 A common comment on the novel is the graphic nature of the many acts of torture and murder which are depicted in the novel . Vargas lets the reader see the realities of an oppressive regime with a degree of detail not often used by his compatriots in Latin American literature , as Michael Wood suggests in the London Review of Books : " Vargas Llosa ... tells us far more about the details of day @-@ to @-@ day intrigue , and the sordid , sadistic minutiae of torture and murder . " Walter Kirn of the New York Times suggests that the " grisly scenes of dungeon interrogations and torture sessions " cast other aspects of the novel in a pale light , draining them of their significance and impact . Similarly , Kirn implies that the " narrative machinery " mentioned by Wood as being somewhat unwieldy also produces a largely superfluous storyline . The plot line centered on Urania Cabral is described by Sturrock as being an emotional centre that focuses the novel , and Wood agrees that her confrontations with past demons hold the readers attention . In contrast , Kirn 's review states that Urania 's segments are " talky and atmospheric ... [ and ] seem to be on loan from another sort of book . " 
 A common comment on the novel <a href='drop_aux' title='1'><mark>is</mark></a>the graphic nature of the many acts of torture and murder which are depicted in the novel . Vargas <a href='uninflect' title='2'><mark>lets</mark></a> the reader see the realities of an oppressive regime with a degree of detail not often used by his compatriots in Latin American literature , as Michael Wood <a href='uninflect' title='3'><mark>suggests</mark></a> in the London Review of Books : " Vargas Llosa ... <a href='uninflect' title='4'><mark>tells</mark></a> us far more about the details of day @-@ to @-@ day intrigue , and the sordid , sadistic minutiae of torture and murder . " Walter Kirn of the New York Times <a href='uninflect' title='5'><mark>suggests</mark></a> that the " grisly scenes of dungeon interrogations and torture sessions " cast other aspects of the novel in a pale light , draining them of their significance and impact . Similarly , Kirn <a href='uninflect' title='6'><mark>implies</mark></a> that the " narrative machinery " mentioned by Wood as being somewhat unwieldy also <a href='uninflect' title='7'><mark>produces</mark></a> a largely superfluous storyline . The plot line centered on Urania Cabral is described by Sturrock as being an emotional centre <a href='null_relcl' title='8'><mark>that</mark></a><a href='uninflect' title='9'><mark>focuses</mark></a> the novel , and Wood <a href='uninflect' title='10'><mark>agrees</mark></a> that her confrontations with past demons hold the readers attention . In contrast , Kirn <a href='null_genetive' title='11'><mark>'s</mark></a>review <a href='uninflect' title='12'><mark>states</mark></a> that Urania <a href='null_genetive' title='13'><mark>'s</mark></a>segments are " talky and atmospheric ... [ and ] seem to be on loan from another sort of book . " 
A common comment on da novel tdagraphic nature of the many acts of torture and murder which r depicted in the novel . Vargas let the reader see thdaealities of an oppressive regime w/ a degree of detail not often used by his compatriots in Latin American literature , as Michael Wood suggest in the London Review of Books : " Vargas Llosa ... tell us far more about the details of day @-@ to @-@ day intrigue , and the sordid , sadistic minutiae of torture and murder . " Walter Kirn of the New York Times suggest that the " grisly scenes of dungeon interrogations and torture sessions " cast other aspects of thedavel in a pale light , draining them of their significance and impact . Similarly , Kirn imply dat the " narrative machinery " mentioned by Wood as being somewhat unwieldy also produce a largely superfluous storyline . The plot line centered on Urania Cabral is described by Sturrock as being an emotional centre focus the dael , and Wood agree that her confrontations wiwitast demons hold the readers attention . In contrast , Kirn  review state that Urania  segments are " talky and atmospheric ... [ and ] seem to b on loan from another sort of book . "