The Weight of All Things Review

The Weight of All Things by Sandra Benitez Review

Written on 12/6/2015

The Weight of All Things is a historically influenced account of the Revolutionary War in El Salvador during the 1980's. As like many revolutions, it was the rebels against the government ruthlessly trying to take each other down and rule over the land.

The purpose behind Beneitez's writing can be summed up in one paragraph from the book:

"Caught in the perilous between were the people. Dying in the crossfire of weapons and ideologies. Agonizing over loved ones lain and tortured. Weeping over destroyed homes and ravaged possessions. Cornered in a flood of menace and fear, there was nothing left for them to do but flee."

The story is written from the point of view of nine-year-old Nicolas Veras - one of the many children caught in the mess of destruction. We meet Nicolas just before his mother is among the dead in a massacre at the funeral of a previously assassinated Archbishop. The boy - too young to understand what's really going on but old enough to know its not good.

Nicolas makes his way back to his village, and finds himself in the land of the rebels. They took over his grandfather's land and he is taken in to help them along their way. He builds friendships with the rebels, becomes close to them, and in a blink of an eye they are on the run again and he and his grandfather are left in their dust.

Just days after, Nicolas is discovered by the Government's army, and taken in for his knowledge of the rebels. Again, his heart becomes accustom to the ways of the government people, and again he makes friends amongst the different ranks of soldiers.

Just as many young ones in time of war, a fragile heart could be so easily swayed for the comfort of a little less fear. Too young to really take a side, but old enough to be used by both sides.

Of course, someone who works for an organization called the Peace Corps is likely to say this, but its stories like these - fictional or not - that make me question the value of war. When, as Benitez puts it, "While the two sides (are fighting) for their principles, most of the dying is done by the people."