εμάς. Αυτός το κάνει πράξη σε μια εξαθλιωμένη Αβάνα της οποίας οι κάτοικοι πεινάνε και ευτυχώς που δεν έχει τόσο κρύο κλίμα, γιατί θα τα έκαιγαν χωρίς τύψεις για να ζεσταθούν.
Βαθιά συναισθηματικός, ο Κόντε, τίμιος και πιστός σε έννοιες όπως η φιλία, εμπλέκεται στην εξιχνίαση ενός μυστηρίου που έχει να κάνει με την εξαφάνιση μιας τραγουδίστριας μπολέρο στο απόγειο της καριέρας της, τη δεκαετία του '50. Η Αβάνα του '50, του Μπατίστα, μια Αβάνα κεφάτη και γλεντζού, μέσα από τη διήγηση του συγγραφέα έρχεται σε αντιδιαστολή με την Αβάνα του 2000, φτωχή, ερειπωμένη, πεινασμένη και γεμάτη φτωχοδιάβολους που σκαρφίζονται ό,τι μπορούν για να επιβιώσουν, στα μετεπαναστατικά χρόνια.
Απολαυστική - ατμοσφαιρική γραφή, εξαιρετική απόδοση από τον Κώστα Αθανασίου και χρωματισμένη ανάγνωση από τον Ηρακλή Στρούγγη.
Η μοναξιά ως απόλαυση!
Αντιθέτως, η πρώτη ανάγνωση για μένα ήταν ως audio book, πέρα δώθε στη δουλειά μου ή τηγανίζοντας κολοκυθάκια, ασχολίες που μετρίασαν αισθητά την απόλαυση και επιπλέον έκαψαν τα κολοκυθάκια και ίσως να προσέθεσαν και ένα τριγωνικό κάψιμο σε ένα πουκάμισο.
Ο Μάριο Κόντε, πρώην αστυνομικός στην Αβάνα, με αφορμή κάποιες συγκυρίες, στρέφεται στις αγοραπωλησίες βιβλίων από δεύτερο χέρι ή ακόμα καλύτερα σπάνιων εκδόσεων, όπου αυτές μπορούν να βρεθούν.
Πρόκειται για έναν από τους πιο ολοκληρωμένους χαρακτήρες βιβλίων που έχω διαβάσει. Αμέτρητα συμπαθής προς τον αναγνώστη, συγκεντρώνει χάρες που έχουν να κάνουν με αξίες που εξανεμίζονται ταχύτατα και κάνουν αυτούς τους ήρωες να χαρακτηρίζονται γραφικοί από ορισμένους.
Ο Κόντε, δε διστάζει να παραιτηθεί από την αστυνομία για λόγους τιμής και να ασχοληθεί με αυτό που κατά βάθος ήθελε όλη του τη ζωή : τα βιβλία. Δηλαδή όπως οι περισσότεροι από εμάς. Αυτός το κάνει πράξη σε μια εξαθλιωμένη Αβάνα της οποίας οι κάτοικοι πεινάνε και ευτυχώς που δεν έχει τόσο κρύο κλίμα, γιατί θα τα έκαιγαν χωρίς τύψεις για να ζεσταθούν.
Βαθιά συναισθηματικός, ο Κόντε, τίμιος και πιστός σε έννοιες όπως η φιλία, εμπλέκεται στην εξιχνίαση ενός μυστηρίου που έχει να κάνει με την εξαφάνιση μιας τραγουδίστριας μπολέρο στο απόγειο της καριέρας της, τη δεκαετία του '50. Η Αβάνα του '50, του Μπατίστα, μια Αβάνα κεφάτη και γλεντζού, μέσα από τη διήγηση του συγγραφέα έρχεται σε αντιδιαστολή με την Αβάνα του 2000, φτωχή, ερειπωμένη, πεινασμένη και γεμάτη φτωχοδιάβολους που σκαρφίζονται ό,τι μπορούν για να επιβιώσουν, στα μετεπαναστατικά χρόνια.
