Sam Terry > Recent Status Updates

Getting into the 20th century now. I am more familiar with this period of Latin American history than with the 1800s, but already I have found this text incredibly illuminating. I can’t wait to learn more about the patterns of domestic social transformation and foreign interference that belay the collapse of the liberal order

The 19th century histories of Argentina and Paraguay were really interesting, but I need to review the section on Mexico’s troubled experience after independence. This section was quite a bit longer than the others because Mexican politics were so unstable, and I don’t think I developed an enduring framework for understanding the period.

Getting into the brief section on the colonial history of Brazil. Forgot my highlighter at home so I want to go back over it. Still have some 22 pages left but so far I would appreciate more elaboration on the nature of the “donatory-captaincies” that governed early Brazil

On why the New World criollo elite did not resist the Spanish imperial authority which checked their power: “Any direct attack on the monarchy ran the risk of bringing down the complex ideological edifice which kept the double colonialism of the Indies from collapsing in bloody chaos.” I love this goddamn book

Really interesting and nuanced perspectives on the role of the Spanish crown in defining the nature of Latin American colonial society. The monarchy is characterized in a much more sympathetic way than I imagined it would be, but maybe the monarchy had better intentions in its colonial ambitions than I’ve been taught

Wrapped up the Theogony. There are some interesting details here and there but as a whole it really drags. The information is obviously organized for an audience that knows most of these stories already, so it was a mistake on my part to try to use this to develop a broad understanding of mythological context for Greek epics.

Patterns and internal dynamics of urban settlement. Adelantados, cabildos, port cities, makings of the hacienda system

Love that the introduction never misses an opportunity to acknowledge the poet’s mediocrity. Every Radiohead has its Muse and every Homer his Hesiod

Grace was one of the hardest stories to interpret so far. I kept the notes close at hand but I’m not sure what to make of the ending. I think I just need to give it a reread to connect the dots; I spent so much time in the margins elaborating on individual details that I probably missed the forest for the trees

Going back over the first half before I start Grace and The Dead

I think this is the best book I have ever read.

Thorough and compelling crash course in chapter 2 on the history of indigenous America and of the Iberian monarchies. Navarre is mentioned only once in passing so to sate my curiosity I had to look up what became of them. I think I got all the broad themes down but I may have to review a little to make sure I absorb all the details I want to carry with me

Just finished A Painful Case. It is all just so rich. I thought I could blow through the collection in a couple of days but after each story my head feels full, like I’ve overeaten to the point of sickness. I’m gonna take my time with it and maybe I’ll finish in the next few weeks. What a masterpiece

I started annotating too late. A Little Cloud took me hours of scrutiny to get through, but in spite of its density and complexity I feel like I *get* it. It was a triumph and I only regret not paying such careful attention to the first seven stories in the collection. I will go back over them carefully once I finish the rest of the collection.