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. ( )

Difficult reading. I've put it down for now to read other things I've place higher on my 'to read' list. I think I'll not finish this until I get my Kindle because its such a large book its cumbersome to read.
The story can be quite engrossing at points, but it is this amazingly panoramic description of all the details of an era and culture that are unfamiliar to me, so that makes it difficult to digest quickly. ( )

I found the main character Sir Juana Inez de la Cruz imensely interesting. I could have left the rest of the book though. I'm not a fan of books that need constant explanations in the margins. It did make me go out and research Sor Juana for that it was worth reading otherwise I could have left the rest of it.

This was a major reading project it took me four months to get through; it was an irresistable challenge, and worth my time. I was hoping for more Aztec references, but both Juanita's story and the modern one captivated me. I loved the intricacy and complexity. ( )

An amazing story bridging Baroque Spain and Mexico with modern times...a tale of Sor Juana, an incredible nun who wan intellectual and a poetess and more and the modern woman dtermined to know her. ( )