Απολαυστική - ατμοσφαιρική γραφή, εξαιρετική απόδοση από τον Κώστα Αθανασίου και χρωματισμένη ανάγνωση από τον Ηρακλή Στρούγγη.
August 28, 2018
Una magnífica novela policiaca, no tengo dudas de ello. Comparada con las anteriores, creo que baja un poco el nivel porque quizás la trama sea un poco más embrollada, queriendo tocar muchos temas aunque lo haga todo bien y remate con un buen final. Probablemente, por haberla leído seguida de las seis anteriores, el cansancio me haya hecho mella y en algunos momentos no viera claro hacia donde debía fijar mi atención. Mario Conde, como personaje, sigue evolucionando para mejor y nos sigue cautivando con su personalidad.
February 5, 2015
αυτό ήταν υπερπαραγωγη....και φόνοι και φαγητό και συνταγές και μουσική και ποτά και αυτοκίνητα και πούρα και μαφία και μπάτσοι και γυναίκες και μουσική και τραγούδι και λογοτεχνία και ποίηση και μία πόλη ΘΑΥΜΑ ΚΑΙ ΠΟΥ ΟΛΑ ΜΠΟΡΟΥΝ ΝΑ ΣΥΜΒΟΥΝ..
October 28, 2015
Segundo libro que leo del autor en menos de un mes.
Me encanta las reminiscencias que hay en todos sus libros sobre el pasado, es increíble la crítica social que hace sobre el abuso de poder y la miseria.
Me ha encantado conocer a Mario Conde.
Me encanta las reminiscencias que hay en todos sus libros sobre el pasado, es increíble la crítica social que hace sobre el abuso de poder y la miseria.
Me ha encantado conocer a Mario Conde.
July 2, 2015
Na senda do romance policial, Leonardo Padura Fuentes apresenta-nos uma história de amor, vingança, ódio e morte que nos prende, de um fôlego só, da primeira à última página, tornando a leitura de "A Neblina do Passado" extremamente compulsiva, facto que decorre apenas dos autores com grande, enorme talento!
O que têm em comum Violeta del Río, estreante intérprete de boleros nostálgicos e melancólicos de inícios da década de 60 do séc. 20, com os proprietários de uma vasta biblioteca com obras literárias que remontam ao século 16, que encerra anos de literatura e pensamento, com a máfia cubana pré-revolução e com a determinação de Mario Conde, bibliófilo empedernido, em destrinçar um mistério no qual se vê envolvido devido às suas próprias acutilâncias premonitórias?
A acão deste romance, desenvolve-se em 2003, numa Havana ainda ressentida com o seu presente histórico, onde se vivia o dia-a-dia tendo como pensamento um futuro que "estava muito longe" em que o "caminho era uma ladeira empinada cheia de sacrifícios, proibições, recusas, privações" e quanto mais se avançava "mais a ladeira se tornava íngreme e mais longe ficava o futuro luminoso que, além disso, se foi apagando. Às vezes penso que, nos ofuscaram com tanta luz, que passamos ao lado do futuro sem o vermos".
É, pois, numa Havana destruída, derreada, apocalíptica, caótica, historicamente afastada dos fulgores de uma época que, embora tenha pecado pela tirania e intransigência ditatorial de Fulgêncio Batista, conhecera o esplendor de uma animação notívaga única na sua história, que Mario Conde descobre o recorte de uma revista que anunciava a retirada inesperada de Violeta del Rio do panorama musical cubano: "Os fragmentos da verdade que Conde tinha conseguido trazer à tona a partir daquela notícia esquecida, foram desenhando e temperando uma tragédia extraviada na neblina do passado, um drama cuja motivação mais recôndita tinha sido a causadora de, pelo menos, duas mortes".
A estrutura literária, absolutamente original, divide o livro em duas partes acompanhando o disco de 45 rotações gravado por Violeta del Río em que o lado A apresenta a faixa "Vete de Mí" e o lado B remete para a gravação de "Me Recordarás". A narrativa epistolar que vai surgindo entrementes, faz-nos, paulatinamente, perceber toda a trama de mistério e crime, ainda antes do próprio Mario Conde, do que se pode concluir que Padura assim o concretizou para que, nós leitores, fossemos os primeiros a compreender os motivo das ações, dos crimes cometidos e até as razões das vítimas e seus carrascos antes do remate final, que torna tudo compreensível.
