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O gosto da liberdade
Nesta saga latino-americana de amor e revolução ambientada na Venezuela, um jovem rebelde comete uma traição cujas consequências atravessam décadas. Um dia, ele se verá diante de uma chance de redenção. Mas será que boas intenções são capazes de minimizar o impacto de grandes erros?
Com fólego épico, o comovente romance de estreia de Alejandro Puyana acompanha gerações de uma mesma família marcadas pela decisão de manter as próprias convicções mesmo ao custo de uma dor tão intensa que ameaça romper até os laços mais fortes.
Com fólego épico, o comovente romance de estreia de Alejandro Puyana acompanha gerações de uma mesma família marcadas pela decisão de manter as próprias convicções mesmo ao custo de uma dor tão intensa que ameaça romper até os laços mais fortes.
448 pages, Paperback
First published August 20, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews
April 30, 2025
Violence. Gangs.Guns. Riots.Revolutionaries. Guerrilla warfare. This is Venezuela circa 1960’s. The fight for freedom rages.
An epic story that spans decades. We meet Stanislavo, born to privilege but turns his back on it, to join the leftist movement. He is captured and escapes with a laser focus on returning to the mission at the cost of losing the one thing who matters the most, Emiliana.
As the story progresses, the years pass. The political instability of the country teeters. Maria, Stanislavo’s daughter, comes face to face with the father she’s never met.
Puyana’s debut writing is richly layered and textured with descriptions of a country ravaged by political corruption while also revealing the beauty of this tropical land. Characters are authentic, deeply flawed, scarred. Society consists of the wealthy and the poor with little in between.
Freedom, for these people who hope for it and hunger for it, would be a bountiful feast.
5⭐️
An epic story that spans decades. We meet Stanislavo, born to privilege but turns his back on it, to join the leftist movement. He is captured and escapes with a laser focus on returning to the mission at the cost of losing the one thing who matters the most, Emiliana.
As the story progresses, the years pass. The political instability of the country teeters. Maria, Stanislavo’s daughter, comes face to face with the father she’s never met.
Puyana’s debut writing is richly layered and textured with descriptions of a country ravaged by political corruption while also revealing the beauty of this tropical land. Characters are authentic, deeply flawed, scarred. Society consists of the wealthy and the poor with little in between.
Freedom, for these people who hope for it and hunger for it, would be a bountiful feast.
5⭐️
December 7, 2024
Literary pals, check this one out. Same to you, hist fic buddies. The comparison to Allende’s debut are spot-on. Freedom Is a Feast is epic and immersive. Alejandro Puyana story of Venezuela, his lost and forgotten homeland in many ways, is sooooooo good, so well-done; a marvel.
Central to the story is Stanislavo, living in 1960s Venezuela, as he joins the leftist movement, traveling deep in the jungle for training. While there, he meets Emiliana, a nurse and fellow revolutionary. Their connection is strong but fleeting.
More than forty years later, the politics have changed… but so much has also remained the same. A boy is shot in an accident, and his mother and Stanislavo cross paths, changing the course of their each of their futures. How are the two connected?
What struck me first is the intimacy in the Puyana’s writing. Next, I was overwhelmed with the reality- all of this happened, is still happening, could happen again, anywhere?! A beautiful country filled with people who love it, who are passionate about their home and their freedoms… and how we can push and push for what we think is the best outcome, only to find that outcome was not what anyone really wanted, and yet the reality is country is still on fire. Through the pain and heartache, these characters were willing to sacrifice it all for freedom. Absolutely beautiful characters and writing. An important and timely epic.
Thanks to Bibliobeth for reading with me!
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
Central to the story is Stanislavo, living in 1960s Venezuela, as he joins the leftist movement, traveling deep in the jungle for training. While there, he meets Emiliana, a nurse and fellow revolutionary. Their connection is strong but fleeting.
