the event, by juan jose saer
This book is by an Argentinian author, Juan José Saer, and I bought it for a dollar at my local used bookstore (see earlier post about local used bookstores). I bought it because it met my criteria for book buying, it’s something I wouldn’t mind paying a dollar to read. I, in general, like latin american lit. though I’m sure there are exceptions.
this book was ok. not as good as some, but not bad. usually it’s not a problem for me when you’re left at the end of a book with very little resolution to any of the issues that come up, but in this case I was left feeling very much unfinished. I think perhaps something was lost in translation, or maybe I just didn’t get it (entirely possible). perhaps I should reread the thing; it’s short, less than 200 pages and can be read quickly by me.
this european magician, driven out of paris and plagued by the fear of positivists, moves to argentina to settle the pampas, meets a friend and a lady, becomes successful in business and tries to get his self in order. the jacket says that he goes mad, and in many ways he does, jealous and suspicious and self-sabotaging. outwardly, he’s the picture of south american land owner, but in his head he just can’t get it sorted. there’s all the things you’d expect, lots of color and violence and sound and heat.
I’m not sure to whom I’d recommend it. really I did enjoy it, and the end isn’t as bad as I make it sound. it’s not something I’ll rave about, obviously, but I don’t miss the dollar.
Maybe you should read it is spanish????