Ximena de dos caminos [Ximena of Two Roads]

By: Laura Riesco

Narrated by: Mara Campanelli

Length: 9 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

Ximena de dos caminos es, por su ambición, por el mundo retratado y su ternura, una de las obras fundamentales de la literatura hispanoamericana.

Ximena, una imaginativa niña de cinco años, vive en la sierra central del Perú, a mediados del siglo veinte. Hija de un empresario minero y de una ama de casa tradicional, se acerca, mientras aprende a leer y a escribir, a un mundo adulto que le revela barreras enormes en el contacto cotidiano de dos universos, el occidental y el andino.

La proyección de una mirada infantil femenina que se instala entre la astucia y la inocencia, que reinterpreta una realidad cruda desde las fábulas y las tradiciones orales, hizo que Ximena de dos caminos, publicada originalmente en 1994, se convirtiera en una novela de culto, en una obra canónica de esa década. Una novela con el sabor del paraíso perdido que no solo nos llega a interpelar, sino a estremecer.

Please note: This audiobook is in Spanish

©2021 2021, Laura Riesco (P)2021 Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial S.A.

Narration

The story is very interesting and relevant to know the diversity of people and culture in Peru. But I think that maybe it is better to read the printed book than hearing the audible book because the narration do not valorise the quality of the overall story. Narration is too fast and without an adequate time interruption between paragraphs and story changes.

Great story! Fantastic Audio narration! Realist novel & valuable insights!

A story worth sharing with other Peruvians who may understand the tragic condition of a fragmented society that prevents the country from rising to its higher potential. The native indigenous population has suffered centuries of violent domination. The mestizos afraid to face the realities (much like Ximena) unite with the dominant groups in fear and hopes to save themselves and rise to higher levels. The dominant groups unable to give up political and economic power continue to rule with shameful persistence and greed.