Saturday, April 17, 2010

 

The Invisible Mountain




















The Invisible Mountain
Carolina de Robertis
2009


"There were strange things about this city. Amethysts used as doorstops, leather used for everything, a stone wall between Old City and New. An obsession with the president, a man called Batlle y Ordóñez, who had promised schools, and workers' rights, and hospitals (secular ones, scandalously so, with crucifixes banned from the walls). All the laborers Ignazio worked with-- even the immigrants, of which there were many-- spoke of Batlle the way Italians spoke of the pope. These men were also obsessed with mate: a brew of shredded leaves and hot water, concocted in a hollow gourd, then drunk through a metal straw called a bombilla. They drank it as if their lives depended on it, and maybe their lives did, sucking at the bombillas on their high steel beams, pouring water while awaiting the next crate, passing the gourd from hand to calloused hand. The first time he was offered mate, Ignazio was shocked by the assumption that he should share a cup. He was eighteen, after all, a grown man. He thought of refusing, but he didn't want the others to think him afraid of tea. The gourd felt warm against his palm. The wet green mass inside it gleamed. The drink flooded his mouth, bright and green and bitter, the taste, he thought, of Uruguay."


I would have missed this book, except a blog reader recommended it to me. The Invisible Mountain is a novel about a Uruguayan family. Crossing four generations, the story personalizes many aspects of Uruguay's history: immigration, the growth of Montevideo, economic boom & bust, the dictatorship. At times, it's harsh-- not suitable for kids-- and in places it's strange, but overall it added a dimension to my understanding of the country.

I read a library copy, but it's also available from booksellers like Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

Thanks to Michael for the recommendation.

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Comments:
Loved your post. You've brought back great memories of my childhood in Uruguay.
 
hey, you might want to get in touch with this people:

http://wallyinuruguay.blogspot.com/

They retired from the US to Uruguay, Costa de Oro!
 
Talking about economics and Uruguay, check the following (automatic translation) article: http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fmundo%2Feconomia%2F2010%2F03%2F100325_1654_uruguay_impuestos_gz.shtml&sl=es&tl=en&hl=&ie=UTF-8

Can Uruguay keep this longer?
 
Thanks for the book suggestion! I'm planning a trip to Uruguay in January and am looking for some advice from expats living there. We'd like to spend a couple nights in one of the beach towns on the coast and aren't sure how to go about finding the right town or a place to rent. Any suggestions you have of a town or travel agent or contact would be great! Thanks!
 
I read the book after I saw your blog!! Loved it and really helped me understand some sensitive history of my boyfriends country!! I visited Uruguay last year and must say Im in love!! Although I am not with my boyfriend anymore I will be returning to Uruguay in March without him!! Thank you for this recommendation! construction is in process for www.TrueUruguay.com
 
I read the book after I saw your blog!! Loved it and really helped me understand some sensitive history of my boyfriends country!! I visited Uruguay last year and must say Im in love!! Although I am not with my boyfriend anymore I will be returning to Uruguay in March without him!! Thank you for this recommendation! construction is in process for www.TrueUruguay.com
 
Great, pictures, great story, great work in here, GREAT BLOG, with respect Robert from Romania !!!
 
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