More than forty years later, the politics have changed… but so much has also remained the same. A boy is shot in an accident, and his mother and Stanislavo cross paths, changing the course of their each of their futures. How are the two connected?
What struck me first is the intimacy in the Puyana’s writing. Next, I was overwhelmed with the reality- all of this happened, is still happening, could happen again, anywhere?! A beautiful country filled with people who love it, who are passionate about their home and their freedoms… and how we can push and push for what we think is the best outcome, only to find that outcome was not what anyone really wanted, and yet the reality is country is still on fire. Through the pain and heartache, these characters were willing to sacrifice it all for freedom. Absolutely beautiful characters and writing. An important and timely epic.
Thanks to Bibliobeth for reading with me!
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
August 13, 2024
Actual rating 4.5 stars.
Spanning almost fifty decades, Freedom is a Feast is a multigenerational, political story set in Venezuela. It’s full of idealism but also of hurt and trying to survive. It raises questions about how far we’ll go to get a (supposedly) better world.
While reading the prologue, my chest already tightened. Maria and her son Eloy, followers of Hugo Chavez, the president in 2002, live in a poor neighborhood in Caracas. When shooters enter their neighborhood while anti-government protests are underway in the city center, Eloy gets shot.
Then, the story flashes back to 1964 and follows Stanislavo and his ideals. Joining the leftish guerilla, he has to make personal choices that have far-reaching consequences.
Even though Maria and Stanislavo don’t know each other, their lives are inextricably linked.
This book is set in the past, but the themes are so current. I visited Venezuela a long time ago and loved the nature and the people. But I also saw the differences between the gated communities with those immense mansions and the slums where people were trying to survive to have the basics: a house, food on the table, education.
In recent years, we’ve seen a shift to the extreme right in many countries, trying to restrict so many things like abortion or LHBTQ+ rights. But communist countries like China and Cuba aren’t doing any better.
Freedom is a Feast makes you think about how much freedom is worth to you and how much you are willing to give up for a (supposedly) better world.
But this story is also about love. About falling in love, love between a mother and daughter, love between a mother and son. The son I had a soft spot for. Oh Eloy, you made me cry …
The story and the writing impressed me and I hope many people will get to read it!
Thank you, Little Brown and Company and NetGalley, for this ARC!
Follow me on Instagram
Spanning almost fifty decades, Freedom is a Feast is a multigenerational, political story set in Venezuela. It’s full of idealism but also of hurt and trying to survive. It raises questions about how far we’ll go to get a (supposedly) better world.
While reading the prologue, my chest already tightened. Maria and her son Eloy, followers of Hugo Chavez, the president in 2002, live in a poor neighborhood in Caracas. When shooters enter their neighborhood while anti-government protests are underway in the city center, Eloy gets shot.
Then, the story flashes back to 1964 and follows Stanislavo and his ideals. Joining the leftish guerilla, he has to make personal choices that have far-reaching consequences.
Even though Maria and Stanislavo don’t know each other, their lives are inextricably linked.
This book is set in the past, but the themes are so current. I visited Venezuela a long time ago and loved the nature and the people. But I also saw the differences between the gated communities with those immense mansions and the slums where people were trying to survive to have the basics: a house, food on the table, education.
In recent years, we’ve seen a shift to the extreme right in many countries, trying to restrict so many things like abortion or LHBTQ+ rights. But communist countries like China and Cuba aren’t doing any better.
Freedom is a Feast makes you think about how much freedom is worth to you and how much you are willing to give up for a (supposedly) better world.
But this story is also about love. About falling in love, love between a mother and daughter, love between a mother and son. The son I had a soft spot for. Oh Eloy, you made me cry …
The story and the writing impressed me and I hope many people will get to read it!
Thank you, Little Brown and Company and NetGalley, for this ARC!
