45 pages 1 hour read

Carlos Fuentes

Aura

Fiction | Novella | Adult | Published in 1962

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

Aura, set in Mexico City in the 1960s, follows Felipe Montero, a young historian hired by an old widow, Consuelo Llorente, to edit and publish her late husband's memoirs. Captivated by Aura, Consuelo's beautiful niece, Felipe takes up residence in the widow's dark, time-warped house, where his obsession with Aura and the unfolding history in the memoirs entangle him in a surreal and mysterious experience.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Carlos Fuentes's Aura is praised for its atmospheric and poetic prose, effectively drawing readers into its mysterious and eerie narrative. The novella's use of second-person narration is both lauded for its immersiveness and critiqued for occasionally feeling disorienting. Some find the story's ambiguity intriguing, while others feel it leaves too many questions unanswered.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Aura?

Readers who enjoy Aura by Carlos Fuentes are typically drawn to Gothic fiction, magical realism, and richly atmospheric narratives. They may also appreciate works like Gabriel García Márquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude and Edgar Allan Poe’s eerie short stories. Ideal for those fascinated by haunting tales and psychological depth.

RecommendedReading Age

18+years

Book Details

Genre

Magical Realism

Latin American Literature

Themes

Emotions/Behavior: Memory