domingo, 20 de junio de 2010

5 books about what masculinity is

Since the feminist movement society is constantly changing the concept of masculinity to adapt to the new times. Some even wonder if there is such a thing (masculinity) maybe we are just people that starts acting certain way when we grow up because society teaches us that is how men and women act. What do you think?
Anyway, here I have five books about what masculinity is...or used to be.

5. “Chronicle of a death foretold” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. The title is self explanatory. The book is the chronicle of a death. It's the short story of two brothers that want to kill the man that supposedly took their sister's virginity. But they first tell everybody in town in hopes of being stopped. Few things are more macho Latino than a situation like this.

4. “The three musketeers” by Alexandre Dumas. We have all heard about D'Artagnan and his three friends Athos, Porthos and Aramis and that's enough reason to read the book. These four men are the example of masculinity as it was conceived for centuries: men who are brave, bold, always in danger, always willing to fight for their honor and for the ladies.

3.”The eagle's throne” by Carlos Fuentes. A political plot and everything that means: Back stabbing, manipulation, and lust for power. The concept and story of the book are very interesting. The book is a collection of letters that Mexican government officials exchange in the year 2020 because Mexico was left without telecommunications by the Americans (It seems someone in Mexico did something Washington didn't approve). In the letters one can learn that there is a race to get to the eagle's throne (Mexican presidency) The ending it's very unexpected. Political power has been until recently something associated with masculinity (even female politicians had to be bold if they wanted to succeed), let's see how it plays in the future.

2. “The count of Monte Cristo” by Alexandre Dumas. As with the three musketeers we have all heard of The count of Monte Cristo, the man that finds the means to get out of jail and take revenge from the people that put him there, one by one, slowly, with patience and in the most hurtful way. Revenge by means of power, another very masculine concept.

1. “The godfather” by Mario Puzo. Required reading for all men and the women who want to understand them because for them “The godfather is the embodiment of all wisdom”. Every men knows: “I'll make him an offer he can't refuse”, “Leave the gun take the cannoli”, “You come into my house on the day my daughter is to be married, and you ask me to do murder for money”, “Luca Brasi, he's sleeping with the fishes”. I think what many men (and some women) like about the book is the story of how to start from nothing and get to be powerful. Also the fact that in the book even the lowest circles of society there is still real friendship and loyalty.

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