Follow me on Instagram
October 15, 2025
When people say reading is not political, that is just another way to let you know they do not read. Or rather, potentially they are not reading books that enlighten or teach you about our past and current geopolitical climate. This book drug me down a rabbit hole of Venezuelan history. I had no idea Venezeula at one point in the 50's and 60's was the 3rd wealthiest nation in the world or that they were and still are the largest oil reserve in the world. I knew a tad of Hugo Chavez but not the intracacies of how he won and changed the sociopolitical landscape irrevocably (different than the voters ever imagined). I am still in need of further education here but thankful this book tipped me off to poke my nose into a history that is so worth understanding.
That said, this book is fantastic. Alejandro is so dynamic in his delivery and prose is top notch. I will read anything he writes moving forward and was so thankful to have had the opportunity to read this work.
The book centers around a few main characters, namely Stanislavo, a young man in the 60's part of the leftist movement who in turn devotes his entire life to political means and Maria, a mother in the 2000's caught in the grips of fear as her son is injured by gang violence. These two lives collide in a truly meaningful way but it is the journey we take with Stanislavo through the decades and the relationships he forms or tears down that make this novel so special.
Instantly one of my favorite reads of the year and believe the Pages Apart community would overwhelmingly appreciate this read!
That said, this book is fantastic. Alejandro is so dynamic in his delivery and prose is top notch. I will read anything he writes moving forward and was so thankful to have had the opportunity to read this work.
The book centers around a few main characters, namely Stanislavo, a young man in the 60's part of the leftist movement who in turn devotes his entire life to political means and Maria, a mother in the 2000's caught in the grips of fear as her son is injured by gang violence. These two lives collide in a truly meaningful way but it is the journey we take with Stanislavo through the decades and the relationships he forms or tears down that make this novel so special.
Instantly one of my favorite reads of the year and believe the Pages Apart community would overwhelmingly appreciate this read!
January 15, 2024
Got to read this manuscript early to design the cover and it is a sharp, engrossing page turner that seamlessly weaves the personal, familial, political, and the vertiginous, never-ending battle to define the identity of a nation.
July 22, 2024
As a Venezuelan immigrant, I found this book fascinating and painfully accurate in its depiction of my home country's recent history.
The four main characters in the story are, in essence, archetypes, but their narrative arcs interconnect in such natural and fluid manner that you forget they're fictional.
Besides being an engrossing read, with a rich, dramatic narrative, it is also –in my opinion– the best description of Venezuela's recent history. I intend to order a handful of copies, so I can share them with my American friends who wish to understand.
Highly recommended.
The four main characters in the story are, in essence, archetypes, but their narrative arcs interconnect in such natural and fluid manner that you forget they're fictional.
Besides being an engrossing read, with a rich, dramatic narrative, it is also –in my opinion– the best description of Venezuela's recent history. I intend to order a handful of copies, so I can share them with my American friends who wish to understand.
Highly recommended.
June 27, 2025
Freedom Is a Feast is a multigenerational saga that delves into Venezuela's turbulent political landscape, spanning from the 1960s guerrilla movements to the early 2000s under President Hugo Chávez. Further proof that you can keep good people down.
May 27, 2026
This is a sweeping generational saga that utilizes inflection points in Venezuela’s recent history to tell a story of family, loyalty, resolve, and forgiveness. As a Venezuelan I am blown away by this novel; it is hands-down one of the best books I’ve read this year.
This book allowed me to look through history and see parts of my father’s life — right down to the one of the primary settings of this story being the barrio that he grew up in. That makes this a wholly unique experience to me and other first-and-second-generation Venezuelans, and thus may create some bias — but fear not! This novel is marvelous without that lens.
The pacing, prose, and characterization drive this novel from the jungles of 1960’s Venezuela, to the streets and prisons of Venezuela in 2012 and beyond through three generations of the Rodriguez/Atanas family. It is ceaseless, emotional, and, put simply, boundlessly entertaining. It is also incredibly informative and nuanced, filled with historical nuggets and references that had me looking things up constantly to educate and provide myself with more context.
