Review of 'The Revolutionaries Try Again' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
3.5
A writer's writer in that what dazzled me was the scrapbook of narrative techniques Cárdenas employed, presumably, to more deeply access the emotional underpinnings of his work: the painful loss of youth, innocence/experience, the great loss of country, and even the loss of hope. Unfortunately, along with his bursts of creativity, Cárdenas also displays some big "I am very smart" energy. Even if I sympathize I still rolled my eyes more than a few times. There are moments reading this when one feels the author resisting his vulnerability so intensely he is willing to push the reader away hard. Whole chapters, for example, are presented in untranslated Spanish. Please.
But this is a debut novel, which means it points in a direction the author wants to go. He certainly loves Bolaño and his puppy dog imitation felt like affection, not hackery: a new writer placing himself in a specific …
3.5
A writer's writer in that what dazzled me was the scrapbook of narrative techniques Cárdenas employed, presumably, to more deeply access the emotional underpinnings of his work: the painful loss of youth, innocence/experience, the great loss of country, and even the loss of hope. Unfortunately, along with his bursts of creativity, Cárdenas also displays some big "I am very smart" energy. Even if I sympathize I still rolled my eyes more than a few times. There are moments reading this when one feels the author resisting his vulnerability so intensely he is willing to push the reader away hard. Whole chapters, for example, are presented in untranslated Spanish. Please.
But this is a debut novel, which means it points in a direction the author wants to go. He certainly loves Bolaño and his puppy dog imitation felt like affection, not hackery: a new writer placing himself in a specific corner of dinner table conversation. Well good for him. There is certainly enough promise in this novel that I will read more of his work. I think it's worth reading for fans of experimental literature, too. Cárdenas may not be inventing anything new but with this debut he has confidently placed himself in an admirable category... and he belongs there.