W. Paul Anderson

First of all, this is an impressive book, both in size and ambition. I was astounded on practically every page by the author's apparently effortless knowledge of every subject under the sun, and the links between them. He manages to create a gripping story about heresy, intellect and the state of women within the 17th-century church. Why then did I give it only 2 1/2 stars? First: it's a little too long. The second half covers much less narrative ground than the first, at a slower pace, and the book might have worked slightly better if this part had been tightened up. While I thoroughly enjoyed the sections about Sor Juana herself, and would have given those on their own a much higher rating, I found the sections set in the present day distracting and often, when told in Beulah's voice, tedious. I understand that these sections convey powerfully the obsession that a biographer can develop with her subject, but Beulah often seemed to be a little flat. She is a nymphomaniac anorexic, ruined by childhood abuse, unhappy with herself and only able to find redemption through her twisted relationship with her academic adviser. Her sections merely allow the author to indulge in retellings of myths peppered with four-letter-words, and diary entries that read like stream-of-consciousness exercises. I perfectly understand that all of these decisions were made by the author to give his character a distinctive voice, but unfortunately, she simply ended up being irritating to me. I respect that other people will have different views about her, and I respect that I am really criticising the character rather than the writing. Much of this book is fascinating - a dizzying sweep which really deserves the name 'epic' - and which keeps you on your toes with a healthy disrespect for chronological narration.… (más)