A Story of Yesterday is a concise and straight punch to the jaw of life. Under a sky of different colors germinates a magical story of survival, where the result of each choice, enclosed in this particular tale, will snatch the whereabouts of each story forever.
I read this book last night (it's very brief, I read it in a couple of hours) and am seriously thinking of reading it again today. I can't stop thinking about it. The way the story is told, the characters, the way it kind of made the hairs on my arms stand up. It felt like an experience more than just reading. When I finished, I felt a bit like I did after reading Requiem for a Dream (ie, put through a wringer of self-destruction, despair, and violence that begets more violence). Still, it is a story perfectly told and perfectly concluded.
My only criticism is that the writing is awkward at times. There were a lot of missing pronouns and sometimes the pronouns were wrong (for example, the character Luna was mostly referred to as "he/him" but in a few places referred to as "her"). I'm guessing that the translation from Spanish to English just wasn't great. If only I was fluent in Spanish so I could read the original text!
Es una de esas cabezas, la de Sergio Cobo, a la que a uno le gustaría asomarse, aunque sea unos minutos, para ver que hay dentro, por vamos... el alarde de originalidad, sorpresa y giros que ha sido capaz de tejer en esta historia es digno de estudio. Una lectura apasionante.
a short but incredibly written mystery revolving the death of lara's sister and victor's wife, set in a bleak but colorful town where cigarette smoke comes in different shades and the sky reflects multiple colors, and how these two strangers are totally connected. deals with themes of drug abuse/addiction, sexual assault/rape and loss.
i'll start with what i loved about this book; it's really short. i was able to finish it in 2 hours so it's perfect if ur looking for something to pass the time. don't let the small amount of pages distract u from the fact this short novel is addicting. i was hooked. i love a good mystery book and i think how cobo managed to weave the plot back to the beginning was really smart. jaw dropped when i saw the first sentence appear at the end.
what i didn't like, though, is how easily i got lost in this book; it changed perspectives quick and confused me a bit. it had unnecessary details like when lara broke into rosa's home just to find... nothing? just to die, i guess. and when they went into detail about victor's problems with the drug cartel i got a little confused about what the author was trying to get across. nonetheless, just small things. the twist made the read worth it.
definitely recommend. i think this short book is underrated.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Me encantan las estructuras no lineales y las historias paralelas que se afectan entre ellas. Sergio Cobo sabe hilar y desarrollar todo esto a la perfección. Ha construido 4 grandes personajes.
I haven't read a book like this in my life. I was amazed with how beautifully it is written also how it leaves something to contemplate at the end of each chapter. A fast-paced and thought-provoking read, taking nothing more than couple of hours to engulf it. I was entirely engrossed with its rich and thick plot which left me wondering in the end.
The translation is the only issue with this book... Other than that holy fucking shit. Like imagine leaving the cinema after a depressing movie with a whole new prespective in life. That's "A Story of Yesterday", it is shockingly beautiful and detailed for a 70 page book, but god it's such a easy read you can easily reread it to even better digest it and understand.
No real faults really, it only isn't a favorite of mine because it's likely I will never read it again, because I feel it's an experience you go through in a day and process. It's incredible, simple, haunting and touching. It's weird how unknown this book is and how little of the author I could find, but please share this book if you love this story, it's incredible. HEAVY recommendation of mine.
It is a very short text but it is sooo well written that you have a complex plot develop in few pages. This, in my opinion is one of the big challenges writers have. They usually take forever to tell the story which is not the case here. Una Historia de Ayer is not a typical narrative, which is my cup of tea. So, yes, I gave it 5 stars.
Perfect story wrapped in up mere 70 pages, that's brilliant. The plot, characters and everything makes complete sense. Connecting 2 stories and then making a connection between them. Will reread again. Its a very good mystery story perfectly written with as little words as possible.
I first read this book some months ago and was blown away. This rereading continues to confirm to me that this novel is near to a masterpiece, it has nothing left over or lacking. For me it is perfect.
A nice short book that can be finished in one reading but took me three days. It shows how I have been unable to read these days. I loved the book anyway. I'm looking for more short and sweet books like this.
A very clever mystery told in both first person and third person voices. The story keeps you guessing from the beginning and has a very satisfying end. A good small read.
This perfectly short novel intrigued me from the first page I read, and continued to captivate me until the end. After abandoning so many predictable books unable to catch my interest lately, this little gem felt like a breath of mints.
I am really intrigued by the way this story unfolds. It kept me guessing. A quick read, which is good because I'm going to have to read it a couple more times (today).
Really nice, enjoyable short read with enough depth to make it thrilling. Shortest book I've ever read, and the author has done a brilliant job to build the characters and narrative in that time. Good holiday read.
Novela corta de misterio y revancha. El trama principal se centra en la relación entre 4 personajes y como las acciones de cada uno afectan indirectamente a los otros. Lo que hace la historia particularmente interesante es como Cobo desarrolla los eventos de manera no linear y ocupando diferentes narradores.
It is very easy to read, follow the story and get caught up in it. Many times I read more than I had planned because it always left me wondering what would happen in the next chapter. I like to read these kind of mystery novels from time to time.
A Story of Yesterday by Sergio Cobo is a great work of fiction, originally written in Spanish. It's a beautifully crafted, passionate story that reflect on revenge, passage of time, the impact of past experiences on one's present selves and personal redemption. The characters are well-developed and their personal stories are woven together with a compelling narrative. Character which are torn between the many shades of gray, without being really good or bad, can become incredibly cruel and merciful at times. Overall, it's a must read book imo...
Masterful work. Excellent, well narrated, complete, exciting. The best read of this year by far, complex characters, engaging story, well structured, no loose ends. Each chapter has an unexpected event, is full of masterful twists. In a word wonderful.
Una historia que se lee en pocas horas. Una historia intensa alineal en la que se pueden ver desde adicciones, venganza y asesinatos por un tema de ajuste de cuentas. Recomendable.
The entire book is a passionate story of revenge and personal redemption, in an attempt to find stolen happiness, a main character who is torn between the many shades of gray, without being really good or bad, can become incredibly cruel and at the same time merciful.