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A review by sjbozich
Sidewalks by Valeria Luiselli
5.0
In the last of the short essays in this collection, Luiselli looks at a grave in Venice, and wonders if she dies at 37, like the entombed, what she will have left behind her. 10 years later we know - 2 collections of essays, 2 short works. And the stunning "Lost Child Archive".
It is rather amazing that she wrote these flaneurs before she was 27. Ever had the feeling that what you're reading is the work of a rather unique mind, a genius? I did here.
She drops the names of writers, and other artists, effortlessly - but at the same time adding some wonderful insight. Nice to see we are both fans of Wittgenstein, and his dictum on the inability of our human minds, and hence language, to express everything.
My favorite essay was "Alternative Routes" - on how the Portuguese word "saudade" is not translatable. And then on to a very quick history of melancholy, and its weak sister, nostalgia. Along with a bicycle ride to a bookstore, and back home.
I was suprised that Dutch writer Cees Nooteboom wrote the Introduction for this young Mexican writer (BTW, he was one of my favorite writers during the '90's - sadly I tried to go back to his works recently, and did not find the excitement and joy of reading his work that I had those 20-30 years ago). The connection is that he wrote on Brodsky in Venice as well - and it ends up that he really appreciates and understands her!
Christina MacSweeney does a fine job translating this and other Luiselli work. It is almost too bad that the author is now writing in English (or, is she self-translating, like she reminds us Samuel Beckett did?). There were a few word choices that took my breath away! Too bad they did not use the original title from its publicatioin in Spanish in 2010 - which translates as "False Papers".
It was also exciting to Luiselli mention other younger writers I hope to explore (Zambra, who was recently added to my "To Be Read" pile), and that on amazon I found some authors I have read under their ""Others Who Bought This Also Bought" (Lerner).
Looking forward to reading her other 3 short works/essay collections.
Brilliant.
It is rather amazing that she wrote these flaneurs before she was 27. Ever had the feeling that what you're reading is the work of a rather unique mind, a genius? I did here.
She drops the names of writers, and other artists, effortlessly - but at the same time adding some wonderful insight. Nice to see we are both fans of Wittgenstein, and his dictum on the inability of our human minds, and hence language, to express everything.
My favorite essay was "Alternative Routes" - on how the Portuguese word "saudade" is not translatable. And then on to a very quick history of melancholy, and its weak sister, nostalgia. Along with a bicycle ride to a bookstore, and back home.
I was suprised that Dutch writer Cees Nooteboom wrote the Introduction for this young Mexican writer (BTW, he was one of my favorite writers during the '90's - sadly I tried to go back to his works recently, and did not find the excitement and joy of reading his work that I had those 20-30 years ago). The connection is that he wrote on Brodsky in Venice as well - and it ends up that he really appreciates and understands her!
Christina MacSweeney does a fine job translating this and other Luiselli work. It is almost too bad that the author is now writing in English (or, is she self-translating, like she reminds us Samuel Beckett did?). There were a few word choices that took my breath away! Too bad they did not use the original title from its publicatioin in Spanish in 2010 - which translates as "False Papers".
It was also exciting to Luiselli mention other younger writers I hope to explore (Zambra, who was recently added to my "To Be Read" pile), and that on amazon I found some authors I have read under their ""Others Who Bought This Also Bought" (Lerner).
Looking forward to reading her other 3 short works/essay collections.
Brilliant.