Terrazo

by Abelardo Díaz Alfaro

Spanish

Genres: Fiction, Spanish Literature, Short Stories, Latino

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1948

About the author

Puerto Rican author who rose to prominence in Latin America in the forties. He was know for his short stories with national topics and political metaphors.

Reviews

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Es un libro perfecto. No tiene comparación. En la escuela solo me enseñaron dos de todas las historias aquí contadas. Cabe decir que he llorado mucho ahora que he podido leer el libro completo. Sentirme identificada hoy, luego de tantos años de la realidad puertorriqueña que muestra esta colección de historias, es impresionante. El saber que aún, Puerto Rico, con un paisaje distinto al que muestra Terrazo, sigue siendo igual en más de un aspecto; es triste y desgarrador ver reflejo de mi hoy día en un libro como este. Todo puertorriqueño debe leerlo, eso es ley, aún así todo aquel que no lo sea lo incito a leerlo también. Porque no fuimos nosotros los únicos invadidos y oprimidos por los norteamericanos, porque no somos los únicos en la misma posición, y sobre todo, porque no somos los únicos con sed de patria.

[Práxedes Rivera · Rating 3 out of 5]

This collection of short stories explores the relationship between landowners and peons in Puerto Rico after its Spanish colonial period. The use of 'big words' in the narrative is somewhat unnecessary, but the plots are an accurate reflection of the hardships endured by native 'jibaros' and freed slaves.

[Fabiola Alejandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Este libro influenció mi niñez y me hizo apreciar mi cultura aun más.

[Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

The writing is very heavy on metaphors and hard to get into, but wow, what an excellent depiction of the struggles under colonialism.

[zapata · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abelardo es muy crítico en sus escritos, sumamente capaz de bailarte e insultar te y tú reírte con el, tiene un humor maravilloso pero también tiene la capacidad de profundizar en el penoso retrato de la pobreza y especialmente sus estragos en la población infantil.

[Fer Prz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading Puertorican literature is one of my most treasured activities. In Terrazo, Abelardo Diaz Alfaro painted a picture of the island's cultural clash between its own traditions and customs imposed through USA’s colonization when it claimed the island as its territory.

The book starts with Josco a methapor of how the hard working Puertoricans have to make way and give the good positions to lazy and privileged north Americans.

The last story addresses the transition in the education which must include english even though the teacher himself does not know how to speak it. It made me feel as though I was there watching the teacher struggle to pronounciate words. It was told in a very hilarious tone. On Christmas day the teacher surprised the classroom by dressing as Santa Claus to deliver gifts and share the North American custom. But since no one was familiar with a larger than life bearded man dressed in red attire, rubber boots, and speaking a foreign language, people got so scared they jumped out of windows.

I loved this book and what made it even more special it was a gift from my dad.

[sheilabeta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Witty, well structured and still beautifully simple is a trip to the Puertorrican culture during the beginning of the US colonization. A smart book that still predicts Puerto Rico's current cultural and values transformations...

[Gabriela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Para entender la cultura Puertorriqueña hay que leer Terrazo.

[Carmen Pérez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrazzo is a magnificent collection of Puerto Rican short stories first published in 1947 that illustrate life in the countryside during the rise of the American sugar industries. The stories talk about the general suffering of the worker and rural Jíbaro, emphasizing on the black community and the general loss of a homeland. Terrazzo is a realistic, and crude representation of what happened in Puerto Rico in the mid-20th century. All are refreshing stories, with clear messages teaching about the suffering of the perpetual loss of a homeland. Abelardo Díaz Alfaro uses beautiful prose, evoking the Puerto Rican peasant culture and which feels as if he is painting the landscape with words. In it, there are stories that make it clear that they are experiences of Alfaro himself. The three stories of Peyo Mercé are hilarious, we will realize that Mercé is going to be one of Abelardo's most lovely character by his intelligence and histrionic skills. Abelardo Díaz Alfaro manages to create magic with these stories, here the hard-working life of the peasant comes to life and becomes a legend. I give it 5 stars out of 5.

[Addie · Rating 5 out of 5]

To understand the colonial history of Puerto Rico you must read Terrazo. Just as terrazzo is a stone made of pieces of marble mixed with mortar that is used as pavement, these stories serve as a foundation for understanding the way of life of Puerto Rican campesinos during the 1940s; the pain, the hunger and all the vicissitudes of a people oppressed by colonialism.

[Ricardo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrazo

Una hermosa pieza escrita por el gran Abelardo Diaz Alfaro. Don Abelardo nos presenta una serie de cuentos que describen a un Puerto Rico dentro de la colonia Norteamericana pero antes de ser bautizada como Estado Libre Asociada.

Una pieza que debe ser leída por cada puertorriqueño para conocer su manto histórico y por todos los niños para que disfruten de grandes historias. Pero sobretodo de la hermosa figura del Jibaro puertorriqueño.

[Brenda L · Rating 5 out of 5]

Esta antología puertorriqueña está llena de imágenes autóctonos de nuestra cultura. Abelardo Diaz Alfaro nos muestra al jibaro luchando en su día a día y contra la asimilación estadounidense. Entre mis cuentos favoritos se encuentran: Las historias de Peyo Mercé, Bagazo y El Josco.

[Miguel A Ovalle Longo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrazo es el sufrimiento y la esperanza retratados en la vigencia de la actualidad. Un cuadro viviente, pincelado para la posteridad: un espacio citadino o rural -local o de la diáspora- que dista en tiempo, mas no en circustancia, de la realidad jíbara.

[Andres Anglade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Volver a mi niñez

Que bueno ir a este libro que leí en mi juventud y casi he olvidado. Me lleva no solo a mi niñez sino al Puerto Rico de esa época que aunque pobre económicamente, rica en espiritualidad y vivencia.

[xavier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Este libro lo lei por pirmera vez en grado 12 en mi clase de español. Mi historia favorita es la del Josco y no creo que ninguna otra historia tenga tanta pasion como esa. Abelardo Diaz Alfaro captura tan perfectamente la vida del jibaro y sus luchas que me hacen recordar las historias que me contaba mi abuelo.

[M Pau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I am not Puerto Rican and it took me a while to comprehend the prose, I found it to be refreshing and realistic about the lives of the Puerto Rican farmer.

This book is a collection of short Puerto Rican stories that gives you a glimpse in the lives of those living in the camp (farms) during the high of the American industries.

By reading each story you see the general suffering of the farmer, giving emphasis in the black community and many of the issues they were faced with.

[Natasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it on High School

[Ida Ovied · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great writer, depressing topic