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therealmette's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
After last summer's Death in the Andes, I had expected to love this one as well - but I didn't. Either the author's writing has improved a lot in the ca. 20 years between those two books, or I just happen to dislike his short-form work.
I found most of the stories to be extremely bland. Maybe if I was a guy who grew up in Peru in the middle of the 20th century, they'd have made me nostalgic, but they mostly made me feel disgusted.
Two exceptions - "The Visitor" was my favorite story and genuinely surprised me, and "On Sunday" was quite action-packed as well.
As for the main story "The Cubs", there were a lot of possibilities for P.P. to make a girl happy without his appendage. Just saying.
I found most of the stories to be extremely bland. Maybe if I was a guy who grew up in Peru in the middle of the 20th century, they'd have made me nostalgic, but they mostly made me feel disgusted.
Two exceptions - "The Visitor" was my favorite story and genuinely surprised me, and "On Sunday" was quite action-packed as well.
As for the main story "The Cubs", there were a lot of possibilities for P.P. to make a girl happy without his appendage. Just saying.
aralizca's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
quitobowen's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
etcamila's review against another edition
3.0
No me molesta esa prosa caótica pero hace que la lectura sea muy fugaz. Se me pasó el texto sin pena ni gloria.
analuisateles's review against another edition
3.0
2,5*
Só gostei de um dos contos. Detestei o primeiro.
Só gostei de um dos contos. Detestei o primeiro.
blueyorkie's review against another edition
3.0
"Os Chefes" brings together six conflicts. There are five rounds of pure violence and the last, of affectionate perversity. Of this set, urban fictions show boys challenging themselves, disputing a territory or a girl.
Or they were collectively challenging the rigid norms of a school dictatorship, a minor representation of the various dictatorships in Latin America. Far from the metropolis, rural narratives also speak of account settlements. Omnipresent, only death. There are six stories of a simple plot, told with grace and elegance. They respect the traditional form of the genre, not forgetting the welcome surprise in the last paragraph. In "O Avô", this surprise is almost unlikely, but its strangeness provokes a flash of humour that ignites the tale.
Or they were collectively challenging the rigid norms of a school dictatorship, a minor representation of the various dictatorships in Latin America. Far from the metropolis, rural narratives also speak of account settlements. Omnipresent, only death. There are six stories of a simple plot, told with grace and elegance. They respect the traditional form of the genre, not forgetting the welcome surprise in the last paragraph. In "O Avô", this surprise is almost unlikely, but its strangeness provokes a flash of humour that ignites the tale.
jfl's review
3.0
The English edition of Vargas’ short stories includes works first published in Spanish at different times. The lead story in the English edition (The Cubs) was first published in Spain in 1967 with the definitive version dated in 1966. Titled Los jefes, it was preceded by his first novel, La ciudad y los perros. For Roberto Bolaño, Los jefes is a masterpiece, a judgement that owed much to the creative structure of the story, serving as a “practice run” for Conversaciones en la catedral, “one of the best Spanish-language novels of the twentieth century”.
The other six short stories in the English edition were first published in 1965, written before his first novel. Structurally, there is none of the innovation that marked Los jefes. As Vargas himself confesses in the introduction to the English publication, the stories show the impact of the handful of writers (including Faulkner, Hemingway, Paul Bowles) who influenced him as he searched for his own voice.
Los jefes Bolaño has elevated to immortality. However, the other stories (apparently written between 1953 and 1957) are entertaining and quickly read as Vargas’ early, youthful, imaginings.
The other six short stories in the English edition were first published in 1965, written before his first novel. Structurally, there is none of the innovation that marked Los jefes. As Vargas himself confesses in the introduction to the English publication, the stories show the impact of the handful of writers (including Faulkner, Hemingway, Paul Bowles) who influenced him as he searched for his own voice.
Los jefes Bolaño has elevated to immortality. However, the other stories (apparently written between 1953 and 1957) are entertaining and quickly read as Vargas’ early, youthful, imaginings.
gian333's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
4.5
coralang's review against another edition
3.0
Courte Histoire intéressante et touchante. On doit s’habituer au style d’écriture plutôt étonnant. Finale prévisible.