A review by plattcraig
The Savage Detectives by Roberto Bolaño

5.0

Life is unpredictable. Everyone dies. No one will remember you. This is an oversimplification of sorts. But, what Bolano is doing here is reminding us that everyone is a unique being and it's the journey they take that influences their place in history (of course that history is essentially the history of one). This novel is both challenging and rewarding, which is why I think it was so well received and has left such an indelible impression on the literary world. While I find Bolano's voice in his shorter works to be a nuisance interfering with the story telling, here it works flawlessly as we go from interview to interview learning about the lost lives of Lima and Bolano. All in all, if you love literature this will re-affirm that love. Every serious reader and writer should give it a go.