When I Want to Cry, I Don't Cry [Review] ESP/ENG

Today I'm going to talk to you about another of the great stories by the great Venezuelan author Miguel Otero Silva, called: "How Much I Want to Cry, I Don't Cry." I remember reading this novel when I was in high school, although I studied in the adult education system. At that time, we had to read the work and analyze it in depth in order to then submit a kind of detailed review to the teacher. And since I was so busy with other subjects and work, I didn't put too much emphasis on my review; I barely did what was necessary to get a good grade. But now that I've sat down calmly to read this work, I realize its enormous value and potential.

Hoy les voy a hablar de una más de las grandiosas historias del gran autor venezolano Miguel Otero Silva, llamada: "Cuanto Quiero Llorar no Lloro" Recuerdo que yo leí esta novela cuando estaba en la secundaria, aunque yo estudié en el sistema para adultos, en ese entonces debíamos leer la obra y analizarla a profundidad para luego entregar al profesor una especie de reseña detallada, y como yo estaba tan ocupado entre las otras materias y el trabajo, no enfaticé demasiado en mi reseña, apenas hice lo necesario para ganar una buena calificación, pero ahora que me senté con calma a leer esta obra me doy cuenta de su enorme valor y potencial.

The book is set in 1960s Venezuela. It all begins with a prophecy that marks the destiny of three young men who share the same birth date and the same name, "Victorino," but belong to very different social strata and contexts: one is poor, another is middle class, and the last is rich. But despite their differences, they all share the same tragic destiny.

As is customary in Miguel Otero Silva's novels, this one reflects his dissatisfaction with the system; it is a kind of denunciation, showing that the change from dictatorship to democracy did not eliminate violence but rather transformed it into something constitutional. The "democracy" of that time was not far removed from the dictatorship they had just left behind. On the other hand, it reflects how the lack of opportunities affects all social strata, although in very different ways.

The author's skill in addressing such dark and serious themes as violence with touches of satire and humor is striking, as it somehow lightens the emotional burden. It's a way of explaining how the oil boom, while bringing a sense of progress, didn't represent any real change to the political and social structure. Inequality and a lack of opportunities persisted, corruption flourished in an atmosphere of impunity, and all of this created the perfect breeding ground for the fate of the Victorinos.

The progress that urbanized the country with the oil boom generated ambition, corruption, and abrupt social changes that affected many people. There was mismanagement of wealth, and this obviously greatly favored the elite. In fact, this is evident in the way the authorities view and analyze crimes according to the economic status of the offenders: if it is a rich person, it is considered a "prank" or a felony, but if it is a poor person, it is an "unforgivable crime."

As always, I greatly appreciated the author's narrative style, which prominently features Venezuelan vernacular, a way of connecting with the people. It's a very personal and natural style. The plot's pacing is excellent and undoubtedly keeps the reader engaged throughout, as everyone is eager to know exactly what will happen to the trio of Victorinos.

Thank you for reading this review, and I sincerely invite you to read this great work so that you can draw your own conclusions.