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La invasión
México, fines del siglo XIX. Abelardo redacta sus recuerdos de juventud, que están entrelazados con la intervención norteamericana de 1847. Atestigua el proceso su esposa, una mujer liberal que cuestiona y motiva a Abelardo, y es uno de sus principales motivos par escribir. Es sabio lo que pasó entonces: la mitad del territorio mexicano pasó a manos del incipiente imperio; hubo episodios heroicos y episodios vergonzosos, próceres, arribistas, traidores. Pero también, en medio de la catástrofe nacional, vocaciones, voluntades y pasiones individuales, como la de la pareja que rememora y la del doctor Urruchúa, obsesionado por los gérmenes.
Esta novela narra un pasaje negro de la historia nacional sin perder de vista a los que habitualmente son ignorados; en ella escuchamos a léperos, labriegos, intelectuales, curas: ciudadanos comunes en busca de un destino: "En caso de que haya algo más después de la muerte, ¿qué juegos se jugarán en nuestro caleidoscopio, cómo se combinarán los colores, los humores fríos y los cálidos, los sueños lunáticos y los mercuriales, los encuentros y los desencuentros?
Esta novela narra un pasaje negro de la historia nacional sin perder de vista a los que habitualmente son ignorados; en ella escuchamos a léperos, labriegos, intelectuales, curas: ciudadanos comunes en busca de un destino: "En caso de que haya algo más después de la muerte, ¿qué juegos se jugarán en nuestro caleidoscopio, cómo se combinarán los colores, los humores fríos y los cálidos, los sueños lunáticos y los mercuriales, los encuentros y los desencuentros?
- GenresHistorical Fiction
298 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
6 people are currently reading
81 people want to read
About the author
Ignacio Solares
78 books23 followersIgnacio Solares was a prominent Mexican novelist, editor and playwright, whose novel La invasión (The Invasion, 2004) was a bestseller in Mexico and Spain. Until 2005 he served as the Coordinator of Cultural Activities for Literature and Arts at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM); he was a faculty member there and directed the cultural magazine Revista de la Universidad de México. He formerly served as director of the Department of Theater and Dance and the Division of Literature at UNAM. He edited the cultural supplement to the weekly magazine Siempre.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 19, 2011
Overall Review: It’s always an interesting experience to read a novel from the point of view of someone who is borderline insane. Yankee Invasion is very interestingly written, as it alternates between the feeling of a play, a novel, and a research paper written from the point of view of a Mexican in the middle of the invasion. The novel bounces back and forth between the narrator actually writing his chronicle and having discussions with his wife about it, and the time when he was young and in the grips of fear during the Mexican-American war. There are even a few chapters written from the perspective of his doctor friend which were very informative. It took a little while to figure out whether you were reading in the present or the past, but it becomes clearer as you continue on.
I learned a great deal about the history of this war from a very unique perspective. I sometimes found it difficult to read a book where the point of view was very blatantly anti-American (being an American myself), and there were times where I almost felt harassed by the sheer amount of propaganda that was thrown out. His tone was often bitter and you feel as if he hates you as you read his words. On the other hand, it was definitely interesting to see the war from another point of view! And while his anti-Americanism didn’t entirely leave his psyche, it did taper a bit at the end and it ended on a more positive note. The experiences he went through were harrowing, to say the least. I definitely have a better understanding and greater empathy for those people and what they had to endure.
Overall, I felt the whole point of this novel was to inform others about how Mexicans felt (and, I’m sure, still feel) about this war. It clearly shows the feelings, frustrations and fears of the impotent citizen—while the ‘powers that be’ play their political games with the citizens as their pawns. Yankee Invasion has a lot to offer in terms of painting a vivid picture and creating an impression that lasts. Overall rating is 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Content Review:
PROFANITY: Some Moderate and Strong instances
VIOLENCE: Many Moderate to Strong instances
SEXUAL CONTENT: Some Mild to moderate instances and one strong instance
MATURE THEMES: Moderate
RECOMMENDED AGE GROUP: 21+
There is some profanity from every category in this book, from crude language up to 5 uses of the ‘f’-word. There were many mild and moderate words of the four-letter variety scattered throughout.
