Vigil

by Cecilia Samartin

Samartin's disappointing latest (after Tarnished Beauty) queasily alternates between past and present, as Ana, tending to her dying lover, reflects on the events that have brought her to this point. Samartin is at her best dealing with Ana's harsh childhood in war-torn El Salvador. But the story loses strength after a sympathetic nun arranges for Ana's entry to the U.S. Once in California, Ana attends school and, upon graduation, enters a convent...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B005OLA5A0
• ISBN13: 9781416549529
• Release Date: July 2009
• Publisher: Atria Books
• Length: 432 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.3" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Beautifully written

Vigil is an interesting and beautifully written novel. Although you may think this would be a disheartening story, it was not. Yes, there is sadness, but is also a story about happiness, friendship, and family. Each character is carefully developed with Ana as the one moral constant in the family. Eventually she is influenced by the immorality of the family members and conflict occurs. The story was captivating as Ana reflects back on her life starting as a child in El Salvador hiding from soldiers. As she tends to her dying love, she reflects on her memories of her mother and childhood friends to her life as a postulant. I enjoyed Vigil for its rich descriptions and interesting characters. It was a romantic novel without being a typical "Romance" novel.

An entertaining story

This is a story that kept me reading, a cast of characters that made me care, and a plot line that was engrossing. Some of the characters were too good to be believed, and some were too bad, but I could overlook the flaws for the story, which had a good heart. I read it quickly and easily, over the course of several days. The main character, Ana, lets you into her inner thoughts, from her childhood traumas in El Salvador, to her adult struggles in California. You can't help but end up rooting for her. Some of the description seems straight out of a Harlequin romance, (Mr. Trellis was very tall, with chestnut hair, extremely handsome but troubled). Nevertheless, this is a good read overall, and I recommend it to those looking for a good, uncomplicated story that will entertain you for a while

Fluid and Emotional

The story reads easily and beautifully, slowly drawing the reader in and holding on tight! I found Ana's story just captivating. I wondered if Ana would be able to teach them her own life lessons or if they would drag her into their own lives of wealth and dysfunction. Born in El Salvador, Ana escapes with her life to be brought to a convent in the United States. Having endured so much in her own life, Ana is able to show this family that there can be love as well as healing. As the story continued and Ana reflects back on her life I found myself feeling her joys and her pains. Interesting characters, historical context/conflicts, and story line. Enjoy

A Beautifully Written, Poetic Novel

I have to admit that this novel took awhile to grow on me. But it did. What began as a slow start for me quickly evolved into a somewhat obsessive attempt to read more! And although the story did not grab me immediatley, Cecilia Samartin's writing certainly did. There is a certain poetic grace to her style that I found enchanting. The story reads easily and beautifully, slowly drawing the reader in and holding on tight! I found Ana's story just captivating. The novel begins with the death of her lover and then flashes back to the events leading up to that moment. Her life takes many twists and turns, from her life in El Salavador to a convent in America. She eventually finds herself a nanny for a very dysfunctional and wealthy family. I wondered if Ana would be able to teach them her own life lessons or if they would drag her into their own lives of wealth and dysfunction. These relationships are what really brought the story home for me. I am so happy that I stuck with this book, because it was definitely worth the time.

A Very Moving Book.

I enjoyed reading Vigil very much. This story begins with Ana who's beloved is on the verge of death and she is thinking back on all the things that have happened in her life. Born in El Salvador, Ana escapes with her life to be brought to a convent in the United States. Not knowing anything else and as Ana gets older she believes that this is where she'll remain. However, this does not happen and Ana finds herself as the nanny in the Trellis household. This is a wealthy family, but also one with many underlying issues that put a strain on everyone. Having endured so much in her own life, Ana is able to show this family that there can be love as well as healing. From the first chapter that begins with Ana at the side of her beloved I immediately felt a connection with this character. As the story continued and Ana reflects back on her life I found myself feeling her joys and her pains. The ending wasn't what I was expecting but it was something that did made me stop and think for a moment. What this ending does is bring Ana's life full circle. Vigil is truly a very moving book.