This Sunday

This Sunday chronicles a family gathering at their estate outside Santiago, Chile over the course of a single day. The Vives family comes together for their weekly ritual of shared meals and socializing, with matriarch Chepa at the center of events. The narrative moves between different family members' perspectives as they navigate complex relationships and unspoken tensions. Class dynamics emerge through interactions between the wealthy family and their servants, particularly focusing on Chepa's charitable efforts with the poor. Personal and societal upheaval lurk beneath the surface of practiced social rituals and family traditions. Through the lens of this Chilean family's experience, the novel examines themes of class privilege, religious faith, and the dissolution of traditional social structures in Latin America.

There are not enough internet reviews to create a summary of this book. Instead, here is a summary of reviews of José Donoso's overall work: Readers consistently note the psychological complexity and challenging narrative structures in Donoso's works. On Goodreads, many cite the dense, labyrinthine writing style as both a strength and obstacle. What readers liked: - Deep psychological exploration of characters - Creative use of magical realism elements - Complex themes of identity and transformation - Rich symbolism and layered meanings One reader noted: "The way he builds tension through uncertainty is remarkable" What readers disliked: - Difficult to follow multiple narrative threads - Confusing shifts in perspective - Dense, sometimes inaccessible prose - Extended metaphysical passages As one Amazon reviewer stated: "The narrative complexity becomes exhausting" Ratings across platforms: - Goodreads: "The Obscene Bird of Night" 4.1/5 (2,100+ ratings) - Amazon: "Coronation" 4.3/5 (limited reviews) - "Hell Has No Limits" averages 3.8/5 across platforms Most reviews acknowledge the books require focused reading but reward careful attention to the text.

One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez The multi-generational saga of the Buendía family mirrors Donoso's exploration of family dynamics and magical realism in a Latin American setting.

The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende The story follows three generations of the Trueba family through political upheaval in Chile, incorporating elements of mysticism and complex family relationships.

Pedro Páramo by Juan Rulfo The narrative weaves through time and reality as a son searches for his father in a ghost town, presenting themes of memory and family bonds that echo Donoso's work.

The Green House by Mario Vargas Llosa The interconnected narratives spanning different time periods in Peru examine social structures and family relationships within Latin American society.

Chronicle of a Death Foretold by Gabriel García Márquez The story unfolds through multiple perspectives within a small community, revealing family honor and social expectations in ways that parallel Donoso's narrative techniques.

🔖 "This Sunday" (originally "Este Domingo" in Spanish) was published in 1966 and marks a pivotal shift in Donoso's writing style, moving toward the magical realism he would later be known for. 🏠 The novel takes place entirely within a single house in Santiago, Chile, reflecting Donoso's fascination with enclosed spaces and their psychological impact on characters. 👥 The story is told through multiple perspectives and time periods, weaving together the memories of both children and adults to create a complex family portrait spanning three generations. 🎭 The character of Chepa, a wealthy woman obsessed with helping criminals, was inspired by Donoso's own grandmother, who had similar philanthropic but problematic tendencies. 🌍 Though less widely known than Donoso's masterpiece "The Obscene Bird of Night," "This Sunday" was crucial in establishing him as one of the key figures in the Latin American Boom literary movement of the 1960s and 1970s.