I knew very little about Violeta and this was the perfect way to learn more. Spataro's art is distinctive but clear while Tonfoni keeps the text spare to convey the important aspects of her impact on Chilean culture.

'Violeta: Corazon Maldito' by Virginia Tonfoni with art by Alessio Spataro is a graphic novel that tells the story of a musical artist from Chile.

2017 was the centennial birthday of Violeta Parra, a poet, artist and musician. Her story starts with the parent that inspired her to pursue music, mainly as a way to raise money for an impoverished family. Her life was filled with tragedy, travel and some fame.

The problem I had with this graphic novel was that it jumps forward in time with little consequence and characters have died or disappeared. It lacks a narrative structure for the reader to learn anything about Violeta Parra. I wasn't crazy about the art either.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Harper Europe Comics and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.

Just about every Spanish-speaking person in Latin-America knows who Violeta Parra is, or has at least heard her songs at one time or another. This is a brief graphic novel representation of her extremely complicated and chaotic life - a life she lived completely on her own terms, until the day of her still unexplained suicide. It's nice to see such an important Latin-American represented like this, and being introduced a new generation.

I liked the art style but I’m not sure about the colors. I think this would be enjoyed by people who know little about her.

I loved the art style in this book, especially the facial expressions. The art was truly compelling. The plot was a bit harder to follow. I mostly understood what was actively happening but I always felt like I was missing something, some cultural clues that didn't translate.

This is a light comic with an overview of Violeta Parra's life, The artwork is simple, and the colors used gave a coherent and overall lovely vibe. The lyrics at the end of the chapters are very well thought and I wish there were more

Since I don't know much about Violeta, I was hoping this book would teach me something. I wanted it to be more detailed, and explain more about her life. This book left me wanting more.

I enjoyed being introduced to the life of Violeta Parra in graphic novel form as I had not heard of Violeta before this. The artwork is simple and beautiful, the story is easy to follow.

Jesus, mother of god, wow, that is really different. Violeta Parra is incomparable to anything you have experienced before. This graphic novel is a taste, and an introduction into the heart, mind and hand of something well beyond normal human experience. As an artist and a person Violeta Parra lived and gave to a cultural life of Chile and the world in ways we are still trying to unravel. In all different layers of intoxicating beauty there is a rich vein of sadness that will never leave you in thinking about her work. This is an excellent book and I highly recommend it.

Sorry to say, I just didn't take to this. There is good art as far as colouring goes – the tangerine, the only shade used, is used well, but there's little else. The design of the characters makes everybody look the same, too many voices come from off-stage so you have that handicap too in knowing who's who, and the whole thing is just far too bitty and inconsequential. Time jumps are just dumped on us, and some pages read as if others got missed out entirely. More importantly, it really didn't sell me on the subject, making me feel she was worth my learning about. I'd prefer a wiki page to this artful, but artfully testing, piece.

I'm not sure who the intended audience for this graphic novel is. For fans of Violeta Parra it will be lacking a deeper level, particularly insights into her motivation. For people who are new to her, it will seem to jump around too much to get a clear understanding and appreciation of her story and her history. Great idea, but I think the authors bit off more than they could chew.

A cool story with some beautiful graphic art. I'll definitely recommend this one to our patrons interested in this subject.

My Thoughts:
This is a complicated life of a woman driven by a vision so strong that she is willing to sacrifice family, relationships, children along the way. The biography uses some of Violeta's own words, but since they are not translated into English, although the rest of the text is in English, I feel like I am missing a key insight into the understanding of Violeta from her own words. Because of that, even in the text skimpy genre of the graphic novel, I felt like there were large jumps in time, relationships, places that made it difficult to feel any kind of emotion for this person by the end. Her death then was not a tragedy or a waste because I did not get a sense of her importance to Chile and the world that is promised by the publisher's description.

A digital copy provided by Net Galley and the publisher for an honest review.

This is a fascinating graphic novel about Violeta del Carmen Parra Sandoval who was a "Chilean composer, songwriter, folklorist, ethnomusicologist and visual artist. She pioneered the Nueva canción chilena (The Chilean New Song), a renewal and a reinvention of Chilean folk music that would extend its sphere of influence outside Chile. Parra is acknowledged as "the Mother of Latin American folk". (Wickipedia)

Her story is portrayed in this graphic novel and it is an amazing but tragic and true story of a woman who overflowed with talent. The graphic novel portrays her life as intense. Violeta was not brought up with privilege but from a very poor background. She started singing and playing her father's guitar at the age of ten and earned money for her family in that way. She reinvented and renewed Chilean folk songs bringing these songs alive to audiences across America and Europe.

I had never heard of Violeta before reading this comic and her story is intriguing and I would like to know more. The art work is mostly simple black, white and orange colours but with very clear graphics and a dramatic story. The story conveys Violeta's love for her children, her passion for her music, her temperament and the tragedy of her death. It is portrayed in a brilliant way and is an excellent introduction to the life of this talented artist and performer.

Copy provided by Europe Comics via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

This is why I love Europe Comics. They publish in graphic novel format, stories from around the world, enabling me in English to read accounts and narratives of traditions and people who would otherwise remain unknown to me. They are also in the main entertaining and in this medium can be expressive and fun rather than just a stuffy biography.
I had never heard of Violeta Parra but was drawn to the woman strumming a guitar. This vivid story is brought alive without judgement other than sharing the notable events and censure sometimes reflected in the dialogue exchanged. A little bit of research after reading this comic shows that I got it in this wonderfully engaging novel creatively illustrated throughout.
Violeta del Carmen Parra Sandoval ; 4 October 1917 – 5 February 1967) was a Chilean composer, musician, poet and songwriter. A proud nationalist in terms of her country’s heritage in terms of the folklore, culture and traditions of Chile. An ethnomusicologist, a posh word for someone like Violeta who tried to find that authentic soul of Chile, by reviewing and seeking out the country’s own music from its roots, assessing it against the culture and social aspects of the people who make that music. And a visual artist producing various art forms reflecting her pride in her country.

She pioneered the Nueva canción chilena (The Chilean New Song), a renewal and a reinvention of Chilean folk music that would extend its sphere of influence outside Chile. Something that she carried in her genes as her son Angel and her daughter Isabel along with their respective children have mostly maintained these family’s artistic traditions.

Parra is acknowledged as "the Mother of Latin American folk".

I gained great respect for the people of Chile reading this story; outside of the politics and general oppression on its people a sense of identity was born through the union of Violeta's parents, for in their child they instilled and nurtured a talent and drive that few could tame or master. It seems sad that she almost certainly burned herself out but she shone so brightly.

I find such real stories of people who overcome poverty and suppression inspirational and reading of this woman's live and legacy one can only show respect.

If you whistle it, I'll sing it: Her most covered song.

"Gracias a la Vida"

Thanks to life, which has given me so much
It gave me two bright stars that when I open them,
I perfectly distinguish the black from white
And in the sky above, her starry backdrop
And within the multitudes the man I love.

A very interesting life of Violeta Parra was attempted to be dissimilated but ultimately seemed confusing and haphazardly thrown together.

The story was rushed. It seems as though a lot was mentioned very quickly and there was no attachement to characters. I loved the artwork and could have really appreciated Violeta if the character development was deeper.

A wonderful depiction of Violeta Parras life. The storyline was interesting and easy to follow. It was a little gritty and empowering. This is my fist graphic novel from this author but it won’t be the last.

This is the first graphic novel I’ve read since I enjoyed comic books as a child. I actually downloaded it by accident. When I saw the following sentence (delivered by a man), I knew I was going to love it - “If you pay a woman to fuck, you’re the oppressor!” Violeta tells the (beautifully illustrated) tale of Violeta Parra - a multi-talented artiste and pioneer of Chilean folk music. I was a little confused at times though I think that’s partly down to my unfamiliarity with the format, however the lapses into Spanish and French didn’t help and the English translation can be a little sketchy in places. I had no prior knowledge of Violeta and am now keen to learn more about her life and work so that’s a job well done as far as I’m concerned. Great stuff.