It is impossible to read a César Aira novella without a huge smile on my face. He's playful, often delightfuly cerebral, and always so creative. This work is no exception. A series of interconnected stories centering on a character who adores Artforum magazine but who has some difficulty acquiring it from Buenos Aires. The stories range from the tragic to the contemplative and just by using this relatively straightforward scarce, foreign art magazine conceit Aira is able to build themes about art creation, art consumption, the reception of art through the lens of class and national identity. And he does all of this without breaking character.