Não foi por acaso que Leonado Padura recebeu, este ano, o prémio "Princesa das Astúrias das Letras". A sua obra é extraordinária e só não pontuo "A Neblina do Passado" com 5 estrelas porque "Os Hereges", dentro do género, é um livro excecional que merece a pontuação máxima!
"Después que uno vive
veinte desengaños
qué importa uno más,
después que conozcas
la acción de la vida
no debes llorar.
Hay que darse cuenta
que todo es mentira,
que nada es verdad.
Hay que vivir el momento feliz,
hay que gozar lo que puedas gozar,
porque sacando la cuenta en total,
la vida es un sueño
y todo se va.
La realidad es nacer y morrir,
por qué llenarnos de tanta ansiedad,
todo no es más que un eterno sufrir,
el mundo está hecho ... sin felicidad"
Arsenio Rodríguez
O que têm em comum Violeta del Río, estreante intérprete de boleros nostálgicos e melancólicos de inícios da década de 60 do séc. 20, com os proprietários de uma vasta biblioteca com obras literárias que remontam ao século 16, que encerra anos de literatura e pensamento, com a máfia cubana pré-revolução e com a determinação de Mario Conde, bibliófilo empedernido, em destrinçar um mistério no qual se vê envolvido devido às suas próprias acutilâncias premonitórias?
A acão deste romance, desenvolve-se em 2003, numa Havana ainda ressentida com o seu presente histórico, onde se vivia o dia-a-dia tendo como pensamento um futuro que "estava muito longe" em que o "caminho era uma ladeira empinada cheia de sacrifícios, proibições, recusas, privações" e quanto mais se avançava "mais a ladeira se tornava íngreme e mais longe ficava o futuro luminoso que, além disso, se foi apagando. Às vezes penso que, nos ofuscaram com tanta luz, que passamos ao lado do futuro sem o vermos".
É, pois, numa Havana destruída, derreada, apocalíptica, caótica, historicamente afastada dos fulgores de uma época que, embora tenha pecado pela tirania e intransigência ditatorial de Fulgêncio Batista, conhecera o esplendor de uma animação notívaga única na sua história, que Mario Conde descobre o recorte de uma revista que anunciava a retirada inesperada de Violeta del Rio do panorama musical cubano: "Os fragmentos da verdade que Conde tinha conseguido trazer à tona a partir daquela notícia esquecida, foram desenhando e temperando uma tragédia extraviada na neblina do passado, um drama cuja motivação mais recôndita tinha sido a causadora de, pelo menos, duas mortes".
A estrutura literária, absolutamente original, divide o livro em duas partes acompanhando o disco de 45 rotações gravado por Violeta del Río em que o lado A apresenta a faixa "Vete de Mí" e o lado B remete para a gravação de "Me Recordarás". A narrativa epistolar que vai surgindo entrementes, faz-nos, paulatinamente, perceber toda a trama de mistério e crime, ainda antes do próprio Mario Conde, do que se pode concluir que Padura assim o concretizou para que, nós leitores, fossemos os primeiros a compreender os motivo das ações, dos crimes cometidos e até as razões das vítimas e seus carrascos antes do remate final, que torna tudo compreensível.
Não foi por acaso que Leonado Padura recebeu, este ano, o prémio "Princesa das Astúrias das Letras". A sua obra é extraordinária e só não pontuo "A Neblina do Passado" com 5 estrelas porque "Os Hereges", dentro do género, é um livro excecional que merece a pontuação máxima!
"Después que uno vive
veinte desengaños
qué importa uno más,
después que conozcas
la acción de la vida
no debes llorar.
Hay que darse cuenta
que todo es mentira,
que nada es verdad.
Hay que vivir el momento feliz,
hay que gozar lo que puedas gozar,
porque sacando la cuenta en total,
la vida es un sueño
y todo se va.
