Month: February 2026

I personally liked the beginning of the novel better than where we currently are for a number of reasons. I had enjoyed Garcia Madero’s journal entry style of writing as it felt like we were almost in his head and it felt intimate and easier to follow along. Even though there were still aspects that made it hard to read or understand things, his journal entries made it easier as it felt like the book had a backbone or something holding it together. I feel like it kind of gets confusing as to who is talking sometimes. Additionally, I feel like there are a lot of names whether of people or cities and it gets hard to remember all of it. I also feel like there are a lot of small interactions that become hard to keep up with as well. It also feels different because considering we think of Belano and Lima as one of the main characters or protagonists of the book we would assume we get more access to their thoughts. However, it feels like we are starting to hear about them more so from other people’s perspectives or memories. 

What stood out to me the most was how the importance of characters has changed throughout the book. For example, in the beginning it seemed as if Garcia Madero was the main character and he would always be there and also narrating for the entire book but that was not the case. Similarly, the perspective on Belano feels almost the same as I can see his significance shift over time. Earlier in the book, he felt more important as if he was a central character however, as the book goes he slowly becomes more and more insignificant. The part that I found really interesting about this was that he was called a night watchman. At first, I did not understand who even was being called that but the way I saw it was that Belano was just a night watchman in someone’s perspective which felt kind of weird. I feel like him losing his name was one of the factors that show he was slowly becoming insignificant. I think the difference in perspective is interesting because if I had to describe Baleno I would say visceral realist or something to do with Latin literature but to see he is just a night man in someone’s eyes was different. 

Discussion Question: How do you view identity in this book?

Hi Guys!

I enjoyed reading Amulet. Right off the bat what stood out to me was:

 “I came to Mexico City in 1967, or maybe it was 1965, or 1962. I’ve got no memory for dates anymore, or exactly where my wanderings took me; all I know is that I came to Mexico and never went back. Hold on, let me try to remember. Let me stretch time out like a plastic surgeon stretching the skin of a patient under anesthesia. Let me see.” 

This reminded me of myself because I have an absolutely terrible memory and I often forget things very fast. For the book itself, I found that it was very easy to read and the language was simple. Compared to the Savage Detectives where I might not understand a lot of it, Amulet felt like even my elementary self could read it. 

The one trait that stood out to me about Auxilio was that very observant and paid close attention to her surroundings. For example, she states,

 “and those clouds covered everything with dust, the books I had read and those I was planning to read, covered them irrevocably, there was nothing to be done: however heroic my efforts with broom and rag, the dust was never going to go away, since it was an integral part of the books, their way of living or of mimicking something like life p. 5.” This part shows how even something small like dust in her eyes is an integral part of books and it shows how deeply she observes the smallest things.

Another example of this is: “Sometimes Don Pedro would catch me looking at his vase or the spines of his books and he’d ask. What are you looking at, Auxilio, and I’d say. Huh? What? and I’d pretend to be dopey or miles away, but sometimes I’d come back with a question that might have seemed out of place, but was relevant, actually, if you thought about it. I’d say to him, Don Pedro, How long have you had this vase? P.6”

Most people would ignore how Don Pedro looks at books or the meaning behind his gaze at the vases. No one would really think that deeply of a vase. Whereas Auxilio wasn’t just noticing things like the vase but she was rather observing every little thing and how frequently Don Pedro would look at the vase and try to think of the hidden reason behind why he does. 

Discussion Question: How does Auxilio’s observant nature help us understand her personality?

“The summer it rained every day, and although many said it was God’s wrath because the villagers had opened a casino next to the church, I knew that it was my fault, and mine alone, for I had learned to lie and my lips still retained the last words spoken by my mother on her deathbed: “I never loved the man I married but another, who, I was told, had been killed in the war; look for him and tell him that my last thoughts were for him, for he is your real father.” 

This quote is the first sentence of Carax’s book that Daniel had read.This part really captured my attention further and I found it really intriguing. It took the focus back to Carax’s book and how someone is still out there who wants to burn all of his books. This made me reflect on whether this is Carax’s mother spoken about in the quote and if yes who is his real father. Could that be the reason behind why someone wants to burn all his books. I’m guessing something happened to his real father and he wrote about it in his series of books and someone wants to keep it a secret or does not want it to come out therefore, they are focused on ensuring that his books get burned in order to keep this secret hidden.

 The last part of the book I had read focused on the time Daniel was spending with Clara and their relationship. However, now I feel like there is more and more build up on Carax and the people who knew him or read his books. This is really interesting to me and I really like hearing more about it. I found it fascinating how Isaac, who is the bookkeeper of the Cemetery of Books, knew of Carax through Cabestany who published Carax’s books. It was also interesting how Isaac’s daughter Nuria was friends with Carax and was potentially seeing him. It’s keeping me invested in the book and I keep wanting to read it just to know what happens to Carax and who this mystery person is who is trying to burn his books. What could they be trying to hide that even after years your are ensuring that no one keeps a copy of it.

In addition to Carax, the part that caught my attention was when Isaac was talking about his first love. Although it was a side detail and doesn’t seem to add much to the bigger story it’s kind of sad how he thinks of her years and years later and it just made me think about if it’s actually ever possible to move on from your first love.