A review by alisonjfields
The Savage Detectives by Roberto Bolaño

5.0

The more I think about this book, the more I love it, despite the fact that I also love a fair number of writers that Bolano notably despises (Fuentes, Donoso, Garcia Marquez, Vargas Llosa). The largest portion of this (best I can tell) somewhat autobiographical book consists of individual reminiscences of its protagonists (Ulises Lima and Arturo Belano) and their intimates (Luscious Skin, the Font family,etc) by various, often recurring characters. These passages are individually remarkable (there's enough meat in the briefest of anecdotes to provide the plotline for a whole other novel) and as a whole, almost overwhelming at first.

Bolano is an author that invites several days of musing after you've finished the last page. I look forward to the English translation of "2666"(I envy those privy to advance galleys). Until then, I plan on doodling more visual puns in the margins of "By Night in Chile."