La realidad es nacer y morrir,
por qué llenarnos de tanta ansiedad,
todo no es más que un eterno sufrir,
el mundo está hecho ... sin felicidad"
Arsenio Rodríguez
October 24, 2017
More a meditation on what the hell happened in Cuba than a true mystery--with long confessions, a feverish love of old books and an ode to friendship. If this is what is published in Cuba then they have more freedom than we are told by our US overseers. An example talking about what happened after Fidel: "..How many things did they take away, ban, refuse us for years in order to catapult us into the future and make us better?...The worse thing was we weren't allowed we chance to live to the rhythms people were enjoying on the rest of the planet. To protect us...All the time, day in, day out, we've been living out our responsibility for this moment in history, They were bent on forcing us to be better...And why do so many young people now want to be rastas, rockers, rappers and even Muslims, and dress up like clowns, abuse themselves putting rings everywhere and even tattooing their eyelids? Why do so many do the hardest drugs, why do so many become whores, pimps, and transvestites, and wear crucifixes and wooden necklaces though they don't even believe in their fucking mothers. Why do so many cynics swear one thing and believe another, and why do so many live by thinking up what they can steal steal to get money so they don't work themselves to death Why do so many just want to eave the island?...I have a name for that...Historical exhaustion. After being so exceptional, so historical and so transcendent, people get tired and want a bit of normality. They can't do that, they decide to be abnormal. They want to be like other people, not like themselves...They don't want to belong, don't want to be forced to be good. above all they don't want to be like us, their fathers, a load of failed shits..." p. 158-9
October 8, 2012
Mario Conde is back - thankfully! In his latest adventure, the retired Ex-Cop, now working as a bookseller, takes notice of a former singer who was on her zenith of fame during the Fifties. Conde gets interested in the story of this woman - which leads to serious consequences. Again, readers will finde the usual ingredients which added up to very pleasant and enternaining books so far featuring the sensitive but also stubborn hero created by Leonoardo Padura. Again, Conde is fascinated by a mysterious woman, again, he gets upset by world's unfairness and again he doesn't manage to write his own novel. And again, the book is a mirror of Cuba's past and present - both with bright and dark elements.
What I like very much is the humane point of view and the compassionate language the author makes use of the build the world of Mario Conde. There's still a lot of mess in the life of the former Cop but at least he tries to give his existence some alignement. The criminal case which is developping in the second half of the book is interesting, but I read more surprising and thrilling crimes stories. Additionally, the novel has some lengths. But what makes this story so interesting is the investigation of the past, which is a deep study of the country and the hero itself. If you liked Padura's stories so far, don't hesitate to flip the cover of 'Havana Fever'.
What I like very much is the humane point of view and the compassionate language the author makes use of the build the world of Mario Conde. There's still a lot of mess in the life of the former Cop but at least he tries to give his existence some alignement. The criminal case which is developping in the second half of the book is interesting, but I read more surprising and thrilling crimes stories. Additionally, the novel has some lengths. But what makes this story so interesting is the investigation of the past, which is a deep study of the country and the hero itself. If you liked Padura's stories so far, don't hesitate to flip the cover of 'Havana Fever'.
March 13, 2017
A great story to read while vacationing in Havana. Padura brings back Mario Conde 20 years after he has left the Havana police department and therefore at least 20 years after the Havana series that take place while he was a cop. Those books were great, but this Conde is a step above, and Padura's evocation of Havana today is spot on. It was wonderful to walk the streets, hear the music and shop at the book market described so aptly and eloquently by Padura at the same time as reading this book. Conde isn't that old yet; perhaps another story to come?
March 14, 2016
The story is good but something is off in the translation, sentences that I know are probably gorgeous in Spanish have been translated into awkward English sentences.
July 24, 2017
Conde's unofficial investigation of a murder clears the mystery of another murder 40 years earlier. Atmospheric and cerebral, this is amother fine thriller from Padura.
May 27, 2018
Aunque me ha parecido un poco enrevesado, bastante duro y realista a veces, y más lento de lo que esperaba, me ha gustado. No puedo negarlo, he disfrutado con esta lectura.