Keeping in mind that this novel is based around a persons’ experience of a war, so violence is to be expected. There is a great deal of detail. A character is in the middle of a small battle and stabs and kills another while watching many others be killed (trampling, smashing, scratching, stabbing, etc.). There are a great deal of battles and there are discussions of bombs, cannons, multitudes of people dying, grotesque torture, rape, mutilations, revenge of soldiers. There are descriptions of people dead and dying throughout—some are very detailed—and there are also animals that are tortured and left for dead. There are chapters from the point of view of a doctor and he narrates his experiences in the hospitals and battlefields, caring for the wounded and dying people. The descriptions are graphic: amputations (complete with sawing through the bone), stitching parts back together, large wounds and missing limbs are described as well. There is a step by step operation of a tumor on a face. The dead are so numerous they are burned instead of buried—the sight of the burning dead is described in emotional detail. The descriptions of the dead and dying are very prevalent throughout and become graphic at times. This is an ugly war mostly between soldiers and common people and consists of guns, swords, knives, cannons, bombs, burnings, rocks, biting, hot oil—basically whatever they can get their hands on. There are public floggings (large poles are used).
As far as sexual content, much of this story revolves around one character and his loves. He has a fiancée, but secretly loves her mother more. His feelings and (mostly one-sided) experiences are discussed at length. There is a mild scene where he is sitting beside the mother and discusses the feeling of touching her arm and breathing in the same air—the wording is very sensual. There is a whole chapter dedicated to two characters living together for a time. This includes a character trying to convince another to sleep with him. It becomes fairly descriptive and lasts for about 5-6 pages. There are ‘women of the street’ who provide ‘entertainment’ for soldiers.
The mature themes are moderate and include the politics of war (and its horrible effects on humanity), anti-Americanism/hatred of a group of people, insanity, philosophical ideas, melancholy, betrayal by leaders (realizing that your worst enemy is in your ‘own house’), and death.
Other things of note: There was a visit to a ‘witch doctor’ for herbs/potions, drinking, smoking (drug abuse), unsanitary medical practices (reusing bandages from those whom have already died, not washing utensils/hands), and strange ‘visions’ of the future.
Yankee Invasion is recommended for ages 21+.
This review was written by Emily
A Squeaky Clean Reads Book Reviewer
This book was sent to Squeaky Clean reads by Scarletta Press for a review
To see more fantastic books reviewed with content in mind, visit us at Squeaky Clean Reads!
I learned a great deal about the history of this war from a very unique perspective. I sometimes found it difficult to read a book where the point of view was very blatantly anti-American (being an American myself), and there were times where I almost felt harassed by the sheer amount of propaganda that was thrown out. His tone was often bitter and you feel as if he hates you as you read his words. On the other hand, it was definitely interesting to see the war from another point of view! And while his anti-Americanism didn’t entirely leave his psyche, it did taper a bit at the end and it ended on a more positive note. The experiences he went through were harrowing, to say the least. I definitely have a better understanding and greater empathy for those people and what they had to endure.
Overall, I felt the whole point of this novel was to inform others about how Mexicans felt (and, I’m sure, still feel) about this war. It clearly shows the feelings, frustrations and fears of the impotent citizen—while the ‘powers that be’ play their political games with the citizens as their pawns. Yankee Invasion has a lot to offer in terms of painting a vivid picture and creating an impression that lasts. Overall rating is 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Content Review:
PROFANITY: Some Moderate and Strong instances
VIOLENCE: Many Moderate to Strong instances
SEXUAL CONTENT: Some Mild to moderate instances and one strong instance
MATURE THEMES: Moderate
RECOMMENDED AGE GROUP: 21+
There is some profanity from every category in this book, from crude language up to 5 uses of the ‘f’-word. There were many mild and moderate words of the four-letter variety scattered throughout.