To keep this at a minimum I will just say that I love this book. It may hit differently for me than you, but if you want a family saga layered through history that is at times violent, endlessly compassionate, and riveting from front to back — look no further.
This book allowed me to look through history and see parts of my father’s life — right down to the one of the primary settings of this story being the barrio that he grew up in. That makes this a wholly unique experience to me and other first-and-second-generation Venezuelans, and thus may create some bias — but fear not! This novel is marvelous without that lens.
The pacing, prose, and characterization drive this novel from the jungles of 1960’s Venezuela, to the streets and prisons of Venezuela in 2012 and beyond through three generations of the Rodriguez/Atanas family. It is ceaseless, emotional, and, put simply, boundlessly entertaining. It is also incredibly informative and nuanced, filled with historical nuggets and references that had me looking things up constantly to educate and provide myself with more context.
To keep this at a minimum I will just say that I love this book. It may hit differently for me than you, but if you want a family saga layered through history that is at times violent, endlessly compassionate, and riveting from front to back — look no further.
June 1, 2024
For someone who knows a little of the political journeys that have occurred during the 20th century in Latin America, this novel offers a wonderful introduction to the challenges, pitfalls, hardships, and daily existence of citizens striving for a better world for everyone. Written by Puyana, Venezuelan by birth, the reader learns about Stanislavo, an idealistic young man who offers his life for political freedoms in Venezuela. His life becomes irrevocably changed by his choices over a number of generations as we witness his struggle and personal sacrifice. The novel is an interesting read, and one that offers perspective to a world rarely understood by an outsider.
June 21, 2026
This is beautiful, riveting story that deftly and colorfully describes the history of Venezuela through characters you come to care about. Puyana’s writing is full of beautiful metaphors and descriptions that help us understand and deeply feel the characters emotions. I loved his complex understanding of each character’s motivations from the beginning to their conflicted present. This makes the narrative feel grounded, urgent and compelling. Through pain and heartache, these characters were willing to sacrifice it all for freedom. While the book is often sad and disturbing, it’s because of the characters that I kept reading. This is not light summer reading but it felt like a very necessary story to read.
Read
December 9, 2024Set among the political upheavals in Venezuela from the 1960’s to the 2020’s, this novel follows the life and experiences – personal and political – of a man named Stanislavis or “Stanis”. Although the novel moves about in time, we first know Stanislavis as a young man from an educated family, who decides to become a part of “the Movement” and goes to the jungle to engage in guerilla warfare against the then-in-power regime. In addition to becoming friends with his fellow fighters, Stanis meets and falls in love with Emiliana, a nurse who helps the guerillas. Stanis makes a small mistake, and he and his fighter friends are captured by government forces. After his escape, Stanis remains even more committed to the Movement and makes a choice that affects his life as well as the lives of his children and grandchildren.
In a different timeline, we meet Maria, a young mother, and her son Eloy, who are inhabitants of the worst barrio in Caracas. Maria cleans the home of a wealthy family, and Eloy is a happy child until he is wounded by gunfire during a march against Hugo Chavez (the then “president” of Venezuela). Maria and Stanis meet at the hospital where Eloy is taken, and the story moves forward from there. The deep entanglement of Maria’s and Stanis’ stories evolves very nicely during the rest of the novel.
However, underlying the personal story is the overwhelming effect of political instability in Venezuela. Violent changes in government and protests are part of daily life. The reader sees tortious imprisonment against the guerillas as well as (years later) the Venezuelan prison system in which a few select prisoners impose their will and laws over all the other prisoners.
This novel moved quickly among its various timelines and well-drawn, unique characters. I also learned some Venezuelan history. This is a debut novel, and I will look forward to more from Mr. Puyano.
In a different timeline, we meet Maria, a young mother, and her son Eloy, who are inhabitants of the worst barrio in Caracas. Maria cleans the home of a wealthy family, and Eloy is a happy child until he is wounded by gunfire during a march against Hugo Chavez (the then “president” of Venezuela). Maria and Stanis meet at the hospital where Eloy is taken, and the story moves forward from there. The deep entanglement of Maria’s and Stanis’ stories evolves very nicely during the rest of the novel.
