--- product_id: 4102650 title: "Singing from the Well (Pentagonia)" brand: "reinaldo arenasandrew hurleythomas colchie" price: "£14.94" currency: GBP in_stock: true reviews_count: 9 url: https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/4102650-singing-from-the-well-pentagonia store_origin: GB region: Great Britain --- # Singing from the Well (Pentagonia) **Brand:** reinaldo arenasandrew hurleythomas colchie **Price:** £14.94 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Singing from the Well (Pentagonia) by reinaldo arenasandrew hurleythomas colchie - **How much does it cost?** £14.94 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.co.uk](https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/4102650-singing-from-the-well-pentagonia) ## Best For - reinaldo arenasandrew hurleythomas colchie enthusiasts ## Why This Product - Trusted reinaldo arenasandrew hurleythomas colchie brand quality - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description Singing from the Well (Pentagonia) ## Images ![Singing from the Well (Pentagonia) - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/711HXWGp9-L.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Born in 1942 he grew up poor in the countryside and was frequently abused by his ... *by T***Y on Reviewed in the United States on May 24, 2016* Reinaldo Arenas was a Cuban author and poet who was portrayed in the film Before Night Falls. Born in 1942 he grew up poor in the countryside and was frequently abused by his relatives. Singing from the Well is the first of four books which are autobiographical in nature. This is the first in the series and covers those years of childhood. As much of the action takes place within the author's mind as a child as it does in the outside world and involves his friendship with his cousin Celestino who may or may not be dead but who has the urgent need to carve poetry into all the trees on the family property.He and Celestino live together as part of an extended family which include both mothers, more cousins (some living, some dead) as well as their grandparents. None of the fathers remain. They are a self-serving lot intent on only taking care of themselves.We meet Eulogia, a cousin who was frequently beat, starved and ridiculed and who, one day, was sent for firewood but never returned. We meet Celestino's mother, Carmelina, a defeated woman who hangs herself, We meet his other aunts, each a variation of gossip, cruelty and greed. Grandma and Grandpa have been married many years but frequently not only wish the other was dead but sometimes even go so far as to plot the other's demise although none of the plans are carried out. Grandpa has a particular hate for Celestino's poetry carving obsession and matches it with an equally obsessive need to cut down each tree with carving on it for fear that the neighbors will ridicule them and because he views Celestino as weak, not a man but more like a woman. Grandma has an unique viciousness all to herself."The hen got away from me, Grandma.""Son of a bitch! We'd be all better off if you just died."The author often visits his dead cousins who sit on the leaky roof of the shed and cry when it rains. He and Celestino go on adventures which may or may not be imaginary escapes. Grandpa, grandma and his mother are always looking for them to constantly work. And, when they do, it's never good enough."Celestino has stumbled over a rock and knocked down I don't know how many corn plants. Grandpa sees what's happened and comes running over to where Celestino is lying on the ground, and he starts chopping at him with the hoe."This is a novel told in small pieces just as a child would talk but with practically none of the innocence remaining. It is a story of generational trauma fed by land that produces nothing, sun that practically melts the need to work in order to survive, rain, that when it comes, doesn't nurture so much as it drowns. It is the devolution of a family which has gone far beyond feeding each other and, instead, begins feeding on each other. A quote the author uses from The Magic Mirror exemplifies it best:"Do not ask her whence she comes.Her history is of little account.In their poverty.her parents sold her fora bag of white rice." ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Five Stars *by V***A on Reviewed in the United States on June 11, 2018* Great Book ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Good copy. *by S***O on Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2017* Haven't read it yet. Good copy. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/4102650-singing-from-the-well-pentagonia](https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/4102650-singing-from-the-well-pentagonia) --- *Product available on Desertcart Great Britain* *Store origin: GB* *Last updated: 2026-04-23*