The Invisible Mountain

This sweeping narrative traces one family's story through the lives of four generations of strong, independent women in Montevideo, Uruguay. They survive and thrive during the two world wars, exile, revolution, and personal triumphs and tragedies. Spanish words and phrases are sprinkled throughout the story, keeping the South American setting in high relief. Christine Avila adds authenticity to her narration with her perfect pronunciation and timing. While there's little differentiation between characters, Avila skillfully weaves the story of the four women, each of whom has her own story while sharing common themes with the others. The only distraction from this well-told novel is when Avila slips into a distinctly American accent for the Spanish-speaking characters. E.N. (c) AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine

Starred review from June 29, 2009
The history of Uruguay through the 20th century sparks personal tragedies amid political intrigues and cultural upheavals in this enchanting, funny and heartbreaking debut novel. Three generations of women populate this sweeping saga: Pajarita, the miracle child who at the dawn of the new century disappears and then reappears in a tree, born twice, as the residents of her small town say; Eva, Pajarita's daughter, who suffers a cruel childhood and learns to spin her painful experiences into a new life of art and adventure as a poet; and Salomé, seduced by communism and nearly losing everything fighting for the cause she believes will save her country. This novel is beautifully written yet deliberate in its storytelling. It gains momentum as the women's lives spin increasingly out of control while Uruguay sinks into war, economic instability and revolution. An extraordinary first effort whose epic scope and deft handling reverberate with the deep pull of ancestry, the powerful influence of one's country and the sacrifices of reinvention.