the underdogs
Mariano Azuela's "Underdogs" was an interesting novel. Touted as "the" novel of the Mexican Revolution, I can kinda see why. Personally, I'm not too familiar with the specifics of the Mexican Revolution, but I do know about other revolutions so I'll assume similar threads between them all. This novel offers an unconventional presentation of a revolutionary drive; while the traditional story that is often mythologised and taught in schools and media posits that revolutionaries are firstly and foremostly passionate about "the cause" - whatever that might mean - this isn't always the case. I actually really liked seeing the growing unbotheredness over the course of the novel. I personally am a touch cynical and have never believed that all revolutionaries were as dedicated as history classes tell us and honestly, I feel slightly validated by seeing that this was indeed the case sometimes. I thought the nicknames were a fun part of the novel,...