February 23, 2024
Excelente trama negra, que además nos pone entre las manos la doble visión de la Cuba de Castro (o post Castro, no lo sabemos) y sus miserias, así como los últimos años del dictador Batista con todas sus luces y sombras: el bolero, la riqueza, la belleza, la corrupción, las drogas, la prostitución...
Los sólidos personajes recrean situaciones donde la melancolía, el amor, la violencia y el ansia por sobrevivir se afilan y nos cortan el alma.
Los sólidos personajes recrean situaciones donde la melancolía, el amor, la violencia y el ansia por sobrevivir se afilan y nos cortan el alma.
May 28, 2020
Havana Fever
What an unusual (at least to me) and fascinating book. It’s a mystery, but is much, much more. Set in present-day Havana, the book also evokes the romance, as well as the political unrest, poverty, and revolution of the 1950s. And it’s filled with interesting characters — most notably ex-cop Mario Conde. (Unfortunately, no matter how many times I read his name, I always thought of Marie Kondo, the queen of pathological tidiness). Conde’s an interesting and complex character, a good man with a somewhat troubled past, somewhat tortured, very philosophical, who is now a dealer of used and rare books. Mario stumbles upon a 40-year-old mystery and is overcome by the need to unravel it. I greatly enjoyed his ruminations when trying to assemble pieces of information to figure out why he has his particular hunches. Mario also has a bunch of good buddies and they are very entertaining. Their names alone are fun! Rabbit, Red Candito, Skinny Carlos (who is obese), and Yoyi Pigeon.
I’m not a lifelong reader of mysteries and, if I’m going to read one, I usually want it to be more “literary” than genre style. I mean, well-written prose and well-developed characters. Havana Fever has plenty of both, as well as a lot of action, great dialogue, and a hot, steamy, boozy atmosphere.
I don’t usually care whodunit. The mystery in this book did engage me, though, and I kept trying to figure out what had happened. And I kept thinking I had it, only to be proven wrong over and over. (I finally did get it before the end, but was never quite certain.) So the mystery is fairly intriguing, but it's Mario who makes the book.
Leonardo Padura is a good writer, but the text is slightly marred by mistakes in grammar or usage — e.g., connecting words omitted from sentences and instances of incorrect word usage, such as flaunt instead of flout. Normally this would really irritate me, but I chalked it up to this being a translation by someone who knows English less well than Spanish and didn’t let it interfere with my enjoyment of the book.
I heard about this book from David and Melissa on the “Strong Sense of Place” podcast, Episode 11, in which the hosts discuss books that transported them to this island nation. Well worth a listen!
What an unusual (at least to me) and fascinating book. It’s a mystery, but is much, much more. Set in present-day Havana, the book also evokes the romance, as well as the political unrest, poverty, and revolution of the 1950s. And it’s filled with interesting characters — most notably ex-cop Mario Conde. (Unfortunately, no matter how many times I read his name, I always thought of Marie Kondo, the queen of pathological tidiness). Conde’s an interesting and complex character, a good man with a somewhat troubled past, somewhat tortured, very philosophical, who is now a dealer of used and rare books. Mario stumbles upon a 40-year-old mystery and is overcome by the need to unravel it. I greatly enjoyed his ruminations when trying to assemble pieces of information to figure out why he has his particular hunches. Mario also has a bunch of good buddies and they are very entertaining. Their names alone are fun! Rabbit, Red Candito, Skinny Carlos (who is obese), and Yoyi Pigeon.
I’m not a lifelong reader of mysteries and, if I’m going to read one, I usually want it to be more “literary” than genre style. I mean, well-written prose and well-developed characters. Havana Fever has plenty of both, as well as a lot of action, great dialogue, and a hot, steamy, boozy atmosphere.
I don’t usually care whodunit. The mystery in this book did engage me, though, and I kept trying to figure out what had happened. And I kept thinking I had it, only to be proven wrong over and over. (I finally did get it before the end, but was never quite certain.) So the mystery is fairly intriguing, but it's Mario who makes the book.