However, underlying the personal story is the overwhelming effect of political instability in Venezuela. Violent changes in government and protests are part of daily life. The reader sees tortious imprisonment against the guerillas as well as (years later) the Venezuelan prison system in which a few select prisoners impose their will and laws over all the other prisoners.
This novel moved quickly among its various timelines and well-drawn, unique characters. I also learned some Venezuelan history. This is a debut novel, and I will look forward to more from Mr. Puyano.
May 23, 2024
This book was fantastic. I absolutely loved it. The story was written so well it felt like I was teleported inside the books world. The characters had depth I could really feel what the characters were feeling.
October 20, 2024
Wow! This is perhaps the best book I’ve read this year. I was blown away by the writing and couldn’t put this down. This book has received a good amount of press locally here in Austin and with good reason. Amazing debut novel! Hoping for more by Alejandro Puyana.
June 9, 2026
meu deus, como eu amei! acho que é um dos favoritos do ano.
que jornada, quanto aprendizado.
foi um prazer acompanhar a jornada do stanis, da emiliana, do eloy e de um país. terminei emocionada, pensando o quanto tudo se entrelaça.
aprendi ao longo do período, mergulhei a fundo nos sonhos. passei ódio com esses personagens tão humanos, mas comemorei cada vitória deles.
acho que tem uma leve barriga na segunda metade e é nesse momento que a política fica um pouco de lado, o que senti um pouco de falta, apesar de entender que faz sentido na narrativa.
recomendo demais a leitura.
que jornada, quanto aprendizado.
foi um prazer acompanhar a jornada do stanis, da emiliana, do eloy e de um país. terminei emocionada, pensando o quanto tudo se entrelaça.
aprendi ao longo do período, mergulhei a fundo nos sonhos. passei ódio com esses personagens tão humanos, mas comemorei cada vitória deles.
acho que tem uma leve barriga na segunda metade e é nesse momento que a política fica um pouco de lado, o que senti um pouco de falta, apesar de entender que faz sentido na narrativa.
recomendo demais a leitura.
November 23, 2024
It's so hard to find anyone who can talk about Venezuela with any kind of nuance, that while I think this story is a fairly standard family saga, the compassion with which the Chavez supporters were written immediately sets it apart and shows Puyana's skills. Even just the acknowledgement that Venezuela pre-Chavez was great for a very select few feels like an unbelievable thing to read in print. I appreciate that he showed the kind of violence, poverty, and oppression that led to Chavez's rise, but also how quickly and thoroughly it all fell apart after he took over.
It took me a long time to type this out bc I couldn't stop crying. I've never missed Venezuela more than I do right now.
It took me a long time to type this out bc I couldn't stop crying. I've never missed Venezuela more than I do right now.
September 12, 2024
One of the most compelling aspects of *Freedom is a Feast* is how Puyana manages to weave historical and political realities into the fabric of the love story. The characters are not just swept along by the events around them; they are actively shaped by them, reflecting the ways in which the personal lives of Venezuelans are impacted by the forces of its history. This makes the narrative feel grounded and urgent, resonating with readers who may or may not be familiar with Venezuela's contemporary struggles.
June 9, 2026
4.5+ This is literary comfort food, an emotionally and narratively straightforward story of three generations of a Venezuelan family. It begins with city boy Stanislavo and nurse Emiliana falling in love in a revolutionary outpost in 1962 and ends in Caracas at the same time as the death of Hugo Chávez in 2013. There are brushes with the military and law enforcement, mean girls, prison time, everyday life in the ranchos far above the Venezuelan capital, tunnels, gunshots, office dramas, thugs and heroes and lots of other unforgettable characters. Without minimizing the talent, inspiration and effort that clearly went into this bighearted book, it belongs in the same genre as Isabel Allende’s classic The House of the Spirits. This book should be better known.
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November 10, 2024Read for Venezuela in the Read the World Challenge! It was a perfect pick for this challenge, spanning several decades and representing several important moments in Venezuelan history. Although I wish I'd put in the effort to get a better understanding of Venezuelan history BEFORE reading, I did still learn a lot and get a lot out of it. There are many poignant moments, and this book did a great job portraying the way that political unrest effects everyone. The main characters are fully fleshed out, and I was really invested in seeing them find a way to hold onto hope and each other.
March 4, 2025
I’m not sure why I’ve grown to love books that are so gut wrenching and sad as hell. Add this one to that list as well. How much are you willing to give up to potentially live a better life and live in a better world? Those two questions ran through my mind a lot while reading this. There are four main characters and their stories are all well told and they are all connected with one another. I felt for each of these characters and they were so well written. This is also a story of love in many ways. Awesome story and this is a debut novel too? Could’ve fooled me!
If I wasn’t trying to switch careers by going back to school, I would’ve finished this way sooner. Great read!
If I wasn’t trying to switch careers by going back to school, I would’ve finished this way sooner. Great read!
January 26, 2025
I could not put this book down. Puyana’s writing is so engrossing yet perfectly paced. I was always wanting to turn the next page to find out what happened next. The author so artfully describes the smells, the sounds and sensations of this world that can feel so far from our own.
I loved all of the main characters - their stories are tragic, yet hopeful. Truly a testament to our resilience in terrible circumstances outside of our own control.
I’m still processing my feelings and the themes of this book. If you love historical fiction as much as I do, this is a MUST READ!
I loved all of the main characters - their stories are tragic, yet hopeful. Truly a testament to our resilience in terrible circumstances outside of our own control.
I’m still processing my feelings and the themes of this book. If you love historical fiction as much as I do, this is a MUST READ!
March 13, 2026
Thanks Alejandro for writing this in English and opening up your characters and country of Venezuela to us. The story is gripping and the characters are unforgettable. It’s a real history lesson that’s very prescient at this moment in history and the characters carry you through the rise of Authoritarianism over 3 generations of love and the search for power and meaning.
June 10, 2025
This is about the revolution in Venezuela and the ripple effects of certain decisions through the years. I can't believe this is the author's first novel. It was excellent. 5/5 stars.
November 21, 2024
Resistance, revolution, fighting for your beliefs; love, loss, guilt, second chances, family. This was heartbreaking and beautiful (and an absolutely terrifying glimpse into a potential future)
March 6, 2025
Tragic story set in Venezuela’s political backdrop. Hard to read yet I couldn’t put it down.
January 4, 2025
Prompt 15: includes Latin American history
February 15, 2026
Woof, this was a riveting and heartbreaking way to learn about the history of Venezuela. I got to know three generations, spanning 50+ years. All characters were so complex & real. I recognized my own passion and longing for my country to better reflect my ideals
March 30, 2025
This was a beautifully written exploration of humanity and the choices we make set against a backdrop of Venezuelan politics. The cast of the audiobook did an excellent job bringing the characters and vibrant setting to life
May 23, 2026
I’m not sure how a multigenerational novel about Venezuela, violence, politics, bloodshed, Chavez, prison, and heartbreak can be beautiful, but this debut novel manages it. This is a history lesson as much as it’s a story about the extraordinary strength of love. I was really taken with the complex characters and the atmospheric prose. But most of all, I was taken with how forgiveness, including of oneself, can change everything.
September 29, 2024
Must-read debut from Alejandro Puyana. A multi-generational story set in Venezuela, spanning from the communist rebellion in the 60s to Chavez's death in 2013. Equal parts thrilling, informative and moving. Just when you are sad to see a section of the book go, it picks up with another gripping set piece. Fantastic characters and an incredible and rich glimpse into the soul of a nation. Highly recommended!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews