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Frida
Opowieść bez tabu – o dziewczynie, której mocnego charakteru nie złamały ani choroba, ani wypadek, nie mówiąc już o opinii publicznej, z którą nigdy się nie liczyła, wiodąc skandalizujące życie.
Poruszająca historia niezwykłej artystki, przedstawiona z perspektywy jej młodszej siostry, którą Frida z czasem zaczęła nazywać bliźniaczką i przed którą nie miała tajemnic.
Zawsze wiedziała, kim chce być: Wielką Fridą Kahlo.
Egocentryczna, pewna siebie, odważna i przebojowa – była jednocześnie czuła, krucha i nadwrażliwa.
Już za życia stała się legendą. Największe zainteresowanie budził jej burzliwy – niekonwencjonalny, pełen bólu i zdrad – związek z Diegiem Riverą, największym meksykańskim malarzem tych czasów, a zarazem zagorzałym komunistą. Przyjaźń (i romans Fridy) z Trockim nie przeszkadzała Państwu Rivera utrzymywać kontaktów z amerykańskimi milionerami; obok bohemy i rewolucjonistów spotkamy więc na kartach tej powieści zamawiającego u Rivery prace Rockefellera czy wielkie gwiazdy Hollywood. Dla nich przez wiele lat Frida była po prostu piękną i oryginalnie po meksykańsku ubierającą się żoną wielkiego artysty, która też czasem maluje. Dziś – to jej śladami rzesze wielbicieli przyjeżdżają do CasaAzul, to o niej kręci się filmy i to ona pozostaje wciąż wielką tajemniczą postacią – kwintesencją meksykańskiej sztuki i symbolem wolnej niezależnej artystki.
Poruszająca historia niezwykłej artystki, przedstawiona z perspektywy jej młodszej siostry, którą Frida z czasem zaczęła nazywać bliźniaczką i przed którą nie miała tajemnic.
Zawsze wiedziała, kim chce być: Wielką Fridą Kahlo.
Egocentryczna, pewna siebie, odważna i przebojowa – była jednocześnie czuła, krucha i nadwrażliwa.
Już za życia stała się legendą. Największe zainteresowanie budził jej burzliwy – niekonwencjonalny, pełen bólu i zdrad – związek z Diegiem Riverą, największym meksykańskim malarzem tych czasów, a zarazem zagorzałym komunistą. Przyjaźń (i romans Fridy) z Trockim nie przeszkadzała Państwu Rivera utrzymywać kontaktów z amerykańskimi milionerami; obok bohemy i rewolucjonistów spotkamy więc na kartach tej powieści zamawiającego u Rivery prace Rockefellera czy wielkie gwiazdy Hollywood. Dla nich przez wiele lat Frida była po prostu piękną i oryginalnie po meksykańsku ubierającą się żoną wielkiego artysty, która też czasem maluje. Dziś – to jej śladami rzesze wielbicieli przyjeżdżają do CasaAzul, to o niej kręci się filmy i to ona pozostaje wciąż wielką tajemniczą postacią – kwintesencją meksykańskiej sztuki i symbolem wolnej niezależnej artystki.
448 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
252 people are currently reading
2656 people want to read
About the author
Bárbara Mujica
36 books57 followersAmerican novelist, short story writer and critic. Her latest novels are Sister Teresa (2007), based on the life of Saint Teresa of Avila, and Frida, (2001) based on the life of Frida Kahlo. The latter was an international bestseller that was translated into seventeen languages. Barbara Mujica’s other book-length fiction includes The Deaths of Don Bernardo (novel, 1990), Sanchez across the Street (stories, 1997) and Far from My Mother’s Home (stories, 1999). Barbara Mujica’s short stories have appeared in numerous magazines including The Minnesota Review, Pangolin Papers, and The Literary Review, and anthologies such as Where Angels Glide at Dawn, eds. Lori Carlson and Cnythia Ventura, Intro. Isabel Allende (1990, 1993), What Is Secret: Stories by Chilean Women, ed. Marjorie Agosín (1995), Two Worlds Walking, ed. C. W. Truesdale and Diana Glancy (1994), and The House of Memory, ed. Marjorie Agosín (1999). Her essays have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Miami Herald, The Dallas Morning Star, and hundreds of other publications. In 1990 her essay “Bilingualism’s Goal” was named one of the best 50 op-eds of the decade by The New York Times. Mujica has won several awards for her writing: the Trailblazers Award from Dialogue on Diversity (2004), the Theodore Christian Hoepfner Award (2002), the Pangolin Prize (1998), the E. L. Doctorow International Fiction Competition (1992). She has also won grants and awards from Poets and Writers of New York, the Spanish Government, and other institutions. She is a two-time nominee for the Pushcart Prize for Fiction. A Professor of Spanish at Georgetown University, she has written numerous scholarly books and articles. The latest books are Lettered Women: The Correspondence of Teresa de Avila (Vanderbilt University Press, forthcoming), Espiritualidad y feminismo: Santa Teresa de Jesus,(Ediciones del Orto, 2007), and Women Writers of Early Modern Spain: Sophia's Daughters (Yale University Press, 2004).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 278 reviews
February 23, 2021
Matko, jakie to jest złe.
Jeśli kochacie Fridę (tak jak ja), albo - tym bardziej! - jeśli nic o niej nie wiecie, za żadne skarby nie czytajcie tego "dzieła". Makabra.
Jeśli kochacie Fridę (tak jak ja), albo - tym bardziej! - jeśli nic o niej nie wiecie, za żadne skarby nie czytajcie tego "dzieła". Makabra.
October 20, 2010
Frida Kahlo was an influential Mexican artist as well as a colorful(literally!)character. Her marriage to Diego Rivera as well as her many famous lovers has been documented by many authors, playwrights and screenwriters.
Barbara Mujica must hate Frida, however. This book had an interesting twist- it was narrated by Frida's younger sister, Cristina- but I found it full of hatred and spite for the main character. I've always liked Kahlo's art and her life story, but this was uncomfortable to read. Nevermind that the writing style and storyline was choppy, the author was almost venomous in her telling of this tale.
I'll have to read the biography by Hayden Herrera. I want the facts, not a biased piece of fiction such as this.
Barbara Mujica must hate Frida, however. This book had an interesting twist- it was narrated by Frida's younger sister, Cristina- but I found it full of hatred and spite for the main character. I've always liked Kahlo's art and her life story, but this was uncomfortable to read. Nevermind that the writing style and storyline was choppy, the author was almost venomous in her telling of this tale.
I'll have to read the biography by Hayden Herrera. I want the facts, not a biased piece of fiction such as this.
April 22, 2022
Brudna, wulgarna, zasmucająca książka. Wiem, że to mocno beletrystyczna biografia Fridy, ale i tak sprawia, że chyba jednak nie chcę lepiej poznać jej życia.
September 11, 2022
jeżeli kochacie fridę albo zaczynacie z nią przygodę to nie czytajcie tego. naprawdę nie
September 3, 2016
First of all, this book isn’t a biography, it’s a novel. It is full of fiction elements, from incidents to people, a fact the author admits in the end of the book. I consider unacceptable such an enormous falsification of events in a biography, let alone when it is not always clear what happened in reality and which events are the products of the author’s imagination.
Secondly, the story is being narrated by Frida’s younger sister, Christina, from the couch of a psychiatrist. Although interesting as a concept, I find it quite a bad choice in this case. Why would a psychiatrist ask for the story of the life of his patient’s sister? Beyond this, the character of Christina Kahlo, utterly fictional, is overflowing with hatred and envy for the sister she supposedly loved so much and it’s full of misery and self-pity. I found this characteristic unethical. Not only she uses a real person without her consent, she also shapes her character in a way that is most convenient for her and the story she wants to tell.
While reading, I had the feeling the author wanted to write a novel, but lacking imagination, decided to use a real person, so she wouldn’t have to think too much. I’m not sure how deep she researched her subject, but she ended up creating a badly written beach read, which not many would prefer hadn’t it had a famous name for the title and (in the Greek edition I read) a popular painting on the cover.
I would have given it two stars, but I realized along the way it’s getting worse with each page, both in the way of writing and in the stories she invents.
I wrote this review so I won’t feel the time I spent reading this book was a complete waste. I apologize for any mistakes, English is not my native language.
Secondly, the story is being narrated by Frida’s younger sister, Christina, from the couch of a psychiatrist. Although interesting as a concept, I find it quite a bad choice in this case. Why would a psychiatrist ask for the story of the life of his patient’s sister? Beyond this, the character of Christina Kahlo, utterly fictional, is overflowing with hatred and envy for the sister she supposedly loved so much and it’s full of misery and self-pity. I found this characteristic unethical. Not only she uses a real person without her consent, she also shapes her character in a way that is most convenient for her and the story she wants to tell.
While reading, I had the feeling the author wanted to write a novel, but lacking imagination, decided to use a real person, so she wouldn’t have to think too much. I’m not sure how deep she researched her subject, but she ended up creating a badly written beach read, which not many would prefer hadn’t it had a famous name for the title and (in the Greek edition I read) a popular painting on the cover.
I would have given it two stars, but I realized along the way it’s getting worse with each page, both in the way of writing and in the stories she invents.
I wrote this review so I won’t feel the time I spent reading this book was a complete waste. I apologize for any mistakes, English is not my native language.
November 9, 2018
داستان،داستان زندگی فریدا کالو یکی از بزرگترین نقاشان قرن بیستم است تابحال چهار فیلم درباره فریدا ساخته شده
آنچه باعث نوشتن و ساختن فیلم درباره ی او شده رنج و درد مدام فریدا و مقاومت قابل تحسین و خارق العاده ی اوست در برابر مصایب زندگی فریدا که از نقص محصوص پا در حادثه تصادف رنج میبرد دوران تلخی را تجربه میکند او با حمایت پدرش درد و رنجش را به تصویر میکشد و روابط عشقی عجیبی با همسرش دیه گو دارد.
هم کتاب هم فیلمش را به تمام دختران و زنان پیشنهاد میکنم..
آنچه باعث نوشتن و ساختن فیلم درباره ی او شده رنج و درد مدام فریدا و مقاومت قابل تحسین و خارق العاده ی اوست در برابر مصایب زندگی فریدا که از نقص محصوص پا در حادثه تصادف رنج میبرد دوران تلخی را تجربه میکند او با حمایت پدرش درد و رنجش را به تصویر میکشد و روابط عشقی عجیبی با همسرش دیه گو دارد.
هم کتاب هم فیلمش را به تمام دختران و زنان پیشنهاد میکنم..
May 26, 2018
I loved the idea but the book felt rather... pretentious, with Cristina talking to a psychiatrist (it couldn't be any more cliche) and having them reflect back at her. Also, a little clumsy given the amount of detail in a supposed monologue. But what put me off was not the stifled atmosphere, but how male gaze-y and male-centered the whole book was. It deals very well with colonisation and cultural appropriation, but enter anything related to sex - and it turns super gross and cishetnormative with a serving of homophobia. No, thanks.
January 22, 2022
Jeżeli za wiele nie wiecie o Fridzie Kahlo to nie radzę po nią sięgać. Jak możemy na końcu przeczytać większość książki stanowi wyobraźnia i dopowiedzenia autorki niż rzeczywistość.
February 6, 2022
Ajjj nie było to dobre.
Przede wszystkim stawia Fride w bardzo złym świetle a na koniec dowiadujemy się, że autorka wiekszość rzeczy zmyśliła. Myślałam, że przeczytam świetną biografie a kobiecie której życie bardzo mnie interesuje a dostałam nieciekawą, momentami obrzydliwą i nieprawdziwą historię.
Najgorsze jest to, że nie wiem co w tej ksiażce jest po części prawdą a co zostało zmyślone, szkoda
Przede wszystkim stawia Fride w bardzo złym świetle a na koniec dowiadujemy się, że autorka wiekszość rzeczy zmyśliła. Myślałam, że przeczytam świetną biografie a kobiecie której życie bardzo mnie interesuje a dostałam nieciekawą, momentami obrzydliwą i nieprawdziwą historię.
Najgorsze jest to, że nie wiem co w tej ksiażce jest po części prawdą a co zostało zmyślone, szkoda
November 20, 2014
I enjoyed learning more about Frida Kahlo and her muralist husband Diego Riviera in this account that mixes fiction and biography. Narrated by Frida's younger sister Cristina, there are many fascinating details about Mexican politics and history of the early twentieth century. Having read Barbara Kingsolver's novel "The Lacuna, " having seen the film about Frida starring Selma Hayek, and being familiar with their artwork, there was still much to learn of Frida and Diego's idiosyncrasies and tumultuous relationship. The two artists are some characters! Frida is portrayed as foul-mouthed, sexually free, and tormented by jealousy and her ill-health. Diego, ever the opportunist, is egotistical and will have sex with anything in a skirt. Of course, that they were Communists was nothing new; Barbara Kingsolver highlighted their connection to Trotsky in her novel.
Though I enjoyed this, I only rated it with three stars. After a while, I felt the focus was a little tiresome.
Though I enjoyed this, I only rated it with three stars. After a while, I felt the focus was a little tiresome.
January 29, 2015
Very interesting story. I'd never heard of the painter Frida Khalo or her husband Diego Rivera until reading this book. It's a fictional account of Frida's life, told through the eyes of her younger sister Cristina. In this story, Frida is self-centered and high-maintenance. She can't survive without being the center of attention. Her sister dotes on her and their relationship is one of the most extreme examples of co-dependency I've ever read. There were times when I wanted to reach into the book and shake Cristina, telling her that she should stand up to her sister. Don't let her push you around or call you dumb or manipulate you left and right! While the story is fictional, many of the characters are real. Here's a short description and mini video bio of Frida and Diego: http://www.biography.com/people/group...
May 26, 2016
I gave this book four stars, because I thought it was very new and gripping. The book was compelling throughout every chapter and gave an interesting, new perspective to Frida Kahlo's life from her sister Cristina. The only thing that bothered me was how spiteful Cristina did seem at times which while understandable got slightly irritating. Bárbara Mujica did a very solid job at organizing the facts of what Mexico was like at the time and Cristina's emotional state throughout her life. This book gave a good explanation and excellent imagery of how the famous painters sister became involved with Diego Rivera and how she was affected by Frida's unusual lifestyle.
December 1, 2023
Ta książka była tak dobrze napisana, tak dobrze się jej słuchało, miała tyle życia w sobie, kolorów, była interesująca, błyskotliwa, ale też miejscami gorsząca. Była fantastyczna, dopóki na ostatnich stronach nie dowiedziałam się, że to wszystko to fikcja literacka. Dlaczego ta książka jest w kategorii literatura faktu? Dlaczego w opisie nie ma wzmianki o tym, że to fikcja, dlaczego słowo od autorki, w którym jest to wszystko wyjaśnione jest na końcu, a nie na początku? Szukałam biografii Fridy Kahlo i wśród literatury faktu znalazłam te pozycje i to jest jej największy minus, bo miałam inne oczekiwania i jestem zawiedziona..
December 5, 2019
First of all, shout out to the Turkish translator. Second of all, this book will change your idea about Frida, but one think should be considered about famous art people: all these kind of people are kinda crazy at some levels.
May 6, 2019
I thoroughly enjoyed this but I am a Frida Kahlo fan so probably a bit biased.
August 18, 2017
Kurgu olmasına rağmen Frida'nın hayatını bu şekilde okumak güzeldi. Fakat kardeşinin ağzından anlatıldığı için Frida'ya antipati duymanız olasıdır. Sanki o bilge kadının yaptığı her hareket sahteymiş, samimi değilmiş gibi aksettirilmiş.
November 24, 2008
di alismu langit berkabung
dengan jerit hitam
dua burung
di ragamu tiang patah
di kamar narkose, ampul tertebar :
rasa sakit dan sejarah
(Untuk Frida Kahlo - Goenawan Mohamad)
Siapakah Frida Kahlo, sehingga Goenawan Mohamad terinspirasi menulis puisi untuknya? Secantik apakah ia sampai-sampai ilham itu menyembul dari benak seorang penyair seperti Goenawan, menjelma dalam bait-bait puitis sajaknya? Padahal jarak waktu dan geografis memisahkan keduanya sedemikian jauh.
Frida Kahlo di kalangan seniman lukis adalah sebuah legenda. Ia dikenal sebagai sosok seniman revolusioner dengan lukisan-lukisan yang sebagian besar adalah potret dirinya. Ia seorang narsis yang memuja dirinya sendiri. Temperamental, lugas, blak-blakan, tak tahan jika diabaikan, selalu ingin menjadi perhatian semua orang di sekitarnya : ayah, ibu, kakak, adik, suami, para kekasih, sahabat-sahabatnya..Ia feminis. Ia nasionalis. Ia komunis.
Terlahir dari ibu berdarah Indian Mexico dan ayah keturunan Jerman-Hongaria, Frida tumbuh sebagai gadis kecil pemberontak dengan lidah tajam. Ia bukan saja cantik menawan tetapi juga cerdas. Otak encernya itu membuatnya kelak diterima sebagai siswa sekolah menengah paling bergengsi di Mexico. Dari 2000 orang siswanya, hanya ada 35 murid perempuan, termasuk Frida. Dari sekolah ini kemudian muncul sejumlah "orang terkenal".
Sejak kanak-kanak, Frida telah tertarik pada warna-warna dan fesyen. Ia senang berdandan dan memakai busana dengan warna-warni mencolok. Di kemudian hari, hal ini sangat memengaruhi lukisan-lukisannya. Perjalanan hidupnya yang tak terlalu panjang - lahir pada 6 Juli 1907 (Tetapi selalu diakuinya 1910, agar pas dengan dimulainya masa Revolusi Mexico. Ia ingin diakui dan dikenal sebagai Frida yang Mexico dan bukan Yahudi) dan meninggal 7 Februari 1954 - begitu penuh lika-liku : terserang virus polio, mengalami kecelakaan bus yang hampir merenggut nyawanya, perkawinannya yang tidak bahagia dengan pelukis mural, Diego Riviera, beberapa kali keguguran, kelumpuhan total di masa-masa akhir hidupnya serta kisah cintanya dengan para lelaki dan perempuan. Ya, dia seorang biseksual.
Frida tak pernah menjawab. Berhari-hari yang nampak adalah
lelaki, tamu-tamu yang berdatangan, melalui beranda Rumah
Biru, menyapanya, duduk-duduk minum teh, mencicipi kue,
dan berceloteh dan melucu, sambil berdiskusi tentang tuhan
yang mereka ingkari dan kedatangan Trotsky
Mereka berkata, "Tidak, Frida, kau tak apa-apa"
(Untuk Frida Kahlo - Goenawan Mohamad)
Seluruh kisah hidupnya inilah yang tersaji dalam novel Frida (judul aslinya : A Novel Based on the Life of Frida Kahlo) karya Barbara Mujica, penulis dan profesor bahasa dan sastra Spanyol di Georgetown University. Ditulis dengan gaya naratif Cristina Kahlo, adik perempuan Frida , menjadikan novel ini sebagai sebuah kesaksian perjalanan hidup seorang Frida. Pembaca diajak mengenal tokoh Frida melalui sudut pandang dan pengalaman Cristina, orang terdekat Frida. Usia mereka hanya terpaut 11 bulan saja, tak heran jika hubungan kakak beradik itu sangat akrab meski terjadi juga persaingan di antara mereka, menyelinapkan kebencian. Benci tapi rindu. Selain Frida, menurut saya, karakter utama fiksi ini adalah juga Cristina.
Di mata Cristina, Frida adalah sosok perempuan pemberani, kakak yang selalu membela dan melindungi sekaligus juga pembohong bermulut kasar. Namun demikian, mereka saling mencintai dan tak terpisahkan hingga Frida wafat. Hubungan keduanya sangat unik sebagai dua orang saudara dan dua orang perempuan dewasa. Pada Cristinalah Frida mencurahkan seluruh perasaan hatinya. Penuturan Cristina ini diramu dengan amat ciamik oleh Barbara Mujica, tertuang menjelma kisah Frida yang menyentuh ego keperempuanan saya. Keberanian dan penderitaannya menggetarkan kalbu, membentuk kaca-kaca bening yang mengaburkan pandangan : saya menangis tanpa suara.
Di ruang Meksiko itu, dengan gaun putih Tehuana, Frida
menghentikan kursi rodanya. Kamar berubah suhu, tapi hidup,
seperti dulu, adalah kini yang berganti-ganti..........
Apakah mati sebenarnya? Konon di tempat tidurnya -- sebelum
orang mengangkatnya ke api kremasi -- ada seorang yang
datang dan mencium parasnya, penghabisan kali, "Frida, kau
adalah ketakjuban kepada harum brendi, senyum di
percakapan dan ranum pisang dalam sajian makan malam.
Kau tergetar kepada apa yang sebentar"
................
"Apa yang akan ku lakukan tanpa yang absurd dan yang
sementara?"
Benar, begitulah ia pernah bertanya.
(Untuk Frida Kahlo - Goenawan Mohamad)
dengan jerit hitam
dua burung
di ragamu tiang patah
di kamar narkose, ampul tertebar :
rasa sakit dan sejarah
(Untuk Frida Kahlo - Goenawan Mohamad)
Siapakah Frida Kahlo, sehingga Goenawan Mohamad terinspirasi menulis puisi untuknya? Secantik apakah ia sampai-sampai ilham itu menyembul dari benak seorang penyair seperti Goenawan, menjelma dalam bait-bait puitis sajaknya? Padahal jarak waktu dan geografis memisahkan keduanya sedemikian jauh.
Frida Kahlo di kalangan seniman lukis adalah sebuah legenda. Ia dikenal sebagai sosok seniman revolusioner dengan lukisan-lukisan yang sebagian besar adalah potret dirinya. Ia seorang narsis yang memuja dirinya sendiri. Temperamental, lugas, blak-blakan, tak tahan jika diabaikan, selalu ingin menjadi perhatian semua orang di sekitarnya : ayah, ibu, kakak, adik, suami, para kekasih, sahabat-sahabatnya..Ia feminis. Ia nasionalis. Ia komunis.
Terlahir dari ibu berdarah Indian Mexico dan ayah keturunan Jerman-Hongaria, Frida tumbuh sebagai gadis kecil pemberontak dengan lidah tajam. Ia bukan saja cantik menawan tetapi juga cerdas. Otak encernya itu membuatnya kelak diterima sebagai siswa sekolah menengah paling bergengsi di Mexico. Dari 2000 orang siswanya, hanya ada 35 murid perempuan, termasuk Frida. Dari sekolah ini kemudian muncul sejumlah "orang terkenal".
Sejak kanak-kanak, Frida telah tertarik pada warna-warna dan fesyen. Ia senang berdandan dan memakai busana dengan warna-warni mencolok. Di kemudian hari, hal ini sangat memengaruhi lukisan-lukisannya. Perjalanan hidupnya yang tak terlalu panjang - lahir pada 6 Juli 1907 (Tetapi selalu diakuinya 1910, agar pas dengan dimulainya masa Revolusi Mexico. Ia ingin diakui dan dikenal sebagai Frida yang Mexico dan bukan Yahudi) dan meninggal 7 Februari 1954 - begitu penuh lika-liku : terserang virus polio, mengalami kecelakaan bus yang hampir merenggut nyawanya, perkawinannya yang tidak bahagia dengan pelukis mural, Diego Riviera, beberapa kali keguguran, kelumpuhan total di masa-masa akhir hidupnya serta kisah cintanya dengan para lelaki dan perempuan. Ya, dia seorang biseksual.
Frida tak pernah menjawab. Berhari-hari yang nampak adalah
lelaki, tamu-tamu yang berdatangan, melalui beranda Rumah
Biru, menyapanya, duduk-duduk minum teh, mencicipi kue,
dan berceloteh dan melucu, sambil berdiskusi tentang tuhan
yang mereka ingkari dan kedatangan Trotsky
Mereka berkata, "Tidak, Frida, kau tak apa-apa"
(Untuk Frida Kahlo - Goenawan Mohamad)
Seluruh kisah hidupnya inilah yang tersaji dalam novel Frida (judul aslinya : A Novel Based on the Life of Frida Kahlo) karya Barbara Mujica, penulis dan profesor bahasa dan sastra Spanyol di Georgetown University. Ditulis dengan gaya naratif Cristina Kahlo, adik perempuan Frida , menjadikan novel ini sebagai sebuah kesaksian perjalanan hidup seorang Frida. Pembaca diajak mengenal tokoh Frida melalui sudut pandang dan pengalaman Cristina, orang terdekat Frida. Usia mereka hanya terpaut 11 bulan saja, tak heran jika hubungan kakak beradik itu sangat akrab meski terjadi juga persaingan di antara mereka, menyelinapkan kebencian. Benci tapi rindu. Selain Frida, menurut saya, karakter utama fiksi ini adalah juga Cristina.
Di mata Cristina, Frida adalah sosok perempuan pemberani, kakak yang selalu membela dan melindungi sekaligus juga pembohong bermulut kasar. Namun demikian, mereka saling mencintai dan tak terpisahkan hingga Frida wafat. Hubungan keduanya sangat unik sebagai dua orang saudara dan dua orang perempuan dewasa. Pada Cristinalah Frida mencurahkan seluruh perasaan hatinya. Penuturan Cristina ini diramu dengan amat ciamik oleh Barbara Mujica, tertuang menjelma kisah Frida yang menyentuh ego keperempuanan saya. Keberanian dan penderitaannya menggetarkan kalbu, membentuk kaca-kaca bening yang mengaburkan pandangan : saya menangis tanpa suara.
Di ruang Meksiko itu, dengan gaun putih Tehuana, Frida
menghentikan kursi rodanya. Kamar berubah suhu, tapi hidup,
seperti dulu, adalah kini yang berganti-ganti..........
Apakah mati sebenarnya? Konon di tempat tidurnya -- sebelum
orang mengangkatnya ke api kremasi -- ada seorang yang
datang dan mencium parasnya, penghabisan kali, "Frida, kau
adalah ketakjuban kepada harum brendi, senyum di
percakapan dan ranum pisang dalam sajian makan malam.
Kau tergetar kepada apa yang sebentar"
................
"Apa yang akan ku lakukan tanpa yang absurd dan yang
sementara?"
Benar, begitulah ia pernah bertanya.
(Untuk Frida Kahlo - Goenawan Mohamad)
May 11, 2019
Mujica took some rather strange liberties with her fictional biography of Frida, but I thought this book was very engaging and extremely clever. It's written from Frida's younger sister's point of view. Cristina and Frida were very close growing up, and it was Cristina who cared for Frida right up until the day she died from apparent suicide.
While Mujica included a lot of historical facts in her story and covered Frida's life journey from a young child afflicted with polio, through her marriage with Diego Rivera, and up to her death in 1954, her story was told from Cristina's bitter point of view as she recalls Frida's life in a therapy session with a psychiatrist.
Cristina is quite venomous in her recollections and paints Frida quite negatively at some points in the book, but the feelings of jealousy about her sister's success are there alongside her love and fear for her sister and her deteriorating health. She also expresses much remorse over her affair with Frida's husband, Diego Rivera, and recounts just how badly Rivera treated Frida without ever loosening his grip over her.
Frida's story is sad. From her battle with polio to a horrible trolley accident at age 18 that left her bed-bound for months to a completely awful and destructive relationship with Diego Riviera, her desperate wish to have children, and the many surgeries she had to correct the damage done to her spine, leg, and uterus, it is clear that Frida led a lifetime of suffering and she spent a lot of time immobile and in bed. Nevertheless, what she was able to accomplish when she was upright was astonishing. What a character this woman was! I am simply fascinated by her story.
And while some people might not like the picture that her sister paints, anyone who understands what it is like to be sick your entire life will understand Frida's moods and her desire to create something out of the mess that was her life.
Suffering is never pretty, but as Kahlil Gibran has said — 'Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.'
Frida Kahlo is a woman who was seared by her suffering, and the world benefited from what she created out of it. Her madness, her agony, her suffering - she channeled it all into some of the most remarkable artwork that the world has ever seen.
It was hard for me to put this book down once I started it! I can see why some readers didn't like it, but for me, I thought this was a terrific read and it has earned its place of honor on my bookshelves.
While Mujica included a lot of historical facts in her story and covered Frida's life journey from a young child afflicted with polio, through her marriage with Diego Rivera, and up to her death in 1954, her story was told from Cristina's bitter point of view as she recalls Frida's life in a therapy session with a psychiatrist.
Cristina is quite venomous in her recollections and paints Frida quite negatively at some points in the book, but the feelings of jealousy about her sister's success are there alongside her love and fear for her sister and her deteriorating health. She also expresses much remorse over her affair with Frida's husband, Diego Rivera, and recounts just how badly Rivera treated Frida without ever loosening his grip over her.
Frida's story is sad. From her battle with polio to a horrible trolley accident at age 18 that left her bed-bound for months to a completely awful and destructive relationship with Diego Riviera, her desperate wish to have children, and the many surgeries she had to correct the damage done to her spine, leg, and uterus, it is clear that Frida led a lifetime of suffering and she spent a lot of time immobile and in bed. Nevertheless, what she was able to accomplish when she was upright was astonishing. What a character this woman was! I am simply fascinated by her story.
And while some people might not like the picture that her sister paints, anyone who understands what it is like to be sick your entire life will understand Frida's moods and her desire to create something out of the mess that was her life.
Suffering is never pretty, but as Kahlil Gibran has said — 'Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.'
Frida Kahlo is a woman who was seared by her suffering, and the world benefited from what she created out of it. Her madness, her agony, her suffering - she channeled it all into some of the most remarkable artwork that the world has ever seen.
It was hard for me to put this book down once I started it! I can see why some readers didn't like it, but for me, I thought this was a terrific read and it has earned its place of honor on my bookshelves.
August 21, 2012
Honestly, I'm not even sure I liked this book.
The book tells the story of the life of Frida Khalo, her tumultuous relationship with Diego Rivera and the even more tumultuous relationship between her and her sister Cristina, whose narrative we follow throughout the book, in the form of her confession to her psychiatrist, following the "death" of her sister.
I believe that my main problem was with the writing of this novel. In general I thoroughly enjoy first person narratives, but this particular one failed to be engaging at all times. Maybe it has to do with the portrayal of the main characters, the fact that you are reading a novel about three characters that are not entirely sympathetic. For example, Cristina seems to comprehend and embrace Rivera's womanizing ways and at times defend them, except the times that this gets in the way of her relationship with the famous painter. Also having read the book, I wish I hadn't in the sense that I prefer to have based my knowledge regarding Frida Kahlo solely on her paintings and neglected specific idiosyncrasies and details of her life (ie her promiscuity, the way she treated those around her, the lengths of her obsession with herself) and while sibling rivalry makes for a good story, there was something I did not like that made me feel uncomfortable in the depiction of this one.
In conclusion, I think when you get the opportunity to fictionalize a biography you should do it with more grace and refinement, both lacking in this case.
The book tells the story of the life of Frida Khalo, her tumultuous relationship with Diego Rivera and the even more tumultuous relationship between her and her sister Cristina, whose narrative we follow throughout the book, in the form of her confession to her psychiatrist, following the "death" of her sister.
I believe that my main problem was with the writing of this novel. In general I thoroughly enjoy first person narratives, but this particular one failed to be engaging at all times. Maybe it has to do with the portrayal of the main characters, the fact that you are reading a novel about three characters that are not entirely sympathetic. For example, Cristina seems to comprehend and embrace Rivera's womanizing ways and at times defend them, except the times that this gets in the way of her relationship with the famous painter. Also having read the book, I wish I hadn't in the sense that I prefer to have based my knowledge regarding Frida Kahlo solely on her paintings and neglected specific idiosyncrasies and details of her life (ie her promiscuity, the way she treated those around her, the lengths of her obsession with herself) and while sibling rivalry makes for a good story, there was something I did not like that made me feel uncomfortable in the depiction of this one.
In conclusion, I think when you get the opportunity to fictionalize a biography you should do it with more grace and refinement, both lacking in this case.
February 24, 2014
I really enjoyed making it through this book. I say "making it through", because Frida's story is so painful and I have been dealing with pain while reading it. I guess it is always nice to be able to focus on someone whose suffering is more intense than your own, in order to diminish your own pain. The book is written in a very unconventional style, as a kind of transcript of Frida's younger sister describing Frida's life to a psychoanalyst after Frida's death. An interesting device, and somehow, it manages to not be too distracting when Christina stops and addresses the analyst directly.
It was especially interesting to me that the very day I finished the novel, a friend just happened to have a book of Frida Kahlo's paintings out as part of a writing exercise. I found myself with the giddy, princesslike opportunity to simply reach down and peruse many of the paintings that were described in the book. That kind of abundance is available to us constantly, and I am here to say, Hooray!! And Thank You, Universe, for giving me that little gift. There are no coincidences.
It was especially interesting to me that the very day I finished the novel, a friend just happened to have a book of Frida Kahlo's paintings out as part of a writing exercise. I found myself with the giddy, princesslike opportunity to simply reach down and peruse many of the paintings that were described in the book. That kind of abundance is available to us constantly, and I am here to say, Hooray!! And Thank You, Universe, for giving me that little gift. There are no coincidences.
