Overall the group felt that the book was an engrossing read constructed in a filmic way. Some comments: The sections on Trujillo were the best; author insights into a Shakespearean character were powerful. Urania was more a symbol of the lasting damage caused by the Trujillo regime than a real woman; wouldn't a real woman of her intelligence have been able to find a way to peace? The sections on the assassins were gripping, although a number of members couldn't read the torture scenes. General Pupo Roman was a favorite character because he was so human when he failed to act...even failing to kill himself to avoid terrible torture. The author said that writers have a moral obligation to write about politics...and the members felt that the
Feast of the Goat was successful because they were moved to think about and discuss political action. Who would they have been in this story...the brave souls who risked everything to hide the assassins, the sycophants that would do anything to retain the chief's favor, victim or victimizer or just passively blind to evil? Obvious connections between other historic dictators were made including Egypt's Mubarak. We wondered briefly why dictators aren't benevolent. Two members talked about work situations that mirrored the relationship of the Benefactor and his counselors. One member said that reading and reflecting on good literature prepares people to make brave and difficult decisions.
More to read by Vargas Llosa:
Author feels that War at the End of the World is his most accomplished novel. Critic Harold Bloom, includes the novel in what he calls the "Western Canon."
