Scan barcode
flormai's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
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
3.25
thebobsphere's review against another edition
5.0
I have heard a lot about Selva Almada and , as common sense dictates, I bought two of her books and, I read them.
The Wind that Lays Waste is her debut and it has a ton of elements I like in novels; the cruelty of nature, introspective dives into character’s minds and an economic prose, which reveals many themes.
Reverend Pearson and his daughter Leni are on the way to visit another pastor and their car breaks down in the middle of nowhere. Through some luck they are picked up and taken to mechanic Gringo Brauer and his adoptive son, Tapioca.
Throughout one day, The parson puts Tapioca in a religious conundrum, we find out what happened to Leni’s mother, there are glimpses of Tapioca’s past, explorations of parenthood , faith and… fate, The climax of the novella happens when a physical storm creates a metaphysical one between all four characters.
Using sparse prose, Selva Almada manages to get a lot. The characters are memorable and have depth and themes just emerge out of the narrative, not to mention the storm which shakes the calm, yet nervy pace of the book. The Wind That Lays Waste is, surreptitiously, a busy book.
As a first taste of Selva Almada, it was a good one and I do hope that the rest of her work (so far it’s three books) will be translated into English.
The Wind that Lays Waste is her debut and it has a ton of elements I like in novels; the cruelty of nature, introspective dives into character’s minds and an economic prose, which reveals many themes.
Reverend Pearson and his daughter Leni are on the way to visit another pastor and their car breaks down in the middle of nowhere. Through some luck they are picked up and taken to mechanic Gringo Brauer and his adoptive son, Tapioca.
Throughout one day, The parson puts Tapioca in a religious conundrum, we find out what happened to Leni’s mother, there are glimpses of Tapioca’s past, explorations of parenthood , faith and… fate, The climax of the novella happens when a physical storm creates a metaphysical one between all four characters.
Using sparse prose, Selva Almada manages to get a lot. The characters are memorable and have depth and themes just emerge out of the narrative, not to mention the storm which shakes the calm, yet nervy pace of the book. The Wind That Lays Waste is, surreptitiously, a busy book.
As a first taste of Selva Almada, it was a good one and I do hope that the rest of her work (so far it’s three books) will be translated into English.
mellllellel's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
steve_urick's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this author's next novel, Brickmakers, better than this one. This has a great plot, even if it is short, but I didn't feel the same connection to the characters.
booksnpunks's review against another edition
3.0
Set in a barren drought in rural Argentina, a preacher and his daughter’s car breaks down and they find solace in a mechanic and his assistant. The four of them are forced to shelter from a storm together and what becomes of this is a really claustrophobic, awkward and almost gothic look at Argentine evangelism. The preacher is constantly trying to get the mechanic and assistant to join his cause and there is a real tension between the four of them as they get trapped inside the house. I loved the reaction of the two kids to the fights between the two adults and the ending was really strange. It feels like this novel married the Southern Gothic and it’s religious themes with the barren Latin American landscape really well. Excited to read my final Selva Almada book after this one.
steveurick's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this author's next novel, Brickmakers, better than this one. This has a great plot, even if it is short, but I didn't feel the same connection to the characters.
othersideoftherain's review against another edition
4.0
deceptively straightforward, Southern Gothic-influenced read that successfully hinges itself on its characters. this is almost simply a character study if it weren’t so well-written and such a deep dive into big things like God, abandonment and childhood.
adam613's review against another edition
4.0
The Wind That Lays Waste by Selva Almada (translated by Chris Andrews) was a wonderful introduction to Latin American translated literature from Argentina. This memorable story tells the tale of Father Pearson and his daughter Leni and Brauer and his assistant Tapioca. When Father Pearson's car breaks down during his missionary work, he and Leni end up staying with Brauer who has offered to fix their car. What follows is an exposure of secrets from the past and faith to face the future in the ever coming storm. Each of the four main characters exudes a unique strength and faith that is all their own.
kay4k's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
pearloz's review against another edition
4.0
Provocative novel of a chance encounter between a man of God and a mechanic. With the storm on the horizon, every interaction between these two main characters felt almost biblical, particularly as they began to discuss the fate of the mechanic's boy assistant, Tapioca, a battle of wits that turned in a physical fight. A real concise gut-punch of a novel.