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A review by shortitude
Bodies of Summer by Martín Felipe Castagnet
1.0
I read this for June's Fiction in Translation bookclub, so I'll review it in English as I had to read it in English.
The opening sentence of the book left me already feeling distanced and unconvinced by the protagonist, like there was something whiny and insufferable about him. Towards the end of the novel, it all proved accurate.
Now, I like the world building and sci-fi concept, I like the way Castagnet explores it and elaborates on the consequences of such a world. But, it seems, he inevitably ends up falling into Male Novelist insufferability when describing sex, attraction, sexuality and (especially) women.
Things that grossed me out: the whole Saffron thing, the dubious consent nature of it, the fact that she was (I think?) underaged; the surprise racism, the treatment of Wales and September. To name a few.
All in all, a book that had me hooked for about 75 pages (first 5 were harder to swallow), then proceeded to squick me out thoroughly by the end so I'd be glad it's over. I'm not sure I care if it was authorial intention.
The opening sentence of the book left me already feeling distanced and unconvinced by the protagonist, like there was something whiny and insufferable about him. Towards the end of the novel, it all proved accurate.
Now, I like the world building and sci-fi concept, I like the way Castagnet explores it and elaborates on the consequences of such a world. But, it seems, he inevitably ends up falling into Male Novelist insufferability when describing sex, attraction, sexuality and (especially) women.
Things that grossed me out: the whole Saffron thing, the dubious consent nature of it, the fact that she was (I think?) underaged; the surprise racism, the treatment of Wales and September. To name a few.
All in all, a book that had me hooked for about 75 pages (first 5 were harder to swallow), then proceeded to squick me out thoroughly by the end so I'd be glad it's over. I'm not sure I care if it was authorial intention.