Completed in 2003 shortly before his death, 2666 is not only Roberto Bolaño's masterpiece but also one of the finest and most important novels of the 21st century. It's an entire world unto itself, one — not unlike our own — filled with horror, neglect, depravity, brilliance, and beauty. Epic in scope and epitomizing the "total novel," 2666 fuses many different genres and styles to create a singular and unforgettable work of contemporary fiction. While Bolaño's swan song marked the pinnacle of a sadly truncated literary career, his immense talent, creativity, and vision endure
Tough to finish. 2666 is a masterpiece, and the weight of it slugged me. It was hard reading the part about the killings - rape, murder, ad nauseum, but the last section was fantastic and the first section was nearly as good. I finished it, and despite lack of closure, I felt like I'd gone through something.
I think I need to read it again, maybe a year from now, and in the original. The book has a lingering sense of dread but also this constant feeling that there's something else to find.
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 …
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?
Very well written and excellently translated. Even at 900 pages, I wanted the book to keep going and am excited that they claim to have discovered a sixth part amongst Bolaño's papers. Written in a frank and accessible way that yet somehow maintained the mystery and intrigue of the story. At least for me, it elicited strong emotional responses. By far the hardest part was reading the lengthy, detailed section on the Juárez femicides, but am glad that I did and am grateful to Bolaño's attention to it, especially as news came out that 2010 saw the most femicides in Juárez in the past 18 years.
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 …
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.
¿Como le puedo dar cinco estrellas a este libro, si ni siquiera puedo decir de que se trata? Se me hace imposible desribir a 2666. Sin embargo, lo encontré maravilloso y potente. No le encuentro sentido alguno -- ningun Gran Tema -- pero es una representación captivante de los trastornos de la vida real.
La cuarta parte... fué dificil. Me tomó un mes leerla, pues es muy horroroso leer demasiado de cantazo. Hubieron muchos momentos en que quize dejar el libro... pero persistí, y valió la pena. Es duro, pero merece ser leido.
No sé como recomendar a 2666, ni a quien. A los 20 años, no habría manera de que yo lo disfrutara. A los 30, lo dudo. Quizas cuando tenga 55 lo vuelva a leer, y a ver que le saco.
