/lit/ - Literature

>>10982693
I'll take the feedback to heart, anon. I genuinely appreciate it, because I've been trying to hone my ability to actually criticize things. I had some notes in the books, but like I said, I lent them out.

As for lyrical I wouldn't want to simply say "beautiful," because that's not helpful. I'd say that it's more about the rhythm, that there's an aspect of music to it, best if read aloud. I haven't read 2666, but some anon above (>>10974860) likened the prose in that drone metal. I'll have to find out for myself one day, but By Night in Chile was a different beast altogether. However, there are recurring images, like a musical refrain, and here I'm thinking of the wizened youth and the attention paid to the moon. There's also parallels that I noticed in certain scenes (Fr. Farewell & Urrutia in the beginning, and then Urrutia with Pinochet later on, outside talking). It's stream of consciousness - that much is obvious - but you need to pay attention to what Urrutia leaves out as much as includes; for example, he mentions very little of his involvement in Opus Dei outside of him being a more "liberal" member, and portrays himself as just happening upon situations like teaching Marxism to Pinochet. As the story progresses it gets more feverish and it's apparent he's unreliable as can be when he gets to the man in that room. That's perhaps what I mean by allusive: Urrutia speaks of things in a way that distances them, or doesn't make them fully clear, which makes it difficult to ascertain his level of complicity in Chile's politics.

Again, I contrast this novel with Lumpen Novelita because they're freshest in my mind. Bianca's account is more intimate, more diary like, as if she's recording events. It's after the fact, of course, just like Urrutia in Chile, but comes across as more honest. She's less malicious than the Libyan and Bolognian in her part with the bodybuilder's money.


Also, I'm a bit prudish IRL, though I'm sure you could break my shell.

>>10982698
Nah, I'm just some Canadian male longing to be a trad-wife/part-time librarian.