Sarah Kerr reviews 2666 and The Romantic Dogs in the most recent issue of the New York Review of Books.
Bolano’s vision is fierce, not total. Technology, various kinds of intimacy, and levity as opposed to satire don’t have much of a place here. Bolano’s sexual staging can feel like a lecture; his women can seem larger or smaller than life.
I disagree with that second sentence. Just in the first part of 2666 you see lots of emailing (technology), Norton’s multiple and endearing romances {not to mention the unusual friendship of Pelletier and Espinoza} (various kinds of intimacy), and El Cerdo (levity).
New York Times by Jonathan Lethem
Boston Phoenix by Peter Keough
The Buffalo News by Jeff Simon
St. Petersburg Times by Vikas Turakhia
San Francisco Chronicle by Alexander Cuadros
Toronto Globe and Mail by J.S. Goldbach
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Thursday, December 4, 7:00 p.m. at Idlewild Books (19th St. & 5th Ave.), Natasha Wimmer and Francisco Goldman will discuss 2666.
Anyone going? Leave a report in the comments.