November 3, 2020
Bardzo nużąca książka. Początek zapowiadał ciekawą pozycję, jednak już około 80 strony nie chciało mi się wracać do tej historii. Ta książka nie jest biografią, nie wiadomo, które wydarzenia w niej przedstawione zdarzyły się naprawdę, a które nie, dlatego starałam się czytać ją jak powieść w 100% fikcyjną, ale nie do końca mi to wyszło. Mam wrażenie, że cała historia opowiedziana jest jako naprzemienne oskarżanie innych ludzi, wytykanie ich błędów oraz usprawiedliwianie ich w kolejnym rozdziale. WSZYSCY bohaterowie byli w jakimś stopniu irytujący, poza tym każdy przedstawiony był w moim odbiorze w negatywnym świetle, a każda przedstawiona relacja wydaje mi się mniej lub bardziej toksyczna. Bardzo nie polecam.
September 21, 2016
Cristina is Frida Kahlo's younger sister and the narrator of this novel. She is telling her tale of her famous sister's life to what seems to be a psycho-therapist.
From the first page, Cristina seems to be confessing to her sister's death. (No spoiler alert---this is evident from the first chapter.)
I found the narrator hard to sympathize with in the first half of the book. She comes off as unsympathetic, whining, and even self-centered. In the final two chapters, I finally thought Cristina was speaking from the heart.
If you are a Frida-phile, you will enjoy this book. If you are not familiar with her biography,I'm not sure that this book is for you.
From the first page, Cristina seems to be confessing to her sister's death. (No spoiler alert---this is evident from the first chapter.)
I found the narrator hard to sympathize with in the first half of the book. She comes off as unsympathetic, whining, and even self-centered. In the final two chapters, I finally thought Cristina was speaking from the heart.
If you are a Frida-phile, you will enjoy this book. If you are not familiar with her biography,I'm not sure that this book is for you.
January 31, 2008
Most of you must have watched the very famous movie"Frida" played by Salma Hayek, you must have liked it but the book is the best. You will simply love it. It gives an intimate detail on Frida by her sister Christine. I started reading this book and i just couldnt stop it. Frida goes through so many tragic events in her life but she never gives up, she always lives her life to the fullest.
I simply adored it, i recommend it to everyone.
I simply adored it, i recommend it to everyone.
September 17, 2023
#sztucznymaraton z Edytą Literatunek
Ta pozycja okazała się ogromnym rozczarowaniem, gdyż na końcu dowiadujemy się że to wymysł autorki, fikcja literacka a spisane jest to w formie wywiadu z siostrą Fridy Cristiną z pewnym lekarzem, co sugeruje mocno literaturę non - fiction nawet jeśli brać poprawkę na wiarygodność wspomnień, subiektywną narrację itd
Jakież to rozczarowujące na końcu dowiedzieć się że to wszystko wymysły , na dodatek podlane jakimś psychologicznym sosem i interpretacjami autorki
Słuchało się całkiem dobrze, choć były momenty co najmniej dziwne jak np 7 letnia Frida mówiąca wulgarnie i z rzekomą znajomością tematu o seksie. Z perspektywy posłowia od autorki można przyjąć że to wymysły
Frida to postać funkcjonująca mocno w pop kulturze i jakieś fakty z Jej życiorysu były mi znane. Po tej lekturze nie wiem czy dowiedziałam się czegoś więcej, bo jak mam ocenić co było wymysłem ?
Szkoda że wydawnictwo nie zdecydowało się aby to co autorka mówi na końcu było jednak na początku - przynajmniej byłaby jasno postawiona sprawa czym jest ta książka
Ta pozycja okazała się ogromnym rozczarowaniem, gdyż na końcu dowiadujemy się że to wymysł autorki, fikcja literacka a spisane jest to w formie wywiadu z siostrą Fridy Cristiną z pewnym lekarzem, co sugeruje mocno literaturę non - fiction nawet jeśli brać poprawkę na wiarygodność wspomnień, subiektywną narrację itd
Jakież to rozczarowujące na końcu dowiedzieć się że to wszystko wymysły , na dodatek podlane jakimś psychologicznym sosem i interpretacjami autorki
Słuchało się całkiem dobrze, choć były momenty co najmniej dziwne jak np 7 letnia Frida mówiąca wulgarnie i z rzekomą znajomością tematu o seksie. Z perspektywy posłowia od autorki można przyjąć że to wymysły
Frida to postać funkcjonująca mocno w pop kulturze i jakieś fakty z Jej życiorysu były mi znane. Po tej lekturze nie wiem czy dowiedziałam się czegoś więcej, bo jak mam ocenić co było wymysłem ?
Szkoda że wydawnictwo nie zdecydowało się aby to co autorka mówi na końcu było jednak na początku - przynajmniej byłaby jasno postawiona sprawa czym jest ta książka
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