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At times I didn't think I would actually finish this not because it's long but because it didn't seem to have an obvious end. It reminded me of "Gravity's Rainbow" more than anything, at least in its last part detailing the grubby absurdity of the 1939-45 War. If 'war' is 'muddle' says Sven Hassel at some point in "Legion of the Damned"; but that is actually what 'war' means. Not conflict, but discord. Which fits in to the fourth part with its interminable lexicon of murders - discord yet again. That the murders are based on a series of real murders in Ciudad Juarez fits oddly with the book as it is hinted that we may find out who committed the murders, rather than them being an ongoing war against the vulnerable and poor, such as many people claim is happening at the moment. (and, much like with violence in jails, it looks like the authorities would be quite able to sort it out if the will was there but for some reason it isn't).
The first parts seem less intense and serve mainly to bring in the character of the unlikely-monickered Benno von Archimboldi; this must be a pseudonym, says one character early on, thus lampshading what the reader has already thought. It does not feel like the novel is intended to tie together; Bolaño published it in five parts though apparently because, feeling his latter end approaching, he wanted to get the early parts out and published so that his family would be provided for. Part 5 is more interesting providing a wartime story and the reason for the von (Baroness von Zumpe, who engages in interesting amounts of Zumpe-pumpy particularly with General 'Horsecock' Entrescu). Then there is the Furst Puckler stuff at the end (i.e. the Furst shall be last), which can only serve to indicate that people can be known to posterity for the oddest of reasons (but have sex with one pig's head ...).
Strangely though although long novels I have read in recent years (Infinite Jest, Blood Meridian) have stayed with me and influenced my writing style, this one didn't. Perhaps this is a good thing, meaning it conveyed itself limpidly and without obstruction.

Thank God I'm finished with this Frankenstein-like monster! Aaarrrggghhh. I'm giving it 3 stars even though I DID NOT really enjoy this book and normally would have awarded it a measly two, only because there IS one chapter I think makes up for the rest of the hit or miss aspects of the rest of the book. And that chapter is The Part About the Crimes.

Many people, probably, feel this is the worst chapter, or in other words, the most difficult chapter to get through and, well, I have to agree with them, perversely. It WAS hard going. It DID seem endless and repetitive. It did cause one to become numb after a while, to become apathetic. And that's why it works so well. It shines an unforgiving spotlight on some of Mexico's most shameful and painful realities. That chapter was relentless in the stark portrayal of a country making great strides to become a better, more productive, modern country in one sense but at the same time being mired in the mud of some of the most shameful aspects of Mexican culture. Finally, what is more frightening? The thought of one serial killer, raping, then murdering hundreds of young women and the police incompetent or worse? Or the thought of literally hundreds of murderers killing women, not necessarily strangers, but perhaps, wives, sisters? And the whole country more or less condoning that behavior by the apathetic, half-hearted responses of its citizens and government, both?

The rest of the book was basically hit or miss for me. It felt like Bolano had something urgent and pressing he wanted to get off his chest. It also felt like he was too scattered and flighty in his approach to the material. If he would have had more time, perhaps he could have tightened the whole mess up a wee bit. But as it stands it just feels long-winded in a weirdly rushed and distracted sort of way. I'm sure most of the symbolism went right over my head as I am a mostly plot and character driven reader. I think the book might better be thought of as five stories loosely related and ultimately centered on the fictitious city Saint Teresa than as one cohesive novel as there really was not a plot to follow throughout , to hold together this tome.

It definitely felt like a journey, I'll give it that. It was NOT an especially enjoyable journey, no doubt, but IT WAS a journey wherein one learned some painful truths, where one became a more knowledgeable citizen of the world. So THAT, is worth at least three stars. Right?

Five interrelated novels about a mysterious German author and the rapes and murders of countless women in a Mexican border town.

This book feels slightly flawed in a way that makes me hold back on calling it a truly great book, but it is still one of the most powerful and affecting books I've read in a long time. I was so swept up and consumed by this book I found it hard to believe it was over when it was, and even a month later I still have it sitting next to me on my desk because I find it hard to put it away and let it go.

And yet this is not exactly the kind of book that I would feel comfortable forcing on my friends ("you MUST read this book") because there are parts of it that are truly difficult (4 page long sentences, violent and explicit content, dozens of unrelated side plots that never resolve). It is not a fun book you stay up all night reading. But for me it is a book that has enriched my life having read it, and a book that I can absolutely recommend if you are willing to take it on.