Reviews

• Having been born in El Salvador in the same year as Bitter Grounds' last two heroines, I can say that this book is a rarety: one which combines truth and fiction and lays bare the soul of a people caught in tragedy and turmoil. I was mesmerized by the details of life the author chronicled concerning day to day life in San Salvador and Santa Ana, by the intimate details which revealed so much about the two worlds which exist side by side in this tiny, bustling country. Coming from a family in which my father was a self made man, ultimately the highest ranking diplomat from El Salvador and in which my mother was part of the landed aristocracy of Santa Ana, I was amazed at how Ms. Benitez was able to weave so many weighty subjects into her story and yet emerge with a fable for the ages. Had I remained in El Salvador, I wonder on which side of the fence I would have landed: Maria Mercedes' or Flor's. My father's humble beginnings pulled me one way, my mother's the other. Growing up eventually in the U. S. made that choice unnecessary, but still my roots pull at me, and this book has unlocked memories I didn't even know I had.I thank Ms. Benitez for enriching my world with her novel of times that were, times that could have been, times of unrivaled tragedy and sadness. It is the story of El Salvador.

• I wish I had more time to write a review worthy of this book! I will say that this book is fulfilling and rich read. The stories of the women and their families in this book provide insight into the contrast of the social classes in El Salvador in times past. The very personal stories allow the reader to connect with the characters while learning a great deal about the history of El Salvador from the 1930's on.

• This is an epic novel that tells the story of El Salvador's civil war. How it began in 1932 when the oligarchs sent soldiers to massacre Indians so they could steal their land. But it is told in a way that allows you to see the perspectives of all the characters, rich or poor. The story is heartbreaking at times, but also beautiful in the details of how each one helps others to survive and even thrive. Having studied El Salvador's civil war, I can tell you honestly that there are details in here that no one knows about. For instance, why so many children died from diarrhea & dysentery. There are also details that only a small number of people know about. This is one of the best books I've ever read. And I have read hundreds!

• It's a fun read, but the whole middle section reads like a soap opera. I thought it would be more political, but only the beginning and end get into any of that, and never really exploring the issues.

• This is an exquisitely written novel. Some of the plot turns and twists may seem a bit unrealistic, but this is literature, not mass-market fiction, and in the end, all of those plot twists and "coincidences" lead up to a truly slam-bang ending. The novel setting is El Salvador from 1932 to 1977, and the author makes good use of a real-life event, the genocidal slaughter of 30,000 Salvadorans, an incident in which the majority of those killed were indigenous (Indian) citizens. The tragedy, recalled by Salvadorans as "the massacre," is a little-known event in 20th century history. The writing is lyrical and heartrending, exquisite and painful. For anyone in search of a deeper understanding of the events surrounding "la matanza" and the after-effects, this novel provides a good basic roadmap of true-life historical events.

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