tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911087927983597831.post3923144153455693689..comments2024-01-02T15:37:04.858-05:00Comments on Caravana de recuerdos: The Missing Head of Damasceno MonteiroRichardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01746599416342846897noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911087927983597831.post-86380269216244741542012-09-25T22:16:36.998-04:002012-09-25T22:16:36.998-04:00Thank you very much, Brian, and welcome to the blo...Thank you very much, Brian, and welcome to the blog. I thought <em>Pereira Declares</em> was a stronger all around effort than <em>The Missing Head of Damasceno Moreiro</em>, but I'd recommend both books if you want a Tabucchi that's a little more "traditional" than <em>It's Getting Later All the Time</em> would appear to be. That being said, I just love the sound of that one from your review--esp. the insane amount of literary references which remind me of the Mexican Sergio Pitol (a friend of Tabucchi's) and the Spaniard Enrique Vila-Matas, two other authors I quite enjoy. Cheers!Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01746599416342846897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911087927983597831.post-70013667373212353232012-09-25T22:09:04.547-04:002012-09-25T22:09:04.547-04:00Thanks as always, Scott, for the kind words. I di...Thanks as always, Scott, for the kind words. I didn't/don't know how representative of Tabucchi's style <em>Pereira</em> and <em>Damasceno</em> are from my own limited first hand experience, but the warm, friendly tone of those books are definite pluses for me as is T's humanistic outlook in general. Although I'd wanted to read another "Portuguese" Tabucchi book this time out, I doubt I'll be able to avoid <em>Indian Nocturne</em> the next time given all the nice things you and Caroline have said about it. In fact, sold!Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01746599416342846897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911087927983597831.post-44906757708749793742012-09-24T19:41:14.403-04:002012-09-24T19:41:14.403-04:00I really like your commentary Richard.
I have on...I really like your commentary Richard. <br /><br />I have only read "It's Getting Later All the Time" by Tabucchi. That book was a lot about interconnections. Based upon what you wrote it sounds like they play a big part of this one too.<br /><br />All the diverse and yes, interconnected, plot elements that you refer to make me really want to read this one!Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911087927983597831.post-86955952674379869552012-09-24T15:09:03.455-04:002012-09-24T15:09:03.455-04:00Great commentary, Richard. Like Vishy, I too loved...Great commentary, Richard. Like Vishy, I too loved your characterization of Tabucchi's style as "almost affable in its sensibilities," though I'd elide the "almost." I think that's part of what makes him so appealing as a writer, that "concerned humanist" aspect that stands in such strong contrast to the brutality about which he writes. And thanks too for reminding me that the epigraph is from Drummond de Andrade - I'd read <i>Missing </i> before I went off on my DdeA kick. For a different kind of take on the detective genre, but also quintessential Tabucchi, might I suggest now that you choose as your third course <i>Indian Nocturne</i>?seraillonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17654593356535433945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911087927983597831.post-86073584896607288092012-09-24T11:25:14.757-04:002012-09-24T11:25:14.757-04:00I debated whether or not to mention when the novel...I debated whether or not to mention when the novel takes place in my post, Miguel, and then decided not to since it wasn't terribly clear to me; however, it would appear to take place in an unspecified "modern" setting sometime in the '80s or '90s given that mention is made of the Angolan War for Independence in one place and I think a different reference to something that took place in 1978 is made elsewhere. As far as your interest in "crime fiction" goes, I think you'll find a lot to like here. Tabucchi, like Carlo Emilio Gadda but differently, does his own metaphysical take on the genre, and the Carlos Drummond de Andrade "Science Fiction" epigraph gave me a big chill when I reread it after setting down the book:<br /><br />"The Martian met me in the street<br />and was frightened by the possibility of my being human<br />How can a being exist, he wondered, who invests the business of existing with so huge a denial of existence?"<br /><br />Ah, good stuff!<br /><br />P.S. Thanks for your recent Italian author recommendations. I haven't forgotten about them, but I just realized I still owe you a reply to your comment. Obrigado!Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01746599416342846897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911087927983597831.post-28029699995710329332012-09-24T11:01:12.890-04:002012-09-24T11:01:12.890-04:00Thanks for your kind words, Vishy, and welcome to ...Thanks for your kind words, Vishy, and welcome to the blog! I only have two Tabucchi novels to go on at this point, but I really like how his easygoing, "friendly" style sort of lulls you into a false sense of complacency before he hits you with the heavy emotional stuff. It's a sneak attack in a way, but it's very effective (and "complex," I agree). Cheers!Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01746599416342846897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911087927983597831.post-29131122889221266822012-09-24T10:52:53.357-04:002012-09-24T10:52:53.357-04:00Caroline, please, the pleasure was all mine! Inte...Caroline, please, the pleasure was all mine! Interesting to hear about that one person's critique of Tabucchi's style, though--for me, I think that the contrast between the tone and the themes in <em>Pereira</em> and <em>Damasceno</em> is quite powerful and maybe fitting as well given the fact that both novels feature protagonists undergoing somewhat tumultuous transformations in the way they perceive the world. Also, everybody who writes about crime doesn't have to be a hard-boiled crime stylist, you know?!? Look forward to reading your review of <em>Requiem</em> and the other Tabucchi posts I missed last week (still playing catch-up these days alas).Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01746599416342846897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911087927983597831.post-24719799733502449222012-09-24T06:44:08.064-04:002012-09-24T06:44:08.064-04:00Finally someone reviews the novel I'm most anx...Finally someone reviews the novel I'm most anxious to read from Tabucchi. Although All the other reviews have focused on interesting books, there's something about <i>The Missing Head of Damasceno Monteiro</i> that holds my attention, perhaps it's the crime fiction lover in me.<br /><br />Just a question, Richard: when does the novel take place? In modern times?LMRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08538873868140070018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911087927983597831.post-50249727625489034072012-09-24T04:44:26.719-04:002012-09-24T04:44:26.719-04:00Wonderful review, Richard! I liked very much your ...Wonderful review, Richard! I liked very much your description of Tabucchi's prose style as 'almost affable in its sensibilities' and the book as 'a deceptively simple crime story'. A Tabucchi book seems to have more to it than meets the eye. Thanks for this wonderful review! I am off to read your review of 'Pereira Declares' now. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911087927983597831.post-8704071345314983452012-09-24T03:35:13.269-04:002012-09-24T03:35:13.269-04:00Thanks a lot for joining and I'm glad you'...Thanks a lot for joining and I'm glad you've read this. It echos The Edge of the Horizon in which there is also the murder of a young man, only it is the person in the morgue who is in the spotlight, still it almost sounds like the two books should be read together. <br />One of the people who participated criticized precisely this rather light touching of serious topics. I appreciate it as well because I feel he manages to underline the universality of many things. <br />Carolinehttp://beautyisasleepingcat.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.com