Carmen Aguirre
What does it mean to be a revolutionary? In
her memoirs, Carmen Aguirre answers this question very well. And she does it by
telling the story of her life growing up in the underground resistance against
the Pinochet dictatorship in Chile during the 1970s and 1980s. Winner of Canada
Reads 2012, Something Fierce presents us with a teenage girl who wants
to give everything she has in order to liberate her homeland—and to make up
with a handsome boy as well.
One of my favourite aspects of this book
was Aguirre's recollections of being in the resistance. It is incredible what
they had to go through—secret messages to be passed, “goods” to be delivered,
orders to be followed immediately. And if they were caught, torture and death
would be added to their daily planners. As a Latin American myself, I am proud
to be represented by Aguirre, with her courage to defend the people of her
continent. Her political commitment is, simply, a model to learn from.
And when it comes to Latin American
politics, I can tell you that if you read Something Fierce, by page 100
you will be wearing a Cuban flag pin on your hat. I am serious—it happened to
me! A recommended read for all those who want to learn more about the history
of Latin America and be reminded that revolutionaries are not just political
tools but human beings with complex, rich lives.
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