Leonardo Padura is a good writer, but the text is slightly marred by mistakes in grammar or usage — e.g., connecting words omitted from sentences and instances of incorrect word usage, such as flaunt instead of flout. Normally this would really irritate me, but I chalked it up to this being a translation by someone who knows English less well than Spanish and didn’t let it interfere with my enjoyment of the book.
I heard about this book from David and Melissa on the “Strong Sense of Place” podcast, Episode 11, in which the hosts discuss books that transported them to this island nation. Well worth a listen!
November 11, 2015
Over a decade after Mario Conde has left the Havana police force, he finds a clipping about Violeta del Rio, a beautiful and mysterious bolero singer in pre-revolutionary Cuba. He becomes obsessed with Violeta and the mystery surrounding her death.
Full of atmosphere and descriptions to savor, Padura deals with obsession, hatred and poverty as Conde’s investigations lead him through neglected and crime ridden Havana slums and then back to the strange mansion where it all began. As with all his Mario Conde novels, Padura gives us a view into Cuban life with a realism that is rarely encountered elsewhere.
Full of atmosphere and descriptions to savor, Padura deals with obsession, hatred and poverty as Conde’s investigations lead him through neglected and crime ridden Havana slums and then back to the strange mansion where it all began. As with all his Mario Conde novels, Padura gives us a view into Cuban life with a realism that is rarely encountered elsewhere.
September 6, 2012
αυτό που μαρεσε είναι το κλίμα που φτιάχνει ο παδούρα στο συγκεκριμένο βιβλίο. Οι λεπτές και συγκρατημένες περιγραφές των κοινωνικών καταστάσεων που κρύβονται μέσα σε σύντομες προτάσεις της αφήγησης. Μ'άρεσε επίσης η μετάφραση. Το βιβλίο ήταν ένα ευχάριστο ανάγνωσμα, ένα ωραίο, απλό, διασκεδαστικό ταξίδι. Με απλότητα, που λέει και ο συγγραφέας του. Ωραία.
August 4, 2015
Δυσάρεστη έκπληξη. Ο ίδιος ο συγγραφέας στη σελίδα 260, μιλώντας για κάτι άλλο, γράφει άθελά του γιατί δεν μου άρεσε αυτό το βιβλίο: «Ο Κόντε λίγο-λίγο συνειδητοποιούσε πόσο παράλογη ήταν εκείνη η ιστορία, με τις λεπτομέρειες της οποίας προσπαθούσε να υψώσει ένα ανέφικτο οικοδόμημα, χωρίς τσιμέντο και κολόνες, έτοιμο να καταρρεύσει από το ίδιο του το βάρος».
May 28, 2017
Primero lei El Hombre que amaba a los perros. Buenísima. Esta es la segunda novela que leo de Padura y primera de la serie de Conde y nuevamente me ha encantando con sus letras y la forma en que te adentras a la realidad que plasma. Que forma de describir la vida en Cuba, su amada pero tortuosa isla.
October 21, 2015
A great discovery. Even better to find that he has written a number of books. An interesting tale that is set in Cuba, post 1989, after the demise of Communism. It is both a mystery and a fascinating insight into life in modern embargoed Cuba. Fabulous!
June 29, 2017
¡Uff! Una excelente historia. Aprovecha la nostalgia del personaje y toda su personalidad para desarrollar esta historia alrededor de una biblioteca olvidada, pero llena de recuerdos y secretos. Habrá que seguir leyendo a Padura con su Mario Conde en la Habana.
November 14, 2017
Es un libro muy entretenido y da cuenta a la perfección del ambiente cubano en una Habana decadente. Es una novela auténtica, sin ser una gran obra. Mario Conde es un personaje entrañable, perfectamente construido. La trama es interesante. Recomendable.
February 19, 2024
Bought this book prior to a trip to Cuba to increase my knowledge of the country and its best fiction writer. Without question, Leonardo Pardura is a master storyteller. What a great murder mystery and excellent chronicler of Cuba’s history. Need to read more of his Conde mystery series.
December 13, 2011
Leonardo Padura is a genius. He shows cuban reality in such way that we can almost smell it. There is no other book, with the required quality that describes so good the cuban way of life.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 178 reviews