Friday, July 5, 2024

Exploring the Players in Narcoland

 Narcoland by Anabel Hernández

Anabel Hernández receiving the Freedom of Speech Award in 2019 by Deutsche Welle CC BY-NC 2.0 

I read Hernandez's book Narcoland shortly after taking a trip to Mexico. I wasn’t in the Narcoland area, but it was interesting to learn more about this aspect of Mexico’s history. I’m also a fan of Narcos, and reading about these cartels was interesting. I recognized some of the events and stories from the show, and if anything, Hernandez’s book emphasizes how dangerous it is to report on the cartels. The one thing I found difficult about this book, however, was keeping the characters and players straight. There were so many different individuals involved, and I found it hard to keep track of who was who at times. I didn’t find this book as engaging as some other books about the drug trade like Bowden’s Killing Pablo or Quinones’s Dreamland, which takes place more in America. Yet, it does provide important perspective on the cartels and how they have significantly impacted politics and daily life in Mexico. 


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