tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911087927983597831.post3111671573106204152..comments2024-01-02T15:37:04.858-05:00Comments on Caravana de recuerdos: Si te dicen que caíRichardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01746599416342846897noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911087927983597831.post-14465508754380292632012-06-24T12:33:21.059-04:002012-06-24T12:33:21.059-04:00Richard, you're going to have to forgive me fo...Richard, you're going to have to forgive me for a terrific blunder. (I see that your avatar is John Belushi, whom I always connect with Saturday Night Live as well as the film Animal House. Anyway, did you ever see the character Emily on SNL news skits? She'd say, "Never mind", and that's what I must say now.)<br /><br />In my carelessness I assumed you were discussing more of The Savage Detectives, which as you know I didn't adore. No wonder I wasn't remembering the parts you described in this post from the detectives; and I thought it was just because I didn't finish it! Silly me, no, I haven't read Marse's book and for that I deeply apologize. :(Bellezza https://www.blogger.com/profile/18073864187188953633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911087927983597831.post-14100088714879876432012-06-24T00:13:14.239-04:002012-06-24T00:13:14.239-04:00Bellezza, have you read Marsé's novel or did y...Bellezza, have you read Marsé's novel or did you just find it less than powerful based on my description of it? Maybe it doesn't matter: the storytelling style sort of anticipates Bolaño's in <em>The Savage Detectives</em> in some ways, so it probably wouldn't be up your alley either way. Cheers!Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01746599416342846897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911087927983597831.post-91798563829511983142012-06-24T00:08:31.471-04:002012-06-24T00:08:31.471-04:00I've heard good things about both but only in ...I've heard good things about both but only in the most general terms. <em>Shanghai Nights</em> did make that Semana.com list as one of the critics' top 100 from the last 25 years, though!Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01746599416342846897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911087927983597831.post-16514672395036716582012-06-23T18:12:11.484-04:002012-06-23T18:12:11.484-04:00Hmmm...the noun I'd put with "fucking&quo...Hmmm...the noun I'd put with "fucking" is not exactly "triumph". Perhaps we'll agree to disagree? Because frankly, I just didn't find this novel powerful.<br /><br />Although I do value your opinion, as always.Bellezza https://www.blogger.com/profile/18073864187188953633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911087927983597831.post-90147294083540469852012-06-21T20:02:26.807-04:002012-06-21T20:02:26.807-04:00A quick visit to Amazon suggests Marse don't c...A quick visit to Amazon suggests Marse don't come cheap. Except for Shanghai Nights and Lizard Tails. Do you know much about either?Séamus Dugganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00574186409184247059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911087927983597831.post-57155994180175974352012-06-17T22:19:12.817-04:002012-06-17T22:19:12.817-04:00To tell the truth, both of the Mendoza books I pic...To tell the truth, both of the Mendoza books I picked up over a decade ago. I got to Savolta immediately and just haven't pushed City of Marvels to the front until now.<br /><br />And you know, I don't mind taking the blame on recommendations if I haven't done a good job summing up why I liked it. And I think I did so on Savolta. A nice side benefit to having a blog beyond just being my personal notebook.Dwighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13688525659034403580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911087927983597831.post-38440071130255998752012-06-17T14:05:39.602-04:002012-06-17T14:05:39.602-04:00Dwight, how about if I give credit to you if I lik...Dwight, how about if I give credit to you if I like the book and blame Ignacio Echevarría if I don't? Would that work for you? Am thrilled to hear you and Scott are having such an easy time getting a hold of works by Spanish authors not published by New Directions. I would have guessed that Marsé and Mendoza would have been more difficult to find.Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01746599416342846897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911087927983597831.post-74928753839944383812012-06-16T15:24:38.450-04:002012-06-16T15:24:38.450-04:00I always worry about recommendations -- I realize ...I always worry about recommendations -- I realize things I enjoy won't necessarily click with someone else. Turns out I do have The City of Marvels in the house so I'll add Mendoza to July's reading.Dwighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13688525659034403580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911087927983597831.post-68264465251434464612012-06-15T20:46:18.670-04:002012-06-15T20:46:18.670-04:00Great idea! Hmm... :DGreat idea! Hmm... :DRichardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01746599416342846897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911087927983597831.post-89102959035438856202012-06-15T20:45:38.014-04:002012-06-15T20:45:38.014-04:00It turns out that The Fallen is based on an earlie...It turns out that <em>The Fallen</em> is based on an earlier and slightly different version of <em>Si te dicen que caí</em> than the one I read, Scott, Marsé apparently being something of a notorious reviser. However, that sounds like a wonderful pick-up, especially at the price in question. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01746599416342846897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911087927983597831.post-7458916083407598292012-06-14T09:57:20.380-04:002012-06-14T09:57:20.380-04:00Catalonia Lit Month!Catalonia Lit Month!seraillonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17654593356535433945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911087927983597831.post-52047233112250237162012-06-14T09:54:53.573-04:002012-06-14T09:54:53.573-04:00Richard - The book I'd spotted was, in fact, T...Richard - The book I'd spotted was, in fact, <i>The Fallen</i>, that 1979 translation of <i>Si te dicen que caí</i>, and for a mere couple bucks, I now have it sitting here on the night table. Thanks!seraillonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17654593356535433945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911087927983597831.post-1450389104437926582012-06-14T02:24:47.284-04:002012-06-14T02:24:47.284-04:00It's a tremendous read, Stu, but all these men...It's a tremendous read, Stu, but all these mentions of <em>The Shadow of the Wind</em> and <em>The Truth about the Savolta Case</em> are making me start to wonder whether Spanish Lit Month should devote a week to books set in Barcelona if there's ever a Spanish Lit Month II!Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01746599416342846897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911087927983597831.post-54331645734767101562012-06-14T02:20:09.892-04:002012-06-14T02:20:09.892-04:00Jill, thanks for your overly kind words about the ...Jill, thanks for your overly kind words about the post; I really struggled writing that one and am just glad that it didn't put you to sleep since I was plenty sick and tired of it myself by the end! Anyway, on to the so-called nitpicking: 1) My own "inner grammatical muse" is on sabbatical, so it's quite possible that your use of "gone missing" might have prompted me to follow suit (i.e. ha, you might be to blame for that one and not me). 2) On a more serious note, very interesting points about the w-word. I agree that it's freighted in all sorts of mostly negative ways, but I intentionally used it here near the end (in addition to the less judgemental "prostitute" earlier in the post) for a couple of specific reasons: a) it's the term most often used by the characters in the novel; b) I wanted to impress upon any random visitors to the post that Marsé's novel isn't really for the faint of heart. I don't expect you to necessarily feel any better about the use of the term after hearing this, but two of the main characters in the novel--a male and a female actually--are prostitutes as are other characters more on the periphery. In this novel's world, the depiction of prostitution has less to do with the anti-female perceptions you mention and more to do with what people in general--male and female, adults and children--have to do to survive. Anyway, I'm glad you brought this up: I think this is the type of thing that makes a good opportunity for discussion, but I would have guessed other terms in the post would have been deemed more "offensive" if you had asked me beforehand. Cheers!Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01746599416342846897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911087927983597831.post-65546693376239338222012-06-14T01:27:50.635-04:002012-06-14T01:27:50.635-04:00Scott, glad the post helped encourage you to look ...Scott, glad the post helped encourage you to look into picking up a Marsé--this is one book I don't mind being a booster for, and the knowledge that Marsé has something like a dozen novels to his name is now encouraging to me personally as well! In any event, looking forward to learning the title of that used hardcover you mentioned (was it <em>Lizard Tails</em>, by any chance?) and seeing what your choice for Spanish Lit Month will be whether you were able to pick up the Marsé or not.Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01746599416342846897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911087927983597831.post-7881124259241699662012-06-14T01:13:12.268-04:002012-06-14T01:13:12.268-04:00I can certainly identify with the tottering TBR st...I can certainly identify with the tottering TBR stack plight, Dwight, esp. since I'm led to believe that Marsé has two or three other novels among his extensive back catalogue that might challenge this one as his best. Btw, I just started the Eduardo Mendoza title about an hour ago--was trying to save it for Spanish Lit Month, but my willpower, as usual, gave out.Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01746599416342846897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911087927983597831.post-52201301550971588902012-06-14T00:59:45.807-04:002012-06-14T00:59:45.807-04:00I thought The Shadow of the Wind was really entert...I thought <em>The Shadow of the Wind</em> was really entertaining, Séamus, but Marsé's Barcelona book is in another league altogether: great, edgier, more confrontational for sure. I'm not sure whether <em>Si te dicen que caí</em> influenced <em>The Savage Detectives</em> or not, but it packs a Bolaño-like punch regardless.Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01746599416342846897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911087927983597831.post-55388569690270222342012-06-13T15:43:48.076-04:002012-06-13T15:43:48.076-04:00agree with Seamus something of shadow of the wind ...agree with Seamus something of shadow of the wind ,will look see if there is a second hand copy available on amazon there maybe ,all the best stustujallenhttp://winstonsdad.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911087927983597831.post-33928822149928564542012-06-13T12:04:23.642-04:002012-06-13T12:04:23.642-04:00In spite of this being so well-written that I was ...In spite of this being so well-written that I was once again awe-struck by your writing prowess, I thought I would nitpick a bit to make myself feel like I could inhabit the same blogisphere, albeit on a way lower rung. (Perhaps some snarky modern Dante could do the Nine Rungs of the Blogisphere for us.) "gone missing": sigh. Recently I've given in and used this myself, but it really galls my inner grammatical muse. "whore": one of those freighted words that reinforces the unconscious perception that it is the female who is (1) evil; (2) responsible for the phenomenon of sex in exchange for money; and (3) serves to reinforce the patriarchal power structure. I hate that word. It fills me with a heady mixture of lack-of-tenderness and rage. But otherwise, an f-ing triumph of a post! :--)rhapsodyinbookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07041412748239010264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911087927983597831.post-30170562750926157362012-06-13T10:02:25.343-04:002012-06-13T10:02:25.343-04:00Just before you started discussing Marsé recently ...Just before you started discussing Marsé recently I ran across an inexpensive hardcover copy of one of his books in a second hand shop and almost bought it (I'm still contemplating what to read for July's Spanish lit month). I passed it up, but will head back there this afternoon to see if it's still on the shelf (how could I <i>not</i> after this post?).seraillonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17654593356535433945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911087927983597831.post-42042499318329510402012-06-13T09:48:22.548-04:002012-06-13T09:48:22.548-04:00*sigh* As Séamus stated, another addition to the T...*sigh* As Séamus stated, another addition to the TBR stack. Some of the themes dovetail nicely with The Truth about the Savolta Case, as you'll see (I hope!).Dwighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13688525659034403580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911087927983597831.post-28834009547684284632012-06-13T04:20:58.524-04:002012-06-13T04:20:58.524-04:00Richard - this sounds great. I'm reading Shado...Richard - this sounds great. I'm reading Shadow of the Wind and this sounds like it covers a lot of similar territory in an edgier, more confrontational way. <br />Another one to add to the tottering pile of books I must read someday.Séamus Dugganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00574186409184247059noreply@blogger.com