The walk of loves. Love, heartbreak, and sentimentality, by Alicia Sianes
El paseo de los amores. Amor, desamor y cursilería, de Alicia Sianes
A Caminhada dos Amores. Amor, desgosto e sentimentalismo, de Alicia Sianes
Joaquín Cotán Pérez
Graduado en Ingeniería de Edificación, Universidad de Sevilla. Máster en Profesorado de Educación Secundaria Obligatoria y Bachillerato, Formación Profesional y Enseñanzas de Idiomas, Universidad Internacional de La Rioja.
https://orcid.org/0009-0002-7554-0274
j.cotan.7@gmail.com
Abstract
In this brief piece, we present a review of Dr. Alicia Sianes Bautista’s book Amor, Desamor Y Cursilería (Love, Heartbreak, and Sentimentality), published by Editorial Talón de Aquiles, the house of poetry. Through The walk of loves, we offer a reflection on the impressions this poetic work has left upon us.
Keywords: Affection, love, heartbreak, literary form and genre, literature, contemporary literature, poetry.
Resumen
En este breve escrito, hacemos una reseña del libro de la Doctora Alicia Sianes Bautista, que lleva por título Amor, desamor y cursilería, publicado por la Editorial Talón de Aquiles, la casa de la poesía. Con el título El paseo de los amores, hacemos una reflexión sobre las impresiones que esta poética obra nos ha causado.
Palabras clave: Afectividad, amor, desamor, forma y género literario, literatura, literatura contemporánea, poesía.
Resumo
Neste breve ensaio, revimos o livro da Dra. Alicia Sianes Bautista, Amor, Desamor y Cusilería (Amor, desgosto e cusilería), publicado pela Editorial Talón de Aquiles, a casa de poesia. Intitulado A Caminhada dos Amores, refletimos sobre as impressões que esta obra poética deixou em nós.
Palavras-chave: Afeição, amor, desgosto, forma e género literário, literatura, literatura contemporânea, poesia.
Alicia Sianes’ first poetry book, Amor, Desamor y Cusilería (Love, Heartbreak, and Sentimentality), is a remarkably enriching experience. The joy surrounding this publication stems from its emergence amidst a society governed by ruthless capitalism. Through her creative endeavour, the author offers a unique contribution of personal imagination and artistic originality, ensuring that the human imprint is not lost.
On the one hand, a close reading of the texts reveals the author’s academic tone and use of the impersonal voice, which lends a sense of confidence and composure in confronting the blank page. However, when considering the reader’s experience, this approach may unintentionally ground them too firmly -emotionally speaking- causing them to miss some of the emotional resonance or movement, to borrow the metaphor highlighted by the author in the book’s epilogue. In terms of formatting, a tighter spacing between paragraphs and reduced line spacing could enhance the visual appeal of the text.
Several strengths stand out in the work. In the first chapter, El amor ilusionado (Hopeful Love), the poem Lo que dura un rubor (The Duration of a Blush) is particularly notable for capturing the fleeting nature of infatuated love. The second chapter, El amor poseído (Possessive Love), features Amor Verdadero (True Love), a heartfelt ode to friendship. In the chapter titled El amor perdido (Lost Love), the poem Calle Espada (Espada Street) is striking for its play on the street names of Seville, describing a poignant meeting point between Sol Street and Enladrillada Street, where the protagonists face off like duelling fencers.
The inclusion of calligrams is both charming and evocative—for instance, a Christmas tree-shaped layout in Dibujo sobre su piel (Drawing on Her Skin), or a poem in the form of an Andean flute in ¿Y sí…? (What if…?), found in the fourth chapter, El Amor Prohibido (Forbidden Love).
In conclusion, this review of Amor, Desamor y Cursilería, titled El paseo de los amores (The Promenade of Loves), highlights the courage shown by the author in expressing and sharing her emotions. Though a modest debut, this work is highly recommended and shows promise for the author’s creative development. She deserves the most heartfelt congratulations.
References
Sianes, A. (2024). Amor, desamor y cursilería. Talón de Aquiles. https://editorial.talondeaquiles.es/product/amor-desamor-y-cursileria/