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Roberto Bolaño’s Amulet is indeed a story of a terrible crime, as the introductory paragraph of the novel indicates. The story is associated with painful memories that are difficult to talk about. In the narrative point of view of an Uruguayan woman named Auxilio Lacouture, a tale of poetry, trauma, and political resistance is told. […] read full post >>

The turning incident of a Uruguayan girl, named Auxilio Lacouture takes place in a 4th-floor bathroom at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) in Mexico City where the nation’s army has seized the grounds of the university amidst the 1968 youth protest movement that have left innocent students, professors/ staff members, and civilians arrested, […] read full post >>

This was the first book I read entirely in one sitting. I was surprised, but how could you not keep on reading when the first line is “This is going to be a horror story”(pg.1) … The theme of memory is quite present throughout Auxilio’s broken narrative. Her recollections seem very “…fragmentary, as if mauled … Continue reading "Thoughts on Bolaño’s Amulet" read full post >>

Another book with a stream of consciousness about memories … I am sensing a theme here.  As Auxilio hides in the university bathroom for 12 days, she reflects on different memories and experiences, transporting the reader to a different world than the reality of her sitting in the bathroom stall as the army invades the […] read full post >>

“Amulet” by Roberto Bolaño examines a Uruguayan poet, Auxilio Lacouture, grounded in being stuck in a fourth-floor university bathroom cubicle for thirteen days (or so) with no food during the Tlatelolco massacre in Mexico City. This massacre was a real life event in which the Mexican armed forces opened fire on unarmed students protesting the […] read full post >>

Hearing from Professor Manea himself was a true honour. Such a deeply personal insight into the book through the lens of the author and his experience. After hearing about his life, about totalitarian Romania, about his exodus, it all made The Trenchcoat much clearer. I have to say though, even after knowing more about the […] read full post >>

My overall impression when I first read this story was that it was very confusing. The story jumps around and it was also really confusing that the characters were referred to in different ways. I think a lot of the works we have looked at have this kind of style. Luckily, with a short story […] read full post >>

 The Old Gringo 

Although this style of book is not usually one i’d reach for, I will say I enjoyed it. I had mixed feelings while reading it’s description as I wasn’t sure if i would be interested in the story or be able to follow. Once I began reading I found the almost poetic way of writing very pleasing to read and once the story began to unfold I was very interested to read all the way through. 

As this book is considered the closest to a “romance” that I have picked to read during my contract, I was very surprised at the romance that was included in this book. I was very confused and taken back by the interesting relationship The Old Gringo and Harriet had. I could not tell what was going to happen, whether they would end up as a father - daughter relationship or if it would turn more romantic. once reading on, I began to realize it is a bit of both. Although these changes of dynamics happened so quick it was hard for me to even notice at times. As I was reading I saw them more as lovers but the father - daughter relationship was definitely an interesting change to thatl. 

One thing I did not notice while reading was the use of repetition. After reading the book I watched the lecture and then the aspect of repetition in this book became apparent to me, even though it is very obvious from the start. I was reading this book and indulging in the content not so much the other parts. But once discovering this thought, it made sense. another reoccurring theme that is worth mentioning is the idea of memory, which was also mentioned in the lecture and I definitely also noticed myself while reading. As I saw someone mention, this book along with others does associate memories with negativity, which i found in this book as well. One little thing I did really like was how the first line on the novel is the same as the last. 

As for my question for this week, What did you think of the romance between The Old Gringo and Harriet? Did you see them more as a father - daughter relationship or more as lovers? I’m curious to know as I was torn between the two. 

read full post >>

 The Old Gringo 

Although this style of book is not usually one i’d reach for, I will say I enjoyed it. I had mixed feelings while reading it’s description as I wasn’t sure if i would be interested in the story or be able to follow. Once I began reading I found the almost poetic way of writing very pleasing to read and once the story began to unfold I was very interested to read all the way through. 

As this book is considered the closest to a “romance” that I have picked to read during my contract, I was very surprised at the romance that was included in this book. I was very confused and taken back by the interesting relationship The Old Gringo and Harriet had. I could not tell what was going to happen, whether they would end up as a father - daughter relationship or if it would turn more romantic. once reading on, I began to realize it is a bit of both. Although these changes of dynamics happened so quick it was hard for me to even notice at times. As I was reading I saw them more as lovers but the father - daughter relationship was definitely an interesting change to thatl. 

One thing I did not notice while reading was the use of repetition. After reading the book I watched the lecture and then the aspect of repetition in this book became apparent to me, even though it is very obvious from the start. I was reading this book and indulging in the content not so much the other parts. But once discovering this thought, it made sense. another reoccurring theme that is worth mentioning is the idea of memory, which was also mentioned in the lecture and I definitely also noticed myself while reading. As I saw someone mention, this book along with others does associate memories with negativity, which i found in this book as well. One little thing I did really like was how the first line on the novel is the same as the last. 

As for my question for this week, What did you think of the romance between The Old Gringo and Harriet? Did you see them more as a father - daughter relationship or more as lovers? I’m curious to know as I was torn between the two. 

read full post >>

While reading ‘The Trenchcoat’ by Norman Manea, I was reminded greatly of two books written in a similar time period and location. The first of which was, ‘The Unbearable Lightness of Being’, by Milan Kundera, and the other being, ‘The Reader... read full post >>