The Invisible Mountain is an epic debut novel by Caroilina de Robertis. Although it is fiction, it is based on factual accounts of Uruguay’s history. It is the family saga of three generations of Uruguayan women, spanning the 20th century. Pajarita, the grandmother, Eva, her daughter and Salome her grandaughter. These are all strong women living in difficult times in Uruguay, often in the midst of poverty and oppression, war, revolution and prison. But the spirit of all 3 women miraculously stays in tact through it all. The men, however, are not such strong characters, nor are they as likable.

The novel is reminiscent of a Garcia Marquez or Isabel Allende novel. It is long, detailed family saga set in South America with much magic realism thrown in. I usually love this type of novel, and for a debut I found it to be extremely ambitious and well written. I can’t say I loved it though. Maybe it was just my mood, but I found myself tired of reading of so much oppression at the hands of drunk, and abusive men. I know there are kind and decent men in Latin America, but this novel leaves you thinking they are very few and far between. It is the strength of the women that shines and I suppose that is the point.

There is, however, much to like about this book, and it is an impressive debut from a new author worth watching.