Keeping in mind that this novel is based around a persons’ experience of a war, so violence is to be expected. There is a great deal of detail. A character is in the middle of a small battle and stabs and kills another while watching many others be killed (trampling, smashing, scratching, stabbing, etc.). There are a great deal of battles and there are discussions of bombs, cannons, multitudes of people dying, grotesque torture, rape, mutilations, revenge of soldiers. There are descriptions of people dead and dying throughout—some are very detailed—and there are also animals that are tortured and left for dead. There are chapters from the point of view of a doctor and he narrates his experiences in the hospitals and battlefields, caring for the wounded and dying people. The descriptions are graphic: amputations (complete with sawing through the bone), stitching parts back together, large wounds and missing limbs are described as well. There is a step by step operation of a tumor on a face. The dead are so numerous they are burned instead of buried—the sight of the burning dead is described in emotional detail. The descriptions of the dead and dying are very prevalent throughout and become graphic at times. This is an ugly war mostly between soldiers and common people and consists of guns, swords, knives, cannons, bombs, burnings, rocks, biting, hot oil—basically whatever they can get their hands on. There are public floggings (large poles are used).
As far as sexual content, much of this story revolves around one character and his loves. He has a fiancée, but secretly loves her mother more. His feelings and (mostly one-sided) experiences are discussed at length. There is a mild scene where he is sitting beside the mother and discusses the feeling of touching her arm and breathing in the same air—the wording is very sensual. There is a whole chapter dedicated to two characters living together for a time. This includes a character trying to convince another to sleep with him. It becomes fairly descriptive and lasts for about 5-6 pages. There are ‘women of the street’ who provide ‘entertainment’ for soldiers.
The mature themes are moderate and include the politics of war (and its horrible effects on humanity), anti-Americanism/hatred of a group of people, insanity, philosophical ideas, melancholy, betrayal by leaders (realizing that your worst enemy is in your ‘own house’), and death.
Other things of note: There was a visit to a ‘witch doctor’ for herbs/potions, drinking, smoking (drug abuse), unsanitary medical practices (reusing bandages from those whom have already died, not washing utensils/hands), and strange ‘visions’ of the future.
Yankee Invasion is recommended for ages 21+.
This review was written by Emily
A Squeaky Clean Reads Book Reviewer
This book was sent to Squeaky Clean reads by Scarletta Press for a review
To see more fantastic books reviewed with content in mind, visit us at Squeaky Clean Reads!
April 13, 2018
Una buena novela.
Algo caótica en el manejo de voces narrativas. Creo que La invasión resume gran parte de la obra de Solares. No son obras excelentes, pero se disfrutan. Están documentadas con cierto rigor (aunque sin esa exactitud que los más exigentes piden del género histórico) y el autor conoce y sabe manejar tanto esos documentos como ciertas herramientas de estructura narrativa.
"No hemos sido la gran rosa petrificada de una catedral gótica, hay que reconocerlo, sino, simplemente, la instantánea y efímera rosa de un pequeño caleidoscopio".
8/10
Algo caótica en el manejo de voces narrativas. Creo que La invasión resume gran parte de la obra de Solares. No son obras excelentes, pero se disfrutan. Están documentadas con cierto rigor (aunque sin esa exactitud que los más exigentes piden del género histórico) y el autor conoce y sabe manejar tanto esos documentos como ciertas herramientas de estructura narrativa.
"No hemos sido la gran rosa petrificada de una catedral gótica, hay que reconocerlo, sino, simplemente, la instantánea y efímera rosa de un pequeño caleidoscopio".
8/10
December 15, 2025
Excelente ambientación emocional sobre la tensión generada durante la intervención norteamericana en el país.
Las anécdotas personales ficticias pierden, en ocasiones, el hilo narrativo de la trama.
En esencia de novela histórica mantiene la relación del hecho y su comparativo con los aspectos políticos y ambiciones que permanecen en el país.
Las anécdotas personales ficticias pierden, en ocasiones, el hilo narrativo de la trama.
En esencia de novela histórica mantiene la relación del hecho y su comparativo con los aspectos políticos y ambiciones que permanecen en el país.
August 15, 2023
Las citas que precedían a los capítulos fueron lo mejor del libro; pedazos de historia recopilados que, a través de unas cuantas palabras y párrafos, te decían todo lo que pasaba en el México del siglo XIX, un tiempo de caos y dolor para el país. Al principio me confundió un poco la narración, porque el protagonista daba saltos temporales repentinos, pero me fui acostumbrando. Amé completamente a su esposa, más que feminista, era una mujer culta cuya sabiduría y postura provenía de la lectura y una inteligencia aguda. Pero una vez te adentras en la historia, te vas acostumbrando a la temática.
Admito que llegó un tiempo en que me desesperó la ansiedad de Abelardo y su incesante espera por la llegada de los yankees; su necesidad de probar a todos que no estaba equivocado... Pero también me ponían mal la postura de muchas personas, incluido el padre de la novia de su juventud. Aprovechando que toqué este tema, cabe señalar que me despertó serios sentimientos de ira leer tantas atrocidades, hurgar en la herida provocada por la invasión norteamericana. Fue como la vez que visité el Museo de las Intervenciones, y me descubrí con lágrimas en los ojos de ver todo lo que sangró mi México, revivir la rabia que sintió el General Anaya; los niños héroes, a los Héroes de Padierna, la toma de Chapultepec, la cobardía de Santa Anna y, con ello, la entrada del ejército yankee a la Ciudad. Me llenó de malos sentimiento leer cuando arriaron la bandera estadounidense en nuestro propio Zócalo...
Pero también fue muy grato conocer de personajes destacados como el Padre Jarauta, que no te lo mencionan en la escuela, pero, sobre todo, de todos aquellos personajes ignorados por la historia: el pueblo. Aquellos quienes, finalmente, plantaron cara al poderoso ejército estadounidense y le cobraron aunque fuera un mínimo precio por todo lo que hicieron. Pero también te abre los ojos de muchas cosas. La invasión no fue cosa de la noche a la mañana, y no todo fue culpa de nuestra pobre situación. Como dijeron en una de las citas, la invasión norteamericana fue posible gracias a la desorganización del Estado Mexicano y a la ambición de los políticos, a cuyo son danzamos y terminamos bailando con la más fea. Creo que todo mexicano debería leerlo y aprender de los errores (y aciertos), que muchos de nuestros antepasados cometieron. Ya va siendo hora de que México despierte y aprenda de su historia para bien.
En cuanto a la perspectiva, me gustaron mucho los capítulos del doctor, pues muestra la situación que muchos mexicanos vivieron, y Abelardo, fuera de su locura, le dio un toque de realismo, y al final, hace buenas reflexiones. Siento que pasó muy a la ligera los verdaderos sucesos de la invasión, pero es entendible, él no era soldado, así que no tenía forma de narrarlos mas que como un tercero. ¡Viva México!
Admito que llegó un tiempo en que me desesperó la ansiedad de Abelardo y su incesante espera por la llegada de los yankees; su necesidad de probar a todos que no estaba equivocado... Pero también me ponían mal la postura de muchas personas, incluido el padre de la novia de su juventud. Aprovechando que toqué este tema, cabe señalar que me despertó serios sentimientos de ira leer tantas atrocidades, hurgar en la herida provocada por la invasión norteamericana. Fue como la vez que visité el Museo de las Intervenciones, y me descubrí con lágrimas en los ojos de ver todo lo que sangró mi México, revivir la rabia que sintió el General Anaya; los niños héroes, a los Héroes de Padierna, la toma de Chapultepec, la cobardía de Santa Anna y, con ello, la entrada del ejército yankee a la Ciudad. Me llenó de malos sentimiento leer cuando arriaron la bandera estadounidense en nuestro propio Zócalo...
Pero también fue muy grato conocer de personajes destacados como el Padre Jarauta, que no te lo mencionan en la escuela, pero, sobre todo, de todos aquellos personajes ignorados por la historia: el pueblo. Aquellos quienes, finalmente, plantaron cara al poderoso ejército estadounidense y le cobraron aunque fuera un mínimo precio por todo lo que hicieron. Pero también te abre los ojos de muchas cosas. La invasión no fue cosa de la noche a la mañana, y no todo fue culpa de nuestra pobre situación. Como dijeron en una de las citas, la invasión norteamericana fue posible gracias a la desorganización del Estado Mexicano y a la ambición de los políticos, a cuyo son danzamos y terminamos bailando con la más fea. Creo que todo mexicano debería leerlo y aprender de los errores (y aciertos), que muchos de nuestros antepasados cometieron. Ya va siendo hora de que México despierte y aprenda de su historia para bien.
En cuanto a la perspectiva, me gustaron mucho los capítulos del doctor, pues muestra la situación que muchos mexicanos vivieron, y Abelardo, fuera de su locura, le dio un toque de realismo, y al final, hace buenas reflexiones. Siento que pasó muy a la ligera los verdaderos sucesos de la invasión, pero es entendible, él no era soldado, así que no tenía forma de narrarlos mas que como un tercero. ¡Viva México!
December 4, 2009
I received this book as a review copy from the publisher. Yankee Invasion was set in Mexico City during 1847 and 1899. It was styled like a journal written by a Mexican, a 77-year-old Abelardo, about events that happened to him in 1847 leading up to the occupation of Mexico City and during the occupation. Interspersed in the story were accounts of his current interactions with his wife on the subject of his writings and her views on the war.
I really enjoyed the novel, and I checked three times to make sure it really was a novel rather than a memoir since the people and events in the book seemed realistic and like what a person really would write in a journal. The book felt well-researched, but I don't know enough about the Mexican-American War of 1846-1848 to know how accurate the details were.
The novel read like the (very interesting) ramblings of a grandpa to children who didn't live through the events and didn't know much about the history surrounding it. In the first part, especially, chunks of history were inserted into the narration as Abelardo considered things like which event might have been the true origin of the war. As the novel went on, there were fewer breaks in the action.
While the 25-year-old Abelardo in 1847 was very anti-American, the hindsight lent by the older Abelardo writing the account buffered this, showing each person to be villain or not based on his own actions rather than on his national identity. Also, the other characters expressed a variety of different viewpoints about America and the Church (see below), often opinions that Abelardo didn't agreed with. As long as American readers are willing to admit that America is not perfect and recognizes that people in a country being invaded might not be too happy with Americans, they won't feel affronted or attacked by the views in the novel.
I wouldn't call this a Christian novel even though God was mentioned fairly often. While Abelardo and most of the other characters were Catholic Christians, Abelardo had little nice to say about the Church (Catholic or Protestant). And when the characters do get philosophical, it tended toward the mystical rather than beliefs held in traditional Christianity.
There was a minor amount of bad language. There was some (unmarried) sex, but it wasn't graphically described. I'd recommend this novel to those who enjoy history and historical novels...or who enjoy novels about slightly insane men who manage to bring a lot of grief on themselves in their personal lives.
I really enjoyed the novel, and I checked three times to make sure it really was a novel rather than a memoir since the people and events in the book seemed realistic and like what a person really would write in a journal. The book felt well-researched, but I don't know enough about the Mexican-American War of 1846-1848 to know how accurate the details were.
The novel read like the (very interesting) ramblings of a grandpa to children who didn't live through the events and didn't know much about the history surrounding it. In the first part, especially, chunks of history were inserted into the narration as Abelardo considered things like which event might have been the true origin of the war. As the novel went on, there were fewer breaks in the action.
While the 25-year-old Abelardo in 1847 was very anti-American, the hindsight lent by the older Abelardo writing the account buffered this, showing each person to be villain or not based on his own actions rather than on his national identity. Also, the other characters expressed a variety of different viewpoints about America and the Church (see below), often opinions that Abelardo didn't agreed with. As long as American readers are willing to admit that America is not perfect and recognizes that people in a country being invaded might not be too happy with Americans, they won't feel affronted or attacked by the views in the novel.
I wouldn't call this a Christian novel even though God was mentioned fairly often. While Abelardo and most of the other characters were Catholic Christians, Abelardo had little nice to say about the Church (Catholic or Protestant). And when the characters do get philosophical, it tended toward the mystical rather than beliefs held in traditional Christianity.
There was a minor amount of bad language. There was some (unmarried) sex, but it wasn't graphically described. I'd recommend this novel to those who enjoy history and historical novels...or who enjoy novels about slightly insane men who manage to bring a lot of grief on themselves in their personal lives.
December 24, 2013
Cierto: tengo muchos prejuicios personales contra el autor, pero ya he leído obras (o visto películas) de autores que me caen mal o peor (como Jodorowsky) y eso lo dejo aparte.
Este libro sólo se salva por las citas fantásticas de documentos históricos. De ahí en más, salta de un tema a otro, queriendo hablar de mil cosas (una historia de amor malograda -malograda en sus personajes y en cómo la plantea-, feminismo de su esposa, el trabajo médico y la higiene en la guerra, posiciones a favor y en contra de los yanquis), en fin, una revolvedera que sólo satura el libro y no llega a nada, la verdad. Vamos, no menciona ni a los San Patricios más que de pasadita ¬¬
En serio, uno lo puede leer en un día. De hecho, eso pasó: lo empecé en septiembre pero apenas logré una tercera parte porque no me atrapó. Hoy, ya harta de tenerlo ahí, pendiente, lo terminé y en 5 horas me lo eché.
Repito: vale la pena por la crónica que se avienta, medio basada en fuentes y lo demás... blegh.
Este libro sólo se salva por las citas fantásticas de documentos históricos. De ahí en más, salta de un tema a otro, queriendo hablar de mil cosas (una historia de amor malograda -malograda en sus personajes y en cómo la plantea-, feminismo de su esposa, el trabajo médico y la higiene en la guerra, posiciones a favor y en contra de los yanquis), en fin, una revolvedera que sólo satura el libro y no llega a nada, la verdad. Vamos, no menciona ni a los San Patricios más que de pasadita ¬¬
En serio, uno lo puede leer en un día. De hecho, eso pasó: lo empecé en septiembre pero apenas logré una tercera parte porque no me atrapó. Hoy, ya harta de tenerlo ahí, pendiente, lo terminé y en 5 horas me lo eché.
Repito: vale la pena por la crónica que se avienta, medio basada en fuentes y lo demás... blegh.
March 25, 2017
Es un libro que nos remite a la invasión estadounidense a territorio mexicano en 1847, no se que tantas precisiones o impresiciones históricas tenga, pero si ayuda a saber algo más de este periodo en la historia de México, aunque de repente lo siento un poco forzado en su sentimiento anti-yanqui y en ensalzar mucho el patriotismo, elementos que por momentos no llego a creer del todo, pero en general es un libro recomendable, aunque me dejo con ganas de más.
December 2, 2012
La historia de los narradores (un escritor enamorado de una hija y su madre, y un doctor) no logró ni envolverme ni convencerme.
Además, al telón de fondo (la guerra entre México y Estados Unidos de 1847-1848, después de la cual se perdió gran parte del territorio mexicano del norte) le faltó información.
Además, al telón de fondo (la guerra entre México y Estados Unidos de 1847-1848, después de la cual se perdió gran parte del territorio mexicano del norte) le faltó información.
October 8, 2012
Este libro narra la invasión de EEUU a México desde el punto de vista de los habitantes de la Ciudad de México en 1847. Un poco cansado en ocasiones pero cumple su cometido de narrar el paso del ejército norteamericano al llegar a